New Karate Kid Movie Wraps Filming As Ralph Macchio Honors Original Movie's 40th Anniversary
The next Karate Kid movie has finished filming after facing a release delay. Ralph Macchio confirmed the wrap-up on Instagram, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original film with a special set photo from the final season of Cobra Kai. While it's still unclear whether the Netflix show will set up the next movie, Karate Kid looks to deliver on the legacy of multiple generations of franchise fans.
The sixth theatrical installment in the long-running martial arts franchise will build a bridge between the Miyagi-verse and the 2010 reboot, as both Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan will be reprising their roles as Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han. Plot details are currently under wraps, though it's expected to see a teenage boy who moves to the East Coast and comes under the tutelage of Mr. Han to defend himself at school.
Nearly three months after production began, Ralph Macchio took to Instagram to confirm the next Karate Kid movie has wrapped filming. The post features a special set photo from the final season of Cobra Kai, taken by Miguel actor Xolo Maridueña, showing Macchio's Daniel LaRusso donning the iconic Miyagi headband. Macchio celebrates the 40th anniversary of the release of the original Karate Kid movie and confirms he has wrapped filming on both the next movie and Cobra Kai season 6.
Macchio's confirmation comes two months after Sony pushed back the release date from December 2024 to its current date of May 30, 2025. Most reports of the release delay indicated that it stemmed from a desire to leave room for Cobra Kai season 6, which will close out the Netflix sequel show and is being split into three parts, beginning with Part 1's release in July 2024.
Not only does the filming wrap ensure that Karate Kid will make its 2025 release date, but it also sets up the year to be one of the franchise's biggest ever. Cobra Kai has returned the property to its former glory with widespread acclaim across its five released seasons. Anticipation is high for how season 6 will close out the Netflix show and whether it will set up the next Karate Kid movie or if it will simply exist on its own. With Cobra Kai creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg teasing potential spinoffs beyond the final season and setting up an epic finale event in 2025 before the new movie's release, Karate Kid fans have a lot to look forward to.