It’s almost time for a new season of Cobra Kai! The karate dramedy, which serves as a sequel series to the iconic Karate Kid movies from the 1980s, takes place over three decades later, following Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence as fathers. A lot has happened since they fought in their dojos, but it almost feels like no time has passed once they get back into karate.
Cobra Kai season 5 debuts this Friday, Sept. 9, only on Netflix, and it won’t be one to miss! This time around, the threat of Terry Silver is real as he wants to expand Cobra Kai to more locations. Of course, Daniel will do everything in his power to stop this takeover from happening, but Silver’s a hard guy to defeat. On and off the karate mat.
While we wait for the 10 new episodes, let’s take a look at the Cobra Kai season 5 cast, both the new actors and the returning ones.
Cobra Kai season 5 cast: New actors
Sean Kanan as Mike Barnes
Sean Kanan is Cobra Kai‘s latest actor to reprise his role from the Karate Kid movie series. Fans of the films will remember him as Mike Barnes, who was branded karate’s bad boy. He appeared in The Karate Kid Part III (1989) after Terry Silver hired him to take down Daniel LaRusso. In the end, Daniel defeated Mike, and their feud is one of the many memorable ones. Expect Mike to be one of the new characters in Cobra Kai season 5!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUR9PYwlNaA
Where have you seen him before? Apart from The Karate Kid Part III, you might recognize Kanan for his role as Deacon Sharpe in The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful. He’s also appeared in shows such as General Hospital, Desperate Housewives, and Sunset Beach.
Alicia Hannah-Kim as Kim Da-Eun
Alicia Hannah-Kim plays a brand-new character in the Karate Kid universe named Kim Da-Eun. According to a report from Deadline, this new character was enlisted by Silver and will help him in his plan to expand the Cobra Kai franchise. “Working with Silver can only mean one thing: Kim is fighting for the dark side,” the site writes. We’re excited to meet a new villain in season 5!
Where have you seen her before? Though Hannah-Kim has not appeared in Cobra Kai or the Karate Kid movies, you might recognize her from shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Minx, Alone Together, or General Hospital. It looks like she hasn’t had a starring role in a big show yet, so maybe Cobra Kai will change that. We’ll have to wait and see what her character does in season 5!
Cobra Kai season 5 cast: Returning actors
Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso
The character Daniel LaRusso is synonymous with the Karate Kid franchise, and Cobra Kai would not be the same show without him. Of course, we can expect actor Ralph Macchio to reprise his role in season 5. In addition to his most iconic role, viewers will recognize Macchio from shows like The Deuce and Ugly Betty, as well as movies such as The Outsiders and My Cousin Vinny.
What’s next for Daniel LaRusso in Cobra Kai? As teased at the end of Cobra Kai season 4, Daniel is enlisting the big guns in his fight against Silver and Kreese. He’s invited Chozen to Los Angeles, who will no doubt be a powerful asset for Miyagi-Do.
William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence
Just as important in Cobra Kai is Johnny Lawrence, played by William Zabka. Though they started as enemies, Johnny and Daniel have since learned how to work together (somewhat successfully). Zabka is most recognizable for his role in the Karate Kid franchise, but you’ve also seen him in movies like Hot Tub Time Machine, Back to School, and National Lampoon’s European Vacation. He also played Scott McCall in the 1980s show The Equalizer.
What’s next for Johnny Lawrence in Cobra Kai? Johnny and his son Robby finally make amends in Cobra Kai season 4, so we suspect their relationship to only grow in season 5. In the trailer, Johnny says he’s no longer a sensei, focusing on his family this time around instead of karate. But the threat of Terry Silver will likely be enough for him to team up with Daniel once more.
Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz
Behind Daniel and Johnny in Cobra Kai, Miguel Diaz is one of the most important characters. The actor who plays him, Xolo Maridueña, will reprise his role in season 5 despite Miguel heading to Mexico at the end of season 4. Miguel is in multiple scenes in the trailer, so we’ll expect him to return to Los Angeles pretty quickly. Apart from the Netflix Original, Maridueña has appeared in the shows Parenthood, Cleopatra in Space, Major Crimes, and others.
Next, Maridueña will play the titular character in the superhero movie Blue Beetle from DC Films.
What’s next for Miguel Diaz in Cobra Kai? At the end of season 4, Miguel is lost. Johnny has been a father figure to him for a while, and now that Johnny is getting closer to Robby, Miguel isn’t sure what to do. He decides he’ll go seek out his own father who he’s never met.
We’re not sure if he gets to meet his dad in season 5, but we know based on the trailer that he’ll be at odds with Robby again. Despite Johnny wanting the two boys to get along, neither of them want to. We’ll see if they can ever be friends given their history.
Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso
Mary Mouser will be back in Cobra Kai season 5 as Daniel’s lovable daughter Samantha. If you think the actress looks familiar, you might’ve seen her in the movie Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. She’s also appeared in shows like Room 104, Freakish, Scandal, The Fosters, and NCIS.
