Editor’s Notice: The next accommodates spoilers for Season 6 of Cobra Kai.On paper, a present like Cobra Kai most likely should not have labored in addition to it did, nor ought to it have develop into the worldwide karate phenomenon that it grew into. Taking a beloved ’80s basic like The Karate Child after which increasing on the universe and its characters, solely to proceed plot threads from the unique movie and craft significant redemption arcs worthy of the characters. What the workforce behind this sequence was in a position to accomplish is significantly spectacular, and it has efficiently launched an entire new viewers to the Karate Child story. Nevertheless, there was one ball that Cobra Kai dropped in its last season, one different character we want may have been included within the narrative: Hilary Swank‘s Julie Pierce from The Subsequent Karate Child.

‘Cobra Kai’ Ought to Have Referred to as Again to ‘The Subsequent Karate Child’

Whereas it was by no means terribly doubtless that an Oscar-winning actress like Hilary Swank was going to ever come again as Julie Pierce, the truth that Cobra Kai doesn’t even acknowledge her small half within the Karate Child legacy is one thing that simply doesn’t really feel proper. No, Julie by no means wanted to develop into a serious character within the Cobra Kai story; there have been already far too many characters to juggle within the last season. Nevertheless, her personal distinctive relationship with Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) — as seen in The Subsequent Karate Child — is one thing that Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) perhaps ought to have thought-about. The sequence was infamous for bringing again characters from all three of the unique movies (together with many who we forgot about solely), and so it simply appeared odd that it wouldn’t increase barely additional to incorporate the fourth movie as properly. Certain, The Subsequent Karate Child is not precisely a basic, nevertheless it’s nonetheless part of the Miyagi-verse saga, and worthy of reexamination.

That is maybe very true now that Karate Child: Legends is about to rope the Jackie Chan-led 2010 Karate Child remake into the franchise’s bigger continuity, leaving many to marvel what occurred to Julie Pierce in spite of everything these years. We final noticed Julie in 1994, when she beat Ned Randall (Michael Cavalieri) of Alpha Elite in a battle that proved she had mastered the martial artwork. Quickly after, Mr. Miyagi himself beat Colonel Paul Dugan (Michael Ironside) in fight, and Alpha Elite left their former chief behind. A lot of Julie’s story post-Subsequent Karate Child was left open to interpretation, and no matter she ended up doing along with her life, we are going to finally by no means know. Moreover, we do not understand how a lot she and Mr. Miyagi stored involved. It is secure to imagine that the pair remained shut, contemplating the way in which Daniel and Miyagi did themselves, however on condition that she is not talked about on Cobra Kai, there’s not a lot to go on.

The ‘Cobra Kai’ Crew Tried To Rope Hilary Swank Into the Present

So, did the Cobra Kai producers intend to deliver Swank’s Julie Pierce again into the narrative? It seems, they did their greatest. “[We] by no means truly spoke immediately along with her. We wrote letters,” showrunner Jon Hurwitz advised Decider. “We had some ideas in thoughts as to what we’d do to deliver her again in.” In line with the co-creator, Season 6 would have been the time to deliver the character in, notably as a supply of details about Miyagi for Daniel as he searches for the reality regarding his mentor’s “darkish secret.” As a result of she was additionally a pupil of Miyagi, the concept would have been to have Daniel attain out to her to inquire additional. “In order Daniel goes by way of the disaster that he’s going by way of all season about Mr. Miyagi, there was a possibility for her to be anyone who could have extra details about Mr. Miyagi’s previous,” Hurwitz continued. “And maybe deliver some knowledge to the Torys and Samanthas of the world as properly.”

Sadly, Swank turned Cobra Kai down. “I do not suppose I’m,” she advised Collider again in February 2024. “It is, like, the primary query I get proper now. Most individuals normally say, ‘What’s it like working with Clint Eastwood?’ However I believe, ‘Are you going to be on Cobra Kai has virtually surpassed that?'” In line with the present’s creators, they by no means crafted a selected narrative for her. No dialogue was ever written, however they did have concepts about whether or not she and Daniel would have been in contact in spite of everything these years. It is an attention-grabbing dialog, to make sure, and one which followers will solely marvel about going ahead. Though Cobra Kai is formally over, the Karate Child model is relaunching on the large display. Maybe Swank could be extra curious about reprising her position for a future Karate Child sequel that might be launched theatrically moderately than revisiting it for a made-for-streaming sequence…

Julie Pierce Might Have Helped Daniel Throughout His Miyagi Disaster

Nevertheless, the concept Julie could be aware about sure details about Daniel’s former mentor would have been the right technique to deliver her into the Cobra Kai narrative, and it is a disgrace it did not work out. The present may have stored the character at sufficient of a distance that she wouldn’t have disrupted the pure stream, but additionally nonetheless acknowledged her place within the better franchise. Even a point out of her within the three-part last season (which might have been simple, particularly with the usage of Subsequent Karate Child flashbacks) would have been higher than nothing, however the Cobra Kai writers finally opted in opposition to it. It’s too unhealthy although, as a result of even when Julie was not essentially the most beloved Karate Child on the market, she retained a particular bond with Miyagi herself that we by no means acquired to see a lot of other than a single movement image.

These days, Hilary Swank has moved on to a lot larger issues other than the early years of her performing profession (which included a component within the unique Buffy the Vampire Slayer film). The actress appeared in movies like Million Greenback Child and Boys Do not Cry, each of which earned her Academy Awards for Greatest Actress. And whereas she’s not going to be noticed on the All-Valley any time quickly, she is about to look on Yellowjackets this season, that means that tv is not totally out of her wheelhouse. No matter purpose Swank had for not returning to her Subsequent Karate Child position, the reality is that we’re a bit upset she by no means appeared on Cobra Kai. For a present that labored so exhausting to honor the previous and replace the long-lasting Karate Child model, they actually would have finished Julie Pierce justice.

Cobra Kai is on the market for streaming on Netflix.