‘Cobra Kai’ Star Reveals Nervousness Facing Jackie Chan in New ‘Karate Kid’ Film

Ralph Macchio, known for his role in Cobra Kai, admitted he was apprehensive about facing Jackie Chan in the upcoming ‘Karate Kid’ film. Jacob Bertrand, who plays Eli ‘Hawk’ Moskowitz in the Netflix series, revealed this insight during a chat with GamesRadar+. 

Bertrand recounted a conversation with Macchio, where Macchio expressed his admiration for Chan's remarkable fighting skills. "He still moves like a 20-year-old and it's really scary to fight with him," Bertrand shared. It’s clear that Chan’s expertise makes him “obviously a master” and working with the martial arts legend is understandably daunting.

Image Courtesy: Pinkvilla

Despite his initial nerves, Macchio reassured Bertrand that the fight sequences went “super well” and praised the overall experience. Bertrand, although not part of the film, remains excited about the project, noting that the Karate Kid reboot, set to release next year, features a fresh young cast alongside Chan and Macchio.

Macchio, who reprises his iconic role as Daniel LaRusso, shared various insights from the set with Bertrand. According to Bertrand, Macchio mentioned the new cast’s talent but joked that they could not quite measure up to him. Bertrand quickly clarified that Macchio's comments were likely in jest, reflecting his playful nature.

The reboot of ‘Karate Kid’ was announced in 2023, featuring Macchio and Chan alongside Ben Wang as the new protagonist. Macchio has hinted that the film will connect with the ‘Cobra Kai ‘series, using the show's developments as a reference for the new movie.

 “It helps motivate all the actions, and hopefully, that thread will be seen by the fans in a good way,” Macchio said, ensuring continuity and fan engagement with the series.

-Sushmita Sarkar