Cobra Kai season 6 will mark the end of the Karate Kid spinoff series, but that's not to say the franchise couldn't continue with the right lead.
Cobra Kai is coming to a close with season 6, but there are several characters from the series and the original The Karate Kid movies that could continue the franchise in a spinoff. The Netflix series expanded the number of karate heroes that audiences have to cheer for and also brought back some familiar faces from the classic 1980s films.
Villains got redemptions, underdogs had their moments, and lasting friendships were formed. Now, with everyone's story coming to a satisfying close, it's time to think about what will come next for the Cobra Kai and Karate Kid franchise.
The question of where characters like Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence will head next has yet to be answered, but several ideas have been put forward between fans, and the Cobra Kai cast themselves. In an interview with Uproxx,
Ralph Macchio expressed his hope that one of the young stars of Cobra Kai would continue the Karate Kid legacy in a spinoff, specifically naming Hawk and Demetri as possible candidates. Still, a number of characters could take the lead after Cobra Kai season 6 finishes up, and there are several possible story ideas that could just work.
10 Robby Keene
Robby training in Cobra Kai
As Johnny Lawrence's son, Robby Keene already got a lot of screen time in Cobra Kai. He went from a floundering delinquent to a karate champion full of integrity. Of course, this could mean little is left to explore for his character.
However, if Robby were to continue on after Cobra Kai season 6, it could be interesting to see him take a different kind of role. Perhaps, as a pupil of both Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do, Robby could end up a sensei himself, and a spinoff series (which would undoubtedly involve some Johnny and Daniel cameos) could follow him as he teaches a combination of the two Karate Kid fighting styles.
9 Tory Nichols
Tory Nichols in a hallway with many students behind her in Cobra Kai
Tory is another Cobra Kai character that has come a long way since she was first introduced to audiences. Going into season 6, she is still a clear badass, but she has grown into a sympathetic character rather than a purely antagonistic one.
It's likely that Cobra Kai's final season will see a lot of development for the character, especially considering season 5 was Tory's toughest yet. Still, it's hard to imagine that her potential growth could be pushed as far as it can go in only one more season, so this could mean the perfect opportunity to turn Tory Nichols into a lead.
8 Raymond "Stingray" Porter
For much of Cobra Kai, Ray, or as he prefers to be called, Stingray, was a purely comical character. He was the single adult student at Johnny's dojo, though he never seemed to realize it. He was far from lead potential, but his role in Cobra Kai season 5 changed this. He's still difficult to take seriously, but Stingray proved that there was more to his heart than met the eye.
This could mean the perfect opportunity for a comedy spinoff series, which could fully embrace the '80s nostalgia and campy action (mixed in with a little Stingray-style Dungeons & Dragons). Ultimately, it may just be ridiculous enough to work.
7 Miguel Diaz
Cobra Kai Timeline Age Gap Worse Miguel
In a way, Miguel is already the main character of Cobra Kai since he filled Daniel LaRusso's place in the "underdog karate champion" role. Of course, this means he is also among the most fleshed-out characters of the Karate Kid spinoff series, which means more opportunities for a continued story. Miguel has been the high school loser, All-Valley champion, bully, and several things in between, and he has overcome and grown in many ways. It will be hard to let his character go. So, as Miguel enters into adulthood, it could be fun to see what he will do next.
6 Devon Lee
Oona O'Brien as Devon Lee on Cobra Kai.
While some Cobra Kai characters could make a good spinoff lead because of how dynamic they were seen to be in the series, others would be perfect because of the opposite. Devon is a karate student who wasn't introduced until several seasons into Cobra Kai,
and though she has been proven to be strong, determined, and capable, she isn't one of the main crew. This just means there is a lot of creative wiggle room for the writers of a new Karate Kid series. Therefore, Devon could be applied to any great new story concept.
5 Samantha LaRusso
Sam and Miguel smile in a photobooth in Cobra Kai (1)
Like Miguel, Sam LaRusso is a fairly well fleshed-out character in Cobra Kai. As Daniel's daughter, she has a natural knack for kicking butt, and her entire childhood of training under her father and Mr. Miyagi made her one of the best fighters of Cobra Kai.
Still, she has a good heart and plenty of compassion, precisely what a spinoff hero would need. What's more, Sam is a character that screams "girl power," so she could be the perfect lead for a female-focused Karate Kid series.
4 Anthony LaRusso
Griffin Santopietro as Anthony LaRusso in Cobra Kai season 4 in a gymnasium in a gray t-shirt
Anthony LaRusso was far less likable at the start of Cobra Kai than his sister. In season 1, he was seen to be somewhat spoiled and served to show audiences how different Daniel LaRusso's life was from in The Karate Kid.
Anthony couldn't have been less like his father, and this was seen even more he became an insufferable bully in later seasons. Of course, the name of the game in Cobra Kai is redemption, and Anthony managed to turn things around. Still, he hasn't been much of a focus for the series, so there is a lot of room left for his character to grow—perhaps in a LaRusso legacy spinoff.
3 Chozen Toguchi
Chozen gives Tory words of wisdom on season 5 of Cobra Kai.
As the villain of The Karate Kid 2, no one expected Chozen to steal the hearts of audiences the way he has in Cobra Kai. The stern and mysterious character has turned out to be something of a softy, and audiences are eager to see if he and Kumiko will start a relationship in Cobra Kai season 6.
Still, it's not just his romantic prospects that have audiences interested. Chozen proved himself a fantastic fighter in his battle against Terry Silver—so much so that he nearly fought to the death. This is the kind of character audiences would love to see in a fun, old-style martial arts show. Perhaps Chozen could even star in a prequel set in Japan.
2 Mr. Miyagi
Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid
Perhaps the most requested spinoff is a Mr. Miyagi prequel movie or series. Though the character (as well as actor Pat Morita) passed away by the events of Cobra Kai, he still has a significant presence throughout the series.
Daniel's love for his old sensei is evident in every decision he makes, and the wise karate master's legacy is strong within Miyagi-Do Karate. Of course, there is still a great deal for audiences to learn about Mr. Miyagi, which is precisely why a prequel, set between Japan and the United States, would be the perfect way to continue the Karate Kid franchise.
1 Eli Moskowitz & Demetri Alexopoulos
Jacob Bertrand as Eli Moskowitz Hawk Gianni Decenzo as Demetri Reunion Cobra Kai
Though Macchio stated that he would love to see any of the stars of Cobra Kai go on to lead a spinoff, he specifically named Eli (AKA Hawk) and Demetri as possibilities. The two boys perfectly represent the underdog dynamic that Karate Kid was all about, as well as the themes of redemption seen in Cobra Kai.
What's more, the friends have a comedic chemistry that, though not at the center of the show, audiences can't help but enjoy. It's hard to say precisely what a plot featuring this duo would be about but perhaps they could start their own dojo and continue Johnny and Daniel's iconic legacies.
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