“Cobra Kai” is welcoming fans back to the dojo, releasing teaser of the cast celebrating that the show’s sixth and final season is officially back in production after Netflix announced plans to renew the show a year ago.
The news comes after show creator and writer Jon Hurwitz took to X to announce that writing on the season would stop until after the 2023 WGA strike ended, with him tweeting: “We hate to strike, but if we must, we strike hard. Pencils down in the Cobra Kai writers room. No writers on set. These aren’t fun times, but it’s unfortunately necessary. The moment a fair deal is in place, we’ll get back to kicking ass. In the meantime, sending strength and support to the negotiating committee. You got this.”
We hate to strike, but if we must, we strike hard. Pencils down in the Cobra Kai writers room. No writers on set. These aren't fun times, but it's unfortunately necessary. The moment a fair deal is in place, we'll get back to kicking ass. In the meantime, sending strength and… https://t.co/99UulF7HeW
— Jon Hurwitz (@jonhurwitz) May 2, 2023
The writers strike officially ended on Sept. 27 after a tentative deal was struck between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The SAG-AFTRA strike also ended on Nov. 9 following a tentative agreement with the AMPTP.
Since then, film and television productions have slowly been resuming and getting back to set, with many shows like “The Last of Us,” “Abbott Elementary” and Max’s “The Penguin” all now picking up where they’d left off pre-strike.
“A message to the most badass fans out there: ‘Cobra Kai’ is officially back in production filming The BIGGEST. The BADDEST. The FINAL Season. See you in the dojo!” reads the announcement.
Starring original “Karate Kid” actors Ralph Macchio and William Zabka, “Cobra Kai” takes place more than 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament in the ’80s film, and continues the never-ending conflict between Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence.
The show’s fifth season packed a punch, opening to a 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes with an astounding 2 billion minutes viewed on Netflix in the first full week after its Season 5 launch on Sept. 9, beating viewership for fall releases, including Amazon’s “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” and HBO’s “House of the Dragon.”
Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg all write and executive produce the series via their production company, Counterbalance Entertainment. Will Smith, James Lassiter and Caleeb Pinkett executive produce for Westbrook Entertainment along with Susan Ekins in association with Sony Pictures Television. Macchio and Zabka also serve as executive producers.
“The upcoming Season Six will mark the conclusion of ‘Cobra Kai.’ While this may be a bittersweet day for the fandom, the Miyagiverse has never been stronger. This fandom is the BEST on the planet and we hope to be telling more ‘Karate Kid’ stories with you down the line. Because as we all know, Cobra Kai Never Dies,” Heald, Hurwitz and Schlossberg said prior in a joint statement.
The first five seasons are available for streaming on Netflix, and a release date for the final season is yet to be announced.
Watch the cast’s start of production announcement below, featuring Macchio, Zabka, Martin Kove, Xolo Maridueña, Jacob Bertrand, Mary Mouser, Tanner Buchanan, Peyton List, Gianni DeCenzo, Courtney Henggeler, Vanessa Rubio, Dallas Dupree Young, Yuji Okumoto, Alicia Hannah-Kim, Griffin Santopietro and Oona O’Brien.
