Ralph Macchio calls ‘Cobra Kai’ Co-Star William Zabka one of his best friends

New York, February 13 (UPI) – Co-star in six seasons of a TV series based on a loved, 40-year-old movie is an extraordinary experience, says a Ralph Macchio that he is lucky to have shared with his Karate Kid and Cobra Kai Partner William Zabka.

“If you asked me 15 years ago if William Zabka and I would make 65 episodes, play these characters, and slowly but surely become best friends off camera, I would be like ‘yes? Seriously? Not happening!’ Not for any specific reason except how could it happen?

Part 3 of the sixth and last season of Cobra Kai Premieres Thursday on Netflix.

Action-Dramedy picks decades after Macchio’s Teen-Underdog character Daniel Larusso beat the arrogant rich child Johnny Lawrence played by Zabka on a karatite tournament in California.

After initially forming competing dojos, where they become Senseis for a new crop of karate children, Daniel and Johnny ultimately combine their various methods of teaching to impose balance in their students and prepare them for international competitions.

“He’s one of my closest friends,” Macchio added, sharing how his relationship with Zabka mirrors Daniel’s feelings for Johnny.

“He and I share a unique window into this world, we have been associated with from two completely different prisms, and now we go emotionally in locking staples, mentally and physically as we take care of our aging tendons, ligaments and muscles,” said Macchio. . “It’s super special and unique. These characters develop and are kind of ‘different but same’ to quote a Miyagi line from the original movie.”

In Season 6 of the show, Macchio said, Daniel and Johnny have good intentions and a solid understanding of each other.

They are no longer rivals.

“There’s a brevity between Daniel and Johnny now, and there’s between Billy and I,” Macchio said.

“There is almost silent conversation, conversations that we can have, whether it is us who talk about life, ourselves or our families, our marriages, our children or through Daniel and Johnny’s eyes,” Macchio said.

“We are really sharing this victory together and in a way that is so Cobra Kai Lands – like a great fat from the 1980s with all the emotions, tears and cheering from 1984 back up again, so I’m excited about everyone to see it. “

Macchio said he is happy when young fans approach him because it means that the heritage of the franchise is embraced by a new generation.

“In the industry, they call this a ‘four quadrant show’,” Macchio said of the series’ appeal to different age groups.

“I have an 8-year-old kid coming up to me and saying, ‘Hi, don’t you play the father in my favorite TV show?’ And i’m like: ‘That’s me. The Karate Kid) Was mom and dad’s first date, ‘or’ grandmother and grandfather took me to see this when I was at the secondary school. ” ”

Macchio said that as Karate KidAt Cobra Kai Focuses on grades that viewers of all ages are invested in and love.

“There may be a handful of examples of it. Outside Star Wars, I do not know the others who have the kind of human connection to these characters that represent a piece of your childhood, and yet they run a relevant story 41 years later, ”he added.

“I’m just honored, grateful, privileged, and I protect it and just want to keep the landing.”