Yahoo Sport Everything to know about Cobra Kai season 6
Cobra Kai spoilers follow.
Cobra Kai never dies – or so they say – but is the show preparing to end with one last, ultimate smackdown?
Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso have finally found the secret to burying their decades-long feud, and that's finding someone else to team up against. Luckily there was no better enemy to take down than Terry Silver and his growing horde of obsessed Cobra Kai dojo members.
Finally establishing the balance between their ying/yang ways of life, it seems they are actually learning from each other (crazier things have happened!). But what now?
Cobra Kai creators and showrunners Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg spoke to Collider about the challenges of keeping things fresh for the final season.
"We have a few more tricks up our sleeve for where we go from here, but it does get bigger every year," Heald said. "And we're trying at all times to make sure we're not plagiarizing ourselves at this point."
"You know, we've had tournament fights, we've had all-out, you know, riots. We've had fights on multiple platforms and places in terms of… Season three had multiple fights going on within one episode. [Season five] is probably the most wall-to-wall fighting we've had in a finale."
"And we wanted to make sure we were containing that, you know, once again, with these moments that you really feel… you want to feel every one-on-one, every two-on-one, every 10-on-10. It's always conducting the orchestra and feeling, when do the cannons go off, and it's full Tchaikovsky, fireworks, and when it’s an oboe solo."
Here's everything you need to know about what lies ahead for Cobra Kai. Not including oboe solos.
Cobra Kai season 6 potential release date: When can we expect Cobra Kai season 6?
It's official – Cobra Kai is returning for a sixth season, but it will also be the show's last.
Series creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg announced the news in an official statement to fans on January 20, saying: "Reacquainting the world with the Karate Kid universe has been our humble honour.
"Making Cobra Kai has allowed us to join the same hallowed dojo once inhabited by the great Robert Mark Kamen, John Avildsen, Jerry Weintraub, and all the amazing original cast members."
The trio went on to write that the goal with the show was always to finish it on their own terms, which they believe they have accomplished.
"So it is with immense pride and thankfulness that we are able to announce that achievement," they continued. "The upcoming season six will mark the conclusion of Cobra Kai. While this may be bittersweet for the fandom, the Miyagiverse has never been stronger.
"This fandom is the BEST on the planet and we hope to be telling more Karate Kid stories with you down the line. Because as we all know, Cobra Kai never dies."
Before signing the statement with Cobra Kai's iconic mantra, they added that season six is set to be the "the biggest" season yet.
Netflix also released an official announcement video, where we hear William Zabka's Johnny Lawrence ask: "Do you have one more fight left in you?"
However, while we know the sixth season of the show is coming, we don't yet know when it will be back on our Netflix screens.
While production was due to start in May this year, it has since been put on hold amid the WGA writers' strike. Cobra Kai co-creator and showrunner Jon Hurwitz confirmed the writers' room for the show would be on the picket line until an agreement is made.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote: "We hate to strike, but if we must, we strike hard. Pencils down in the Cobra Kai writers room. No writers on set.
"These aren't fun times, but it's unfortunately necessary. The moment a fair deal is in place, we'll get back to kicking ass. In the meantime, sending strength and support to the negotiating committee. You got this."
Cobra Kai is certainly not going to be the only show affected by the strike, so for now we will have to wait and see when the Hollywood execs can strike a deal with their hard-working writers before we get a confirmed release date.
Cobra Kai season 6 cast: Who will be back for Cobra Kai season 6?
Cobra Kai just wouldn't be right without our two leads – William Zabka (Johnny Lawrence) and Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso).
And they would be nothing without the main women in their lives – Amanda (Courtney Henggeler) and the now-pregnant Carmen (played by Vanessa Rubio).
Add to this fellow Karate Kid returnees Yuji Okumoto (Chozen) and Martin Kove (John Kreese). We may not have seen the last of Thomas Ian Griffith (Terry Silver) either, considering he doesn't go down without a fight, and now has nothing to lose.
Speaking of Karate Kid returnees, Hilary Swank, who played Julie Pierce in The Next Karate Kid, could potentially make a cameo in the last instalment as well. Now that would be kickass.
Then there's the kids: Primarily Xolo Maridueña (Miguel), Tanner Buchanan (Robby), Peyton List (Tory), Mary Mouser (Sam), Jacob Bertrand (Eli/Hawk) and Gianni DeCenzo (Demetri).
Now rudderless without their sensei behind their backs, there are also questions hanging over the head of several prominent Cobra Kai members – most notably Dallas Dupree Young (Kenny) and powerful newcomer Oona O’Brien (Devon).
There's also the gang of Cobra Kai senseis who have their own grudge to settle. Sensei Kim Da-eun (played by Alicia Hannah-Kim) in particular is on a mission to fulfil a promise to her father to win the Sekai Taikai tournament, and probably won't be too happy that Silver's behaviour has caused a major setback.
Speaking about what could potentially be next for her character in season six, the actress told Deadline: "Hopefully, we will continue what we've started in season 5 on Cobra Kai… I think they've opened a pandora's box with Kim Da-Eun and Master Kim Sun-Young.
"It really brought a darker element to this season and I'm curious what could happen now that Cobra Kai is ostensibly defeated. I do know Kim is hellbent on global domination for her family's legacy, so there's a lot yet to explore."
Meanwhile, Bertrand previously said that he would love to see a world tournament in the final season, which would introduce some new characters and locations.
Speaking to PopCulture, he shared: "I really want to go to the world tournament. I think the world tournament would be super interesting because right now, it's just confined to The Valley of Karate, you know?
"I think it'd be really cool to introduce some crazy new players from all around the world. Yeah, and I'm sure Hawk can win at least a couple of fights." Now that would be epic.
The rest is a mystery. When we hear more, you'll know more.
Cobra Kai season 6 plot: What will Cobra Kai season 6 be about?
We already know this swansong season isn't going to be the same Cobra Kai we know and love. For starters, the rivalry between the two dojos isn't there any more.
In the season-five finale, Silver's misdeeds finally caught up with him, and after being exposed for cheating at the All-Valley tournament, his cruel nature was finally revealed to his students, who all ditched him.
But they're still figuring out what to do now. Do they join Miyagi-Do/Eagle Fang (or whatever they decide to call themselves?) or do they give up karate for good?
Kenny, who had gone from a sweet-natured nerd to a cold-hearted bully under the teachings of Silver, is likely going to feel this the most.
Speaking about his heartbreak at being let down by Silver, actor Dallas Dupree Young told Digital Spy: "Kenny's heartbroken. I mean, it was a gut-wrenching moment honestly, because his father figure [Silver] is his leader, the guy that he looked up to, his mentor, kind of betrayed him in a sense.
"And for Kenny to watch that video and see the evidence, it was just very disheartening. So I think Kenny is in a rough headspace. He doesn't really know where he wants to go at this point. But I can't wait to see what happens with him."
Elsewhere, we're keeping all our fingers crossed for our new fav Chozen, after he drunk-dialled Kumiko back in Okinawa to reveal his true feelings for her (we've all been there, bud). Now recovering from what appeared to be near-lethal injuries, this guy deserves the biggest hug and the biggest break.
There are two major hanging threads this season – Kreese and his plans for revenge after breaking out of prison and going on the run, and the Sekai Taikai international championships.
Johnny and Daniel both screwed over Kreese while in prison by lying about getting him a lawyer, which likely won't sit pretty with him. But he's most likely wanting his own revenge on Silver (which, ironically, he could have done if he'd just waited another couple of days). But he also clearly feels guilt over Tory and dragging her into his scheme, only to drop her when he felt like he was losing.
But the Sekai Taikai is one of the most prestigious karate championships in the world. If the group can stick together long enough, then they can share their teachings (and Mr Miyagi's knowledge) with the entire world.
"I know that the creators want a great resolution like any good story," Gianni Decenzo, who plays Demetri, told Digital Spy. "They don't want to leave the fans hanging.
"There's a lot still to solve – you've got Miyagi-Do, Eagle Fang... They're kind of working together but there's still two separate groups and then of course prison seems to not be adequate enough to keep Kreese away!"
Ralph Macchio recently told Deadline that while shooting for the sixth season hasn't started and he still hasn't seen a script for it, he knows the overall story arc for the sixth and final season.
He also addressed the highly anticipated Karate Kid movie in the works for 2024, which will be a return of the original film franchise. “I haven't taken my phone off the hook,” Macchio joked, implying he has yet to receive the call from Sony Columbia Pictures – although no cast announcements have been made.
Cobra Kai season 6 trailer: Any Cobra Kai season 6 footage yet?
QUIET. There's a fair amount of time ahead before the new trailer and footage is sent out into the internet.
But we'll be here watching and waiting for the snake to pounce for you. Protect the egg and all that. Keep checking in here and we'll update you as soon as we know more.
Until then… patience, young one.
Cobra Kai seasons 1-5 are available to watch now on Netflix.
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