The Karate Kid franchise has always been about underdogs, mentors, and the beautiful bond that’s forged between a student and sensei. Now, after decades of watching Daniel LaRusso’s journey and the recent redemption arc of Johnny Lawrence, I feel like the latest trailer of Karate Kid: Legends poses one burning question: Where is William Zabka?
So far, all the official trailers and teasers that I’ve seen of the movie are packed with footage of high-flying action, preserving the legacy of its predecessors. But the recent trailer proves that Johnny Lawrence’s wisdom is what the story might truly need, and here’s why!
The Karate Kid: Legends trailer at CinemaCon proves that the franchise still has heart
The Karate Kid: Legends presentation at CinemaCon wasn’t just another studio showcase but a full-blown celebration of the franchise’s legacy (via The Hollywood Reporter). They kicked it off with an electrifying display of martial arts, lanterns, and drummers. Then Ralph Macchio, and Ben Wang took the spotlight, and had a bit of banter.
The latter will be featured as the martial arts student in the new movie, who Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso will mentor. He complained that Macchio had him waxing his car and doing other insignificant tasks, which is a throwback to how Mr. Miyagi trained Daniel in the first installment. So Macchio quipped that he was just trying to mess around and test the latest addition to their saga.
Their interaction was followed by footage of the movie that revealed a moment between Mr. Han and Daniel, where they both bonded over Mr. Miyagi. In the clip, Chan’s character was trying to convince the Miyagi-Do practitioner to pass down the dojo’s knowledge to his student.
Why Karate Kid: Legends needs William Zabka
I believe that William Zabka’s arc in Cobra Kai as Johnny Lawrence was nothing short of legendary. He went from being a bullied bully to a flawed but fiercely devoted mentor. In Karate Kid: Legends, we see Li Fong as another kid who needs help and perspective to deal with other misled and ill-mannered teenagers.
So, who better than Johnny to truly guide him in this journey because he’s been on both sides of the spectrum? He would know what it’s like to be in Li’s shoes, as well as the folks he’s up against, which would make his perspective whole and useful, more than anyone else’s.
Moreover, if the events of this film occur after Cobra Kai, we’d also know how the redeemed martial artist is carrying himself after the dust has settled. Honestly, the word ‘legends’ in the title has made me more hopeful than ever because I’m expecting to see all the previous karate champs, including Hilary Swank and Jaden Smith, but that’s just me being a little too optimistic.
The interactions in the trailer confirm that Legends is doubling down on the franchise’s legacy, with Daniel and Mr. Han passing the torch. So, this is the perfect chance to bring Zabka into the picture, not as a side character, but as the sensei he was always meant to be.
You can watch Cobra Kai on Netflix. Karate Kid: Legends will be released in theaters on May 30, 2025.
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