Karate Kid TV Show: Who Will Star In The YouTube Show?

The fight to be the "Karate Kid" lives on as Ralph Macchio and William Zabka sign on for a televised reboot of the popular 1980s film, titled "Cobra Kai," according to The Hollywood Reporter. "Cobra Kai" is a 10-episode straight-to-series show that will be viewable on YouTube Red.

The stars reportedly revealed the news during a surprise appearance at YouTube Red's Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour presentation in Beverly Hills Friday. Macchio and Zabka will return as Daniel LaRusso (Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (Zabka), respectively. What will the show be about? Who else from the original film's cast is set to return?

In a separate report from THR, the entertainment news publication published a statement from the show's writers Josh Heald ("Hot Tub Time Machine"), alongside writing team Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg ("Harold and Kumar" and "American Reunion").

"Like everyone who grew up in the 1980s, the three of us are enormous fans of The Karate Kid," Heald, Hurwitz and Schlossberg said in a statement to THR. "Cobra Kai will be a true continuation of the original films — packed with comedy, heart and thrilling fight scenes. We can’t wait to reignite the LaRusso-Lawrence rivalry, and we're thankful to our partners at YouTube Red, Sony Pictures Television and Overbrook for their shared enthusiasm in making our dream project a reality."

According to IMDb, the show will take place 30 years after the film's 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, which placed LaRusso in the winner's slot. Johnny Lawrence decides to reopen the Cobra Kai dojo, which instantly revitalizes his rivalry with LaRusso.

“The minute I heard about this project, I knew we had to have it. ‘The Karate Kid’ became an instant classic in the 1980s, and still resonates with audiences around the world and on YouTube today,” said YouTube's Global Head of Original Content Susanne Daniels, according to Variety. “We’re thrilled to partner with Sony TV, Overbrook and the talented writing team led by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg to add a fresh, new comedic twist on one of Hollywood’s most storied rivalries.”

Heald, Hurwitz and Schlossberg will also serve as the show's executive producers. Macchio and Zabka will double as the show's stars and executive producers, too. However, there is no confirmation as to whether other cast members from the original film will return, a lineup that will not include late actor Pat Morita, who played Mr. Miyagi.

According to Vanity Fair, "Cobra Kai" was a hot commodity among networks and online streaming services. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and AMC competed in a bidding war to obtain the title. However, YouTube Red won this battle, which is a good step for the website to properly transition into being a competitive player in the crowded television world. Will Smith’s company, Overbrook Entertainment, is also reportedly on board to produce the show.

"The Karate Kid" has proven to be a pop culture staple from the moment it emerged. The first film spawned four additional films, including the 2010 remake starring Jayden Smith and Jackie Chan. Shows like "How I Met Your Mother" also made reference to it, reigniting a rival between Macchio and Zabka, who played fictionalized versions of themselves on the show.

Considering the franchise's history, it has a good shot at succeeding on YouTube Red. Televised reboots like "Fuller House," "One Day at a Time" and "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life" on Netflix proved to be successful ventures for the streaming service, with "Cobra Kai" preparing to follow it its footsteps in 2018 under YouTube. Reboots for "Roseanne," "Dynasty," "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" and "Will & Grace" are also in the works.

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