Johnny Lawrence would have been a great addition toKarate Kid: Legends' cast, but oneCobra Kaiscene proves the movie is better off without him. After being featured as the main antagonist in thefirstKarate Kidmovie, Johnny Lawrence suddenly disappeared from the franchise and did not return in any of the direct sequels or reboots. His departure from the franchise after the first film always felt like a loose thread because his story had more depth than the first film explored.
Fortunately,Cobra Kaitook the opportunity to feature him as one of its main legacy characters and made him its primary focus till its final story arcs. Since Johnny Lawrence has been such a crucial part of theKarate Kidfranchise, especially in Cobra Kai, his presence inKarate Kid: Legends’castwould have made the movie even more exciting. However, oneCobra Kaimoment highlights the real reason why his absence from the upcoming film is justified.
Cobra Kai’s Final Scene Was The Perfect Ending For Johnny Lawrence
Johnny’s Final Arc Feels Satisfying And Well-Rounded
InCobra Kai’s early moments, Johnny Lawrence was a lost, washed-up man who was on the brink of losing all hope. However, as the show progressed, he gradually turned things around and became the father figure he never had for Miguel and Robby. Towards theend ofCobra Kai, Lawrence’s biggest struggle revolved around his inability to have a stable job, which was something he needed to be able to support his family and newborn child. However, he overcame that as well by landing the Sekai Taikai win for Cobra Kai and restarting his dojo in The Valley.
With Johnny completely letting go of the dark shadow of his past and emerging as a much better man than he ever thought he would be, his journey in the franchise feels complete and well-rounded.
BeforeCobra Kai’s credits start rolling, Johnny starts training a new generation of young fighters, and,this time around, Daniel is there to support him instead of wanting to take him down. With Johnny completely letting go of the dark shadow of his past and emerging as a much better man than he ever thought he would be, his journey in the franchise feels complete and well-rounded. Since Cobra Kai brings a perfect end to Johnny’s story, his presence inKarate Kid: Legendswould have felt forced and unnecessary.
There’s No Point In Bringing Johnny Lawrence Back Right After Cobra Kai
The Movie Would Have Felt Overcrowded With Another Sensei Character
Although many aspects ofKarate Kid: Legends' storyare still under wraps, it has been established that the film is a completely different project from other installments in theKarate Kidfranchise. From a timeline standpoint, the movie is set afterCobra Kai’s events and serves as a direct follow-up to the series. However, despite this, the movie is not trying to be an extension of the Netflix show’s universe. Instead, it will try to etch its own identity into the franchise and potentially pave the way for more direct sequels.
Some might argue that sinceKarate Kid: Legendsis already featuring a collaboration with two of the greatest karate mentors, Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han, it might have benefited from adding Johnny Lawrence to the mix. However, owing to its limited runtime,the movie would have risked overcrowding its narrative and diluting the impact of its karate crossover by trying to juggle too many legacy characters at once.
Karate Kid: Legendsis scheduled to be released on August 03, 2025.
SinceKarate Kid: Legendsis also trying to honor Mr. Miyagi’s legacy by showing how both Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso have had ties with the legendary sensei in different ways, it would not have made sense for the film to forcefully add a Cobra Kai practitioner like Johnny to its narrative. Therefore, even though Johnny Lawrence will always be a crucial part of theKarate Kiduniverse, the upcoming movie is just not the right fit for his story.
I Wouldn’t Mind Seeing More Of Johnny Lawrence In Future Karate Kid Movies
Johnny Lawrence’s Involvement Will Always Be Welcomed
Daniel LaRusso will always be recognized as the OG “Karate Kid.” However, after Cobra Kai, Johnny Lawrence, too, has his own massive following. Owing to this, even though he is not a part of the upcomingKarate Kidfilm’s roster, viewers, like me, would always love to see him in future movies. Even if futureKarate Kidfilms end up featuring him in a limited capacity,it would be nice to know he is doing well after his Sekai Taikai win inCobra Kai’s finale.
Interestingly, it seems like Johnny Lawrence’s story in the franchise is far from over.In a recent interview,Cobra Kai’s creatorssaid that even though Johnny “has finally come out the other side in this Cobra Kai story,” there may be more stories to tell about him and his journey ahead. This could mean that, in the near future, audiences might get to see more Johnny-centric narratives in the franchise. For now, however, one must appreciate howCobra Kaiperfectly ended his story while allowingKarate Kid: Legendsto carry the franchise’s mantle without him.
Cobra Kai
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
Karate Kid: Legends
Cast
Karate Kid: Legends is a sequel to Cobra Kai and The Karate Kid directed by Jonathan Entwistle. The film sees Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan reprising their roles, continuing the legacy of martial arts mentorship and rivalry in a new era of challenges and apprentices.
