Cobra Kai’s Ralph Macchio Says It’s ‘Fulfilling’ to Play Daniel LaRusso

Cobra Kai star Ralph Macchio has reflected on reprising his character Daniel LaRusso.

Playing Mr Miyagi’s timid karate student for the first time in 1984, the actor donned the black belt once again for Netflix’s TV continuation four years ago, but what makes this experience “so fulfilling”, as Macchio labels it?

“It’s as unique an experience playing a character 30 years later that everyone grew up with, and then finding flaws in this character as an adult that were different from the flaws maybe as he was as a teenager,” he told Wired.

“That exploration for an actor is so fulfilling. To see people, a young generation, latch onto it, it’s pretty awesome.”

All being well, it’s a role he’ll be expanding even further in a sixth season of Cobra Kai, with co-creator Josh Heald previously teasing the team’s plans.

“We have more story to tell. We’re still figuring out the specifics of that. We’re in the midst of filming another series that we created and are showrunning called Obliterated for Netflix, which is another passion project of ours,” he said last month.

“[He and co-creators Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg] have been friends since we were teenagers. When we’re making a show, we live together because it’s just easier to keep working at night. After a long day shooting Obliterated, the talk turns to Cobra Kai very frequently.

“There’s plenty in store, lots of thoughts going forward. There’s a lot we want to do with these characters and we’re giddy about that next step.”

Cobra Kai seasons 1-5 are now streaming on Netflix.