After announcing last month Cobra Kai would be searching for a new streaming home after two seasons on the video-sharing platform, Karate Kid sequel series Cobra Kai is heading to Netflix for its upcoming third season.
Alongside landing the third season as a Netflix exclusive, it has also acquired the rights to the first two seasons for non-exclusive streaming with plans for the first two seasons to air later this year followed by the third shortly after.
Though the new deal is currently limited to Cobra Kai, Netflix and Sony TV are in talks for possible franchise expansion within the Karate Kid universe, as well as the option for potential future seasons of the series.
“The appeal of The Karate Kid saga is timeless, and Cobra Kai picks up right where it left off without missing a beat,” Brian Wright, VP, Original Series, Netflix, said in a statement. “The rivalry between Daniel and Johnny is one for the ages, and the show has a ton of heart and is a lot of fun. We can’t wait to introduce a new generation of fans to Cobra Kai and are thrilled to be its new home around the world.”
“We are so proud of Cobra Kai and are overwhelmed by the massive fan response to the series,” Jeff Frost, President of Sony Pictures Television, said in a statement. “Josh, Jon, Hayden, Ralph, William and the entire cast have done such a brilliant job with this sensational series and the huge audience reaction and sentiment for it is a testament to that. We are very thankful to our partners at Netflix and couldn’t be more elated that they have become the new home for this epic saga.”
In Cobra Kai, Ralph Macchio and William Zabka revisit their star-making roles from the iconic film franchise, The Karate Kid. The epic adversaries return to the dojo, thirty years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. A down-and-out Johnny Lawrence (Zabka) seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo, reigniting his rivalry with a now-successful Daniel LaRusso (Macchio), who has been struggling to maintain balance in his life without the guidance of his mentor, Mr. Miyagi.
