Mike Barnes actor Sean Kanan, who reprised hisKarate KidPart IIIrole onCobra Kai, has an idea for a spinoff series about two of the franchise’s most popular characters. More than 30 years after playing the"bad boy of karate"inPart III, Kanan returned to theKarate KiduniverseforCobra Kaiseason 5, this time as a very different Mike Barnes. While Barnes was as skilled as ever, the character was now the owner of a furniture store and was embarrassed by what he had done to Daniel back in the day.
Cobra Kailater revealed that there was still an edge to Barnes, especially when he was paired up with other reformed villains like Chozen. While speaking to Arvind Kalyana Krishnan (viaMind Blowing Films) aboutCobra Kai,Sean Kanan discussed the possibility of a Mike Barnes spinoff, saying he"would love to do that.“The actor suggested a buddy comedy featuring Mike and Chozen as roommates, with the duo “teaching karate by day and working as detectives by night,” which he thinks would be"a lot of fun.“See Kanan’s full comment below:
“I think it would be incredible, I’d love to do that. I thought it’d be kind of funny if you had Chozen and Mike Barnes as roommates together, and Mike Barnes is really clean, and Chozen’s like a mess and a slob. And they’re two guys that are trying to navigate the dating scene at 50 years old. Maybe they’re teaching karate by day and working as detectives by night…. I think it would be a lot of fun to do any kind of spinoff. I’d be incredibly honored and excited for something like that. Who knows?”
What A Mike And Chozen Spinoff Would Mean For The Karate Kid Franchise
Cobra Kai Is Too Successful Not To Be Revisited
WhileCobra Kaiended with season 6, we will likely revisit that corner of theKarate Kiduniverse at some point. The creators ofCobra Kaihave talked about how they may not be done with their contribution to the “Miyagi-verse,” and while there are no confirmed plans for anyCobra Kaispinoffs right now,a buddy comedy about Mike and Chozen would be a lot of fun.
One of the best things aboutCobra Kaiis how it revisited virtually every major player from the originalKarate Kidtrilogy, from the main villains to the deep-cut characters that only fans would recognize. The fact that all three villains Daniel fought in hisKarate Kidfilmswere redeemed inCobra Kaiand became friends with LaRusso speaks volumes about how much the show cared about those movies.Chozen and Mike were hilarious together, and it would be great to revisit them in some form.
Our Take On A Possible Mike And Chozen Spinoff
Mike And Chozen Make For A Hilarious Duo
In hindsight, it only made sense forCobra Kaito give us a Mike Barnes vs. Chozen Toguchi fight.Both characters have a lot in common and came pretty close to actually hurting Danielduring their respectiveKarate Kidmovies. Chozen was ready to kill LaRusso at the end ofThe Karate KidPart II, while Mike Barnes would do anything to get the 50% ofCobra Kaithat Terry Silver promised him. It was delightful to see these new versions of Chozen and Mike inCobra Kai, especially because they wanted to help Daniel.
The most fun thing about a Mike and Chozen spinoff would probably be seeing them navigate life as 50-year-olds while still getting themselves in trouble due to karate. While this premise may sound a little silly on paper,Cobra Kaiknew how to turn things that shouldn’t work into exciting, fun stories that played with nostalgia but always respected the original movies.
