Karate Kid: Legends teased some epic fights between martial arts legends, but the new trailer suggests one of them wouldn't happen after all. The Karate Kid is one of the best films of the 1980s, and the Karate Kid film series became even more popular with the help of Cobra Kaiwhich shows what happens to Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence after the events of The Karate Kid. While Cobra Kai has a relatively humorous tone and a self-aware manner, Karate Kid: Legends appears to be completely different, despite featuring a main character from the franchise.
While it does not appear that William Zabka will return to his role as former antagonist Johnny, both Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan will reprise their roles as Daniel and Sr. It has also been confirmed that Karate Kid: Legends will feature stars from all eras of the franchise, which offers the potential for countless epic fights between the characters. Early reactions to the news suggested that Mr. Han would fight Daniel, which would have been an exciting spectacle, but the new trailer appears to debunk that theory.
Karate Kid: Legends Trailer Doesn't Suggest Daniel and Mr. Han Will Fight
One line from the trailer suggests Karate Kid: Legends will address the franchise's long-standing inaccuracy
The trailer for Karate Kid: Legends shows Mr. Han looking for Daniel, apparently to help train the student he is mentoring. How the Karate Kid franchise has some fantastic fights, admittedly Karate Kid: Legends will continue this tradition. While the Karate Kid: Legends trailer hints at some exciting new moves and high-stakes sparring matchesDaniel and Mr. Han don't seem to fight together. Still, the two may surprise audiences by demonstrating a move or two, as a scene in the trailer establishes that their martial arts instruction is connected.
Daniel describes his and Mr. Han's teaching style as "two branches of the same tree."This suggests that the film may resolve a long-standing inaccuracy in the Karate Kid franchise title. Pat Morita's Miyagi teaches Daniel karate in the original 1984 film, but Jackie Chan's 2010 Karate Kid the remake focuses on kung fu and not karate, despite still making reference to karate in the title. Furthermore, while the Cobra Kai series is officially part of the Karate Kid franchise, Johnny actually teaches his students what to do.
Karate Kid: Legends' serious tone means there may not be much “fanservice”
Karate Kid: the legend's apparent lack of fanservice could be good for the franchise
It is also confirmed that although 2010 Karate Kid film was originally set in its own universe, it is now officially part of the same universe as The Karate Kid. This leaves the door open for lots of Easter eggs and fan service homages to previous scenes, films, and characters. However, the trailer also suggests that there will be a much more serious tone to Karate Kid: Legendswith higher stakes for Li Fong (Ben Wang). Cobra Kai may have had a lot of comedy and inside jokes, but the audience shouldn't expect Karate Kid: Legends to resemble the hit show.
Cobra KaiSuccess brought The Karate Kid and its franchise for a new generation. That being said, if Karate Kid: Legends relies too heavily on in-jokes and Easter eggs, can alienate new audiences, and offer longtime fans nothing original. Reboots have failed because of too much nostalgia and fanservice rather than bringing a new perspective to the source material. As Karate Kid: Legends shows Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan working side by side rather than fighting, the film promises something unexpected, making Karate Kid: Legends the beginning of a new Karate Kid was.