After Mr Miyagi’s death, Macchio reluctant to resume role as Karate Kid

Karate Kid star Ralph Macchio says he’s reluctant to play Daniel LaRusso again after Pat Morita’s death.

The actor’s roles in the first three Karate Kid films were directed by Morita’s father, Mr. Miyagi, who has published a new book titled Waxing: The Karate Kid and Me.

It follows the success of Netflix’s The Karate Kid spin-off series Cobra Kai – moving on without Morita, who died in 2005 but pays homage to him.

He said: “Look, why dance solo without my partner? Like, you know Abbott without Costello…from the moment he started reading Mr. Miyagi, he and I had If something special, I’ll answer as Daniel.

“The chemistry is unique and effortless.”

William Zabka, who plays Karate Kid’s nemesis Johnny Lawrence and co-stars in Cobra Kai, feels there’s more story to tell.

“He always said, ‘I wonder if there’s a way to combine the two,'” Macchio said.

Macchio was unexpectedly drawn when Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Scholossberg came up with the idea of ​​Cobra Kai, a continuation of the role some 30 years later.

After two episodes on YouTube, it was picked up by Netflix and nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.

The fifth series is now streaming.

Macchio wrote: “They just see how you open up the world and take the black and white of The Karate Kid and add all these shades of grey for these characters, where not everyone is a mixed bag, your loyalty The backstory (of the characters) may change as you learn, it’s really a lesson in how to do it and how to do it right.

“And then we also have this great young cast. They’re incredible. They’re going to be big stars.”

Through his book, Macchio is about to talk about going back and doing something different if he could.

When Elisabeth Shue was written in the sequel after the first Karate Kid, he said he should contact her.

“I was working on a movie called The Teacher, and then I had Crossroads and Karate Kid II, and I didn’t stop to think about how she might feel. So a few years later, I look back and I think I might have picked up the phone at that point,” he said.

Macchio said he’s always admired the influence of “The Karate Kid,” but writing “Waxing” amplifies that.

He added: “It’s more profound and poignant as I write.”