New ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ Trailer Teases Potential for Post-‘Cobra Kai’ Canon

Although it’s been just under two months since Cobra Kai came to an end, the Karate Kid universe is soon to welcome a new entry in the form of Karate Kid: Legends. Starring Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio, and Ben Wang, the seemingly separate worlds of the original Karate Kid and the 2010 remake congregate, merging the teachings of both kung fu and karate together.

It’s been confirmed by Macchio that the film is set three years following the events of the beloved Netflix series. Also, director Jonathan Entwistle has spoken openly about his love for the show, and about the exchanges he has had with its creators.

So there’s no denying the fact that Karate Kid: Legends exists in the same universe as Cobra Kai. That being said, between the information given by its cast and crew, as well as what’s been hinted at in this new trailer, there’s a lot of potential for what could have happened in those intervening years.

While Cobra Kai ran from 2018 to 2025, the events of the series itself cover a little over two years, capping off in 2020. Seeing that the Sekai Taikai wasn’t canceled and Daniel LaRusso’s daughter, Samantha, is off to Okinawa by the end of the final episode, my guess is that the COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t happen in their universe.

It makes for all the more intrigue for what could have happened following Cobra Kai, specifically on Daniel’s end. In the trailer, why does he seem so hesitant to work with Mr. Han in training Li, especially when he’d have plenty of experience in teaching karate by that point? What happened with the Miyagi-Do dojo during that three-year time span?

It’s only a matter of time before the answers to these questions, as well as others [like, where’s Jaden Smith anyway? — Ed.], are revealed. Karate Kid: Legends is slated for theatrical release on May 30.