YouTube Red

YouTube Red Unveils First Teaser Trailer For ‘Karate Kid’ Reboot Series

After announcing that a Karate Kid sequel series was in the works last August, YouTube Red has unveiled the first-ever teaser for Cobra Kai, which picks up 30 years after the original film series concluded.

Named for the karate dojo around which the films were set, Ralph Macchio and William Zabka will reprise their roles as rivals decades after they first faced off at the All Valley Karate Tournament in 1984. In the teaser, Zabka’s character, Johnny Lawrence, decides to reopen the Cobra Kai after his life has taken a turn for the worse, reports Entertainment Weekly. Meanwhile, Macchio’s character, Daniel LaRusso, has been leading a picture-perfect life with his family. The series marks YouTube Red’s second series based on an existing franchise — following last month’s Step Up: High Water — and is set to premiere later this year.

Other actors in the series include: Xolo Maridueña (Parenthood), who will play a high school bullying victim taken under Johnny’s wing; Tanner Buchanan, who plays Johnny’s son; and Ed Asner as Johnny’s old-school stepfather. Courtney Henggeler will play Daniel’s wife and business partner, while Mary Mouser (Freakish) will play his firecracker daughter.

Subscribe to get the latest creator news

Subscribe

Cobra Kai was written by Josh Heald (Hot Tub Time Machine), Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, who are executive producing alongside Susan Ekins, Will Smith, James Lassiter, and Caleeb Pinkett. Hurwitz and Schlossberg will direct most of the episodes.

In an interview earlier this week, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki called YouTube Red “really a music service” — despite its oversized content ambitions.

Share
Published by
Geoff Weiss

Recent Posts

Netflix wants that BookTok watch time

Netflix has already been coming after YouTube with its bouquet of creator content signings and…

15 hours ago

Meta’s new Reels feature plays into the microdrama market

As microseries take over digital content and Hollywood and YouTube leans ever harder into being…

15 hours ago

Brands don’t benefit from playing it safe. Just ask IKEA, Chupa Chups, and their meatball-flavored lollipop.

Most brands would shy away from the idea of a campaign based around a meatball-flavored…

21 hours ago

The first ‘Minecraft’ affiliate marketing program will add new dimensions to the sandbox game’s economy

If everything goes according to plan, Minecraft players are about to make more money than…

2 days ago

Top 5 Branded Videos of the Week: A cashier for your thoughts?

'Tis the season for festive holiday beverages, and some of YouTube's biggest channels are raising…

3 days ago

It’s time to Dual Stream: Twitch unites vertical and horizontal formats at TwitchCon Europe

The 2026 edition of TwitchCon Europe took place in Rotterdam during the last two days…

3 days ago