Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan's Karate Kid movie is already avoiding an annoying debate that Cobra Kai never resolved

Although Karate Kid: Legends will not serve as a direct sequel to Cobra KaiThe upcoming Legacy sequel will still settle a long-running Netflix spinoff debate. Although Jackie Chan's return as Mr. Han for the first time since 2010 is certainly excitingin fact it is the future of the franchise that Legends is celebrating instead of its past. When Karate Kid: Legends is released in 2025, the next era of the series will be especially clear.

Ralph Macchio helped launch the Karate Kid franchise in 1984 when he first played Daniel LaRusso opposite Pat Morita's Mr. Miyagi. Of all five Karate Kid films so far, Macchio has appeared in three of them. He was replaced as Mr. Miyagi's student by Hilary Swank's Julie Pierce when The Next Karate Kid was released in 1994. Interestingly, Chan's 2010 film was a remake at the time, so Jaden Smith's Dre Parker wasn't a direct replacement for Daniel, but rather a reimagining of the character. Cobra Kai largely ignored the 2010 effort, but Legends no.

Karate Kid: Legacy has the “new Karate Kid” of course that Cobra Kai never had

Cobra Kai doesn't have an obvious protagonist (it has several)

There was never any doubt who the franchise's titular character was in any of the feature films, despite the theory that William Zabka's Johnny Lawrence was the true protagonist of the first film. Karate Kid: Legends this trend continues. Although Macchio is returning, Ben Wang's Li Fong is clearly inheriting the mantle of the franchise's main character. This is something that Cobra Kai I never had.

The Netflix show lacks a clear protagonist, as the title could go to many of the characters. One could argue that Daniel is still the main character, or maybe it's Johnny. Alternatively, any number of younger characters, like Miguel, Robby, or Sam, could be the show's “Karate Kid.” Virtually every student in every dojo has an underdog story, so it could be said that this dilutes the original storyline that Daniel went through in 1984. Regardless, Karate Kid: Legends you won't have the same problemssince Li Fong is the new hero.

Karate Kid: Legacy appears to be a more traditional Karate Kid story than Cobra Kai

Li Fong's training will likely be the main focus of Karate Kid: Legends

Cobra Kai It's been a slow burning storywith the character(s) focused on changing as the show progresses. This was of course intentional and the execution was brilliant. However, it deviates from the Karate Kid formula established in cinema. As such, the show is its own thing that can be enjoyed in isolation. Conversely, although Karate Kid: Legends it's probably also being made as a starting point for fans, as Cobra Kai was, the next film appears to follow a much more similar arc to the previous films.