One of the most improbable franchise revivals in television history came to an end on February 13, 2025, with a final five episodes of Cobra Kai. A 1984 karate movie sequel series that began as a YouTube Premium experiment went on to become one of Netflix’s most popular shows worldwide. It ran for six seasons and developed a cast of characters that viewers followed with the kind of dedication typically reserved for prestige dramas. A very vocal segment of the internet asked, “What’s next?” as soon as the finale aired.
As of mid-2026, the truth is that something is undoubtedly being worked on, but the makers have been cautious not to overpromise and the shape of it hasn’t been formally revealed. Alongside the showrunners, Ralph Macchio made an appearance at the Newport Beach TV Fest in June 2025 and immediately addressed the spin-off question. This is how people communicate real progress without getting bogged down in specifics.
“The Miyagiverse is infinite and Cobra Kai Never Dies,” he stated. “We’re working on it.” On social media, Jon Hurwitz had already been a little more explicit, stating that he is “actively working” on a possible follow-up series. However, he acknowledged that scheduling must coincide with Sony and Netflix before anything is officially approved.
The final season of Cobra Kai looked to purposefully set up future stories, which is what makes the spin-off discussion intriguing rather than merely promotional noise. Sam LaRusso is on his way to Okinawa. Demetri and Hawk are heading to Caltech together. Chozen and Kim Da-Eun’s relationship is purposefully left unsettled. These are not mishaps. If there isn’t at least a discussion about where those characters might go, writers don’t devote screen time to these setups. Miguel’s character, Xolo Maridueña, expressed to interviewers that he would love to see Hawk and Demetri, the Binary Bros., get their own program. Fans who thought they were one of the most consistently entertaining pairings in the series agreed.
Fans have frequently brought up the Mr. Miyagi prequel idea, and the creators have acknowledged it as one of the ideas in the mix. The difficult one is this one. The charm of the original Mr. Miyagi cannot be separated from Pat Morita, who passed away in 2005. Although some of Miyagi’s past was explored in the last season of Cobra Kai, there would be significant casting and execution issues for a prequel. That might be precisely the kind of concept that requires years of development before it ever approaches a production greenlight.
Additionally, there is a case to be made for a “next generation” spin-off that would focus on Kenny Payne, Devon Lee, and Anthony LaRusso—characters that the show purposefully positioned as the new generation equivalent of Johnny and Daniel. This would allow the show to reach a younger audience without depending on the availability of the original cast for the duration of the series. Macchio and Jackie Chan starred in Karate Kid: Legends, which debuted in theaters in May 2025. The film did not do poorly, but it received a noticeably lackluster review that confirmed to many viewers how much of the franchise’s recent popularity was concentrated in Cobra Kai rather than the larger Karate Kid brand.
The ScreenRant
It’s clear that Netflix wants more Cobra Kai for business reasons. The program wasn’t simply well-liked in the US; it was a true worldwide success. The problems that remain unanswered include whether the ideal spin-off idea exists, if Sony and Netflix agree on what it should be, and whether the producers can balance fan expectations with original narrative. Reading the cautious but steady cues from Macchio and the showrunners gives one the impression that something will happen eventually. The what and the when are still very up in the air.