What’s next for Sam in Cobra Kai? Sam has a lot of frustration built up after losing to Tory at the All Valley tournament at the end of season 4. Plus, her and Miguel are on the rocks despite both teens wanting to make things work. In season 5, we suspect her to be on her dad’s side in wanting to take Cobra Kai down, but will the pressure be too much for her? We’re hoping she and Miguel are together in the end! We love them as a couple.
Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene
He’s All That star Tanner Buchanan is confirmed to return as Robby Keene in Cobra Kai season 5. The actor has appeared in a number of popular TV shows over the years, including The Fosters, Fuller House, Girl Meets World, The Goldbergs, and Grey’s Anatomy. He’s set to star in an upcoming movie called How to Date Billy Walsh, alongside Heartstopper actor Sebastian Croft.
What’s next for Robby in Cobra Kai? Now that Robby and his dad Johnny are on better terms, we’re hoping they only get closer in season 5. That might be difficult, however, when Robby and Miguel are still feuding. Robby and Tory are an item at the end of season 4, so we’ll be curious to see if that lasts throughout the new season.
Martin Kove as John Kreese
One of the biggest villains from the franchise returned in Cobra Kai, and you can expect him to be in the fifth season as well! John Kreese is played by Martin Kove, who appeared in all three Karate Kid movies. Kove has a long list of acting credits to his name, and apart from the karate movies and show, you might’ve seen him in films like Death Race 2000 and Rambo: First Blood Part II.
What’s next for John Kreese on Cobra Kai? Kreese is behind bars in Cobra Kai season 5 after Silver set him up in the season 4 finale. We know Kreese is innocent, but it probably won’t be that easy to prove it with all the power that Silver has. As we’ve seen in the trailer, Kreese is causing havoc in prison, unsurprisingly. We’ll be curious to see how big his storyline is this time around.
Thomas Ian Griffith as Terry Silver
Though Thomas Ian Griffith only appeared in one Karate Kid movie as Terry Silver, he certainly made an impact. Where we’re at in Cobra Kai, he’s the worst villain we’ve seen yet, and it doesn’t seem like he has plans to slow down anytime soon. The actor has also been seen in movies such as Vampires, XxX, Excessive Force, along with shows like One Tree Hill and Another World.
What’s next for Terry Silver in Cobra Kai? As evidenced in the season 5 trailer, Silver is only doubling down on his plans to take over the valley, opening up multiple Cobra Kai locations and not letting anything or anyone stand in his way. Can Daniel stop him? We hope so!
Yuji Okumoto as Chozen Toguchi
Thankfully, Daniel will have more backup this time around. Yuji Okumoto, who played Chozen in the The Karate Kid Part II, came back to reprise his role in season 4. In the finale, we saw that Daniel had enlisted him to come to Los Angeles, likely to help in the fight against Cobra Kai. As for Okumoto, he’s also appeared in shows like Z Nation and The Mentalist, as well as movies such as Inception and Pearl Harbor.
What’s next for Chozen in Cobra Kai? Chozen’s got a new home in Los Angeles in season 5, though we don’t know how long he’ll stick around. He and Daniel are on really good terms now despite their past feud, so perhaps Chozen will befriend Johnny as well. We’re sure he’ll be able to provide a fresh perspective on Miyagi-Do.
Jacob Bertrand as Eli ‘Hawk’ Moskowitz
Cobra Kai wouldn’t be the same without Hawk! Jacob Bertrand will reprise his role as Eli ‘Hawk’ Moskowitz in the fifth season of the Netflix Original. The actor has been in plenty of other TV shows and movies, including Ready Player One, Kirby Buckets, iCarly, Community, and more.
What’s next for Hawk in Cobra Kai? Hawk has been in a steady relationship with Moon for a bit now, and we expect their relationship to be thriving in season 5. As for karate, he’s part of Miyagi-Do and will likely be just as passionate as the others about taking Cobra Kai down.
Peyton List as Tory Nichols
Tory Nichols is one of the best characters in Cobra Kai, so we’re happy to confirm that Peyton List will return in season 5! The actress has been in the business since she was young, appearing in movies like 27 Dresses, Remember Me, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, and Something Borrowed. More recently, she played famous serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the movie Aileen Wuornos: American Boogeywoman. She’s also been in a handful of Disney Channel titles.
What’s next for Tory Nichols in Cobra Kai? Tory will probably have the best storyline this time around as she struggles with the fact that she only won the All Valley because Silver cheated. Should she confess or keep it to herself? Tory always has a guard up, but that’s only because she’s been hurt in the past. She carries a lot of trauma and she only deserves the best! We’ll be rooting for her in season 5.
See a quick list of other actors who are set to return in Cobra Kai season 5:
Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso
Gianni DeCenzo as Demetri Alexopoulos
Vanessa Rubio as Carmen Diaz
Dallas Dupree Young as Kenny Payne
Griffin Santopietro as Anthony LaRusso
Paul Walter Hauser as Raymond “Stingray”
Oona O’Brien as Devon Lee
Hannah Kepple as Moon
Rose Bianco as Rosa Diaz
Diora Baird as Shannon Keene
Dan Ahdoot as Anoush
Bret Ernst as Louie LaRusso Jr.
Joe Seo as Kyler Park
Annalisa Cochrane as Yasmine
We’re just days away from the release of Cobra Kai season 5! Don’t forget to check back with us at Netflix Stan for our full coverage of the new episodes.
2023 has kicked off with a couple of big cancelations, which signals a potentially rough year coming up, which many other players throughout Hollywood will share. Here’s a look at the 2023 cancelations!
1899
The big-budget series from the creators of DARK had big expectations and big shoes to fill.
The mystery sci-fi show was one of Netflix’s most ambitious shows in years, using state-of-the-art technology and featuring an impressive ensemble cast.
Why was 1899 canceled?
Data provided to What’s on Netflix from European SVOD analytics company Digital i suggests that the completion rate was ultimately too low and likely wasn’t growing substantially. Their data suggests only around a third of people who started the show went onto finish the title.
Inside Job
The animated series Inside Job had been initially given a season 2 renewal order back in June 2022. Still, in January 2023, the creator confirmed rumors that Netflix had reversed the decision to renew.
In a statement on Twitter, the show’s creator Shion Takeuchi said:
I’m heartbroken to confirm that Netflix has decided to cancel season 2 of Inside Job. Over the years, these characters have become real people to me, and I am devastated not to be able to watch them grow up. Reagan and Brett deserved to get their ending and finally find happiness. And I would have loved to been able to share what was in store with you all.
He added, “To everyone who watched, thank you for coming along on the ride. Even though I’m sad, it helps to know that there’s people out there who cared just as much about these characters as me.”
This weekend is going to be quite the eventful one for Netflix subscribers! Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, Tudum officially returns this Saturday with a day that promises to bring with it a lot of exciting new reveals about Netflix’s biggest shows and movies!
The 24-hour event will bring fans the scoop on over 120 fan-favorite shows and movies including Bridgerton, Emily in Paris, Shadow and Bone, Wednesday, Manifest, You, Outer Banks, The Witcher, Heartstopper and more!
From first looks at upcoming titles, casting news, renewals and release date confirmations, there’s no telling what could be coming our way this weekend. The only thing that is certain? Fans won’t want to miss the event, but how exactly can you follow along from home?
Where to watch Tudum 2022
If you’re hoping to be able to watch this year’s Tudum event online, you’re in luck! While some events such as San Diego Comic-Con and D23 take place in-person with only select presentations from the event available to stream online, Tudum takes place exclusively online as a virtual event.
This Saturday, fans across the globe will be able to head to Netflix’s official YouTube account to watch the event online with the event set to be made available in 29 languages worldwide!
Do you have to pay for Tudum?
If you’re hoping to watch Tudum this weekend, don’t worry about having to break out your wallet or credit cards to pay for the event. The virtual event is free to Netflix fans worldwide as there is no cost to stream the event which can be viewed free of cost on the Netflix YouTube channel!
Allison Janney and Jurnee Smollett are the main attraction of the Netflix movie Lou as the two leading ladies. Janney plays a John Wick-esque character (complete with a beloved dog, but don’t worry, Jax makes it out alive!) while Smollett plays her neighbor, Hannah.
Lou is a hardened recluse living on the fringes of their secluded island, while Hannah is a single mother struggling to make ends meet to take care of her daughter, Vee.
A horrible storm hits the island, and someone kidnaps Hannah’s daughter in the midst of it, forcing her to turn to Lou for help. While searching for Vee, the two women are forced to confront some of the dark secrets from their past.
Even though Smollett and Janney are the stars, Lou has a great cast of actors that also includes Logan Marshall-Green and Greyston Holt (remember him as one of the hot werewolves from Bitten?).
Netflix movie Lou cast list
For those unfamiliar with Allison Janney, the powerhouse actress is a Hollywood staple. Throughout her many decades in the business, Janney has won countless accolades, including seven Primetime Emmy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. She has also secured two Tony nominations.
Janney first rose to prominence playing C.J. Cregg on The West Wing. More recently, she starred as Bonnie Plunkett for nine seasons in the CBS sitcom Mom. Janney won her Oscar for I, Tonya, and has also appeared in projects like Masters of Sex, The Help, Juno, and many others. Next, she’ll star in the comedy miniseries Mrs. American Pie, the comedy film The People We Hate at the Wedding, and the sci-fi drama True Love.
Jurnee Smollett has been acting since she was a kid, with recurring roles in shows like Full House and On Our Own. But most people probably know her as Jess Merriweather in Friday Night Lights. The last few years have really helped cement Smollet’s status as a superstar. She played Dinah Lance/Black Canary in Birds of Prey and is reportedly going to reprise her role in a spinoff standalone movie at HBO Max.
Smollett also delivered an incredible performance in the short-lived but acclaimed HBO series Lovecraft Country and she recently starred opposite Miles Teller and Chris Hemsworth in the Netflix thriller Spiderhead. Next, she’ll star in the courtroom drama film The Burial with Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones.
Completing