Cobra Kai Now Facing A Potentially Dangerous Delay At Netflix
Cobra Kai's final season looks to be delayed on Netflix as the show's writers join the WGA strike.
The final season of Cobra Kai is on hold at Netflix as writers embark on a strike for better pay and working conditions. Series co-writer Jon Hurwitz addressed the situation on social media, saying the Writers Guild of America (WGA) was forced to put down tools after failed negotiations with the studio. “We hate to strike, but if we must, we strike hard,” Hurwitz wrote.
“These aren’t fun times, but it’s unfortunately necessary,” Hurwitz added. He also said once an agreement has been reached, writers would continue working on Cobra Kai season six for Netflix. “The moment a fair deal is in place we’ll get back to kicking a**,” he said, while sending strength and support to the negotiating committee.
Cobra Kai premiered on YouTube Red in 2018 before it was picked up by Netflix for its third season in 2021. The series is set more than 30 years after the events of The Karate Kid and has been praised by fans and critics alike. The story follows the lives of original characters, Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio).
Johnny is struggling to make ends meet, while also dealing with personal demons. Daniel has become a successful car dealership owner with a happy family life. After a chance encounter with a bullied teenager, Johnny decides to reopen the Cobra Kai karate dojo, which he used to belong to as a teenager. This leads to a renewed rivalry with Daniel, who opens the Miyagi-Do in response.
The show features a diverse cast of characters, including the students of the competing dojos who are dealing with personal issues and struggles. The series explores themes such as family, redemption, loyalty, and the consequences of our actions. Cobra Kai has received critical acclaim for its writing, acting, and action sequences even before it moved to Netflix.
Along with cast members from the Karate Kid films, Cobra Kai’s new characters have also become fan favorites. This includes Hawk (Jacob Bertrand), who starts off as a bullied outcast but transforms into a ruthless fighter after joining Cobra Kai, and Tory (Peyton List), a tough but troubled student who becomes a rival to Miguel (Xolo Maridueña) and Samantha (Mary Mouser).
Cobra Kai has successfully balanced nostalgia with a fresh, modern take on the story and characters for Netflix. The show has developed a passionate fan base and has been renewed for multiple seasons, with the sixth season set to be its last. The fifth season revolved around the battle against Terry Silver, who has taken over the titular dojo and is expanding all across the valley.
John Kreese was attacked in the Cobra Kai season finale on Netflix. Meanwhile, Daniel LaRusso, Johnny Lawrence, Chozen, and Mike Barnes team up to take down Terry Silver. It remains to be seen how much the writer’s strike will affect the production and release date of the series.
After six weeks of negotiations with major entertainment companies, including Netflix, Amazon, Apple, and Disney, the WGA was unable to reach a satisfactory agreement. This ultimately caused writers to go on strike for the first time in 15 years. While the exact impact of the decision on the entertainment industry remains uncertain, it will have significant consequences.
