There’s no denying that the entertainment world has been all about banking on the nostalgia factor recently. With the runaway success of series re-births likes Fuller House and even the recent announcement of a Top Gun sequel, it doesn’t seem like this trend is going to die anytime soon either. Which we, being of the opinion that everything really was better back in the ’80s, are rather pleased about.
Some nostalgia-related news we find ourselves particularly excited about is the announcement that YouTube Red – the internet conglomerate’s own paid-streaming service and answer to Netflix – have picked up Cobra Kai, a 10-episode sitcom sequel to 1984’s iconic Karate Kid.
While fans of the original may be apprehensive of this being nothing more than a cash-grab on the Karate Kid name, this isn’t just any old Jaden Smith bespattered reboot as both Ralph Macchio and William Zabka have got involved in order to reprise their roles of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence.
Set 30 years after Daniel-san first crane-kicked his way to victory at All Valley Karate Tournament, this show, set to debut in 2018, follows LaRusso and Lawrence as adults dealing with their own dojo-related doldrums, aiming to introduce a whole new generation of viewers to the Karate Kid ethos of abstaining from leg sweeps and body bags.
The only glaring omission from the series will of course be absence of the late, great Pat Morita, though we’re sure Mr. Miyagi’s legacy will be paid homage by the show in some respects.
