Ralph Macchio isn't closing the dojo just yet as he teases a potential Cobra Kai following the new Karate Kid: Legends movie. The film follows Li Fong (Ben Wang), a Chinese teenager who moves with his mother to New York from Beijing a year after his older brother's death. With the Karate Kid franchise continuing its legacy through Netflix's Cobra Kai and the Legends movie, Ralph Macchio has addressed what the future may hold for Daniel LaRusso​​​​​.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Macchio was asked if this would be his final time playing Daniel. The actor reflected on the longevity of his character while expressing interest in a possible Cobra Kai movie in the future now that the show has ended. Macchio revealed he'd like the franchise to continue as long as possible, saying, "Why not keep the party going as long as it can be rooted in some form of genuine truth?" He also reflected on how unpredictable his return to the franchise has been over the decades. Read his full comments below:

Might I do my Gran Torino version? Listen, I hope the movie does well. I want it to be the next stage of other chapters, and I’d love there to be a Cobra Kai movie in two years from now as well. I mean, why not keep the party going as long as it can be rooted in some form of genuine truth? Listen, if you came to me in 1995 and said, “You’re going to play Daniel LaRusso again.” I would say, “It’s never going to happen.” So, never say never. Never say never.

What This Means For Cobra Kai

The Karate Kid Franchise Could Expand Even After Legends & Cobra Kai's Ending

Macchio's openness to continuing the story proves that the Karate Kid franchise isn't limited to just one more installment or a single show finale. Legends may be positioned as a major cinematic milestone, since the film will mark the best debut for any Karate Kid movie featuring Daniel LaRusso, with a projected three-day opening weekend totaling between $21 and $23 million at the domestic box office. This could be a launchpad for the idea of a Cobra Kai movie two years down the line, which has been subtly set up by the narrative groundwork.

With Legends subtly nodding to Cobra Kai, a future movie could serve as a natural extension of the series’ ending and an expansion of the franchise, potentially bringing together fan-favorite characters and new faces to the big screen. If the franchise can continue to evolve while keeping its emotional sincerity, there's no reason to believe the Karate Kid ​​​​​​story has to end anytime soon. Whether it's through Daniel mentoring a new generation, revisiting old rivalries, or even expanding into new themes, the future of Karate Kid is full of possibilities. And with Macchio still on board, there's a built-in foundation of and legacy.

Our Take On Macchio's Comments

His ion Keeps The Franchise Alive, And Fans Want More

Macchio's ongoing dedication to the Karate Kid franchise is one of the reasons it's remained so popular for decades. His willingness to reprise Daniel again in a potential Cobra Kai movie shows he understands what the character means to people and what kinds of stories still excite longtime fans. His "never say never" attitude reflects just how the series has always found ways to grow and reinvent itself with each new era. As Cobra Kai wrapped up earlier this year, the idea of future films after Karate Kid: Legends is incredibly compelling.

Source: Rolling Stone