Netflix Renews Xolo Maridueña’s “Cobra Kai” for Sixth & Final Season

Xolo Maridueña has one karate fight left…

Netflix has renewed Cobra Kai, starring the 21-year-old Mexican, Cuban, and Ecuadorian American actor, for a sixth and final season.

Xolo MaridueñaThe final run, which promises to be “the biggest and baddest” season of all, is set to begin production in late spring, according to Deadline.

The news was announced Friday in a letter to fans by series creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg.

In it, the trio shared a tribute to the world of The Karate Kid, a universe they loved so much as kids when they couldn’t have imagined they’d one day grow up to expand into a six-season series.

Not only did they bring the stories of underdog-turned-hero Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and misunderstood bully Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) to legions of OG fans, they also inspired a whole new generation.

Cobra Kai takes place more than 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, with the continuation of the inescapable conflict between Daniel and Johnny — but now their families also are involved. Had these two men grown up enough in the present day to make amends? Or even, dare fans dream, become friends?

The series welcomed a stacked list of new characters played by Maridueña, Courtney Henggeler, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Peyton List, Vanessa Rubio, Dallas Dupree Young, Alicia Hannah-Kim, and Gianni DeCenzo.

It also has featured the return of familiar faces from the movie franchise including Yuji Okumoto, Martin Kove, Thomas Ian Griffith, Elisabeth Shue, Sean Kanan, Robyn Lively and Tamlyn Tomita, among others.

One of the only faces missing is Hilary Swank, who portrayed Julie Pierce in 1994’s The Next Karate Kid. Heald, Hurwitz, and Schlossberg have remained mum on the possibility in various conversations with Deadline, as has Swank. It’s going to be the final battle — at least for now — and anything goes.

Cobra Kai is written and executive produced by Heald, Hurwitz and Schlossberg 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.

Michael Cimino Joins Voice Cast of Science-Fiction Podcast “Black Box”

Michael Cimino is a pea in a pod(cast)

The 20-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor and Love Victor star has joined the voice cast for Black Box, the upcoming scripted science fiction podcast from Reverb Podcasts and Soundproof Media.

Michael Cimino

Cimino joins an ensemble cast that includes Joel McHale, Brec BassingerChosen Jacobs and Jacob Bertrand.

Described as an homage to Spielbergian ’80s adventure films, the podcast will follow four unwitting teenagers who stumble upon the wreckage of a crashed time machine and are thrust into the middle of a conspiracy that threatens to unhinge time itself.

Cimino, Bassenger, Jacobs and Bertrand play the lead teenagers, while McHale plays a brilliant scientist whose ego and ambition spiral down a villainous path. The audio drama is written and directed by Brian Siegele and produced by Siegele and Chase Kinser for emerging content studios Reverb Podcasts and Soundproof Media.

Recording for Black Box began in August, making the production among the first podcast projects approved by SAG-AFTRA for full cast studio recording in the COVID-19 era. The producers are said to have implemented rigorous testing and safety protocols in addition to building transparent barriers in the studio so the cast could record together in person.

Production is still in progress with additional casting being finalized now. The eight-episode first season is projected to premiere in early 2021.

“We wanted the performers to play off each other in a way that remote recording doesn’t allow, but also ensure a risk-free working space,” noted Siegele. “We are thankful to have been able to accomplish this with guidance from SAG-AFTRA and coordination from our incredible cast.”

Audio company Reverb was founded last year. Soundproof Media is a new content firm focused on audio, television and film projects

Netflix Releases Sneak Peek at Season 3 of Xolo Maridueña’s “Cobra Kai”

Xolo Maridueña is kickin’ things up…

Netflix has released the first look at the upcoming third season of Cobra Kai, starring the 19-year-old Mexican, Cuban & Ecuadorian American actor, head of the August 28 premiere for seasons 1 and 2 on the streamer.

Xolo Maridueno

Netflix announced that the third season will launch in 2021 and released new footage from season 3 near the end of the trailer, following a recap of highlights from seasons 1 and 2.

The Karate Kidsequel series, starring Ralph Macchio and William Zabka, takes place 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, where a now successful Daniel LaRusso (Macchio) struggles to maintain balance in his life without the guidance of Mr. Miyagi, and must face his previous adversary, down-and-out Johnny Lawrence (Zabka), who seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo. Martin Kove stars as sensei John Kreese.

In addition to Maridueña, who portrays Miguel Diaz, Macchio, Zabka and Kove, Cobra Kai also stars Courtney Henggeler, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni Decenzo, Vanessa Rubio and Peyton List.

Cobra Kai is written and executive produced by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg via their Counterbalance Entertainment production company.

Xolo Mariduena’s “Karate Kid” Sequel Series “Cobra Kai” Looking for a New Home

Xolo Mariduena will be heading to a new home

YouTube’s flagship scripted series Cobra Kai, starring the 18-year-old Cuban, Mexican and Ecuadorian American actor, will be heading to a new streaming platform for its upcoming third season. 

Xolo Maridueno

YouTube is in the process of releasing Season 3 of the popular show to producing studio Sony Pictures Television amid a move away from premium original scripted programming.

Sony Television is shoppingCobra Kaito other outlets, with all major streamers expressing interest, including Netflix and Hulu, who lead the short list of contenders for the Karate Kid sequel series, according to Deadline.com.

The new outlet will have access on a non-exclusive basis to the first two seasons of the show for fans to catch up. That has been part of the negotiation with YouTube, which had ownership in and exclusive global rights to the first two seasons under the original license agreement with Sony Television.

The freshman season of Cobra Kai was a massive breakout hit, topping 55 million YouTube views for Episode 1 and ranking as the sixth-most Google-searched TV show in 2018.

Season 2 picked up following the shocking cliffhanger featuring the return of John Kreese (Martin Kove). When a new rivalry between opposing dojos is born in the aftermath of Cobra Kai’s controversial win at the All Valley Championships, Daniel (Ralph Macchio) realizes his next countermove is to open his own karate training school called Miyagi-Do, in honor of his mentor Mr. Miyagi.

Cobra Kai is written and executive produced by Josh Heald, and Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg. Together, the trio conceived the new Karate Kid storyline that picks up decades after the original film.

Heald, Hurwitz and Schlossberg showrun the series and direct the bulk of the episodes. 

In addition to Macchio and Mariduena, who portrays Miguel Diaz, the series also stars William ZabkaCourtney HenggelerTanner Buchanan and Jacob Bertrand.