In some shocking news that probably shouldn’t be shocking, considering how cancellation-happy the streamer has been of late, Netflix has announced the end of one of its most successful original TV series. After six seasons, four of which released on Netflix following its acquisition from YouTube Red, the smash-hit Karate Kid spinoff show Cobra Kai is set to conclude with its next batch of episodes.
The news was broken by an announcement trailer video dropped this Friday (see above) that confirmed Cobra Kai season six will be its last. Similarly, a statement was shared on social media in which showrunners Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg further explained the situation.
“While this may be a bittersweet day for the fandom, the Miyagiverse has never been stronger,” reads the statement, before going on to tease that this isn’t the end. “[W]e hope to tell more Karate Kid stories with you down the line. Because as we know, Cobra Kai Never Dies.”
While devastated fans can maybe take some solace from the fact that additional Cobra Kai universe projects are in the works, Netflix itself is only under more pressure now that it’s lost another of its biggest tentpole shows. Remember, the streamer’s jewel in the crown, Stranger Things, is likewise set to finish with its next season. So it’s really up to the next wave of Netflix’s leading series, of which Wednesday is certainly at the top, to continue to shift their weight.
It’s unclear why Cobra Kai is calling it a day, but it’s entirely possible it was a creative decision, as it appears that the team will continue to work with Netflix on those aforementioned spinoffs. However, it’s also possible Sony’s Karate Kid reboot (er, not the Jackie Chan one, a new one) could have caused some corporate complications.
Cobra Kai season six has yet to be given a release date, but a potential arrival in late 2023 seems plausible.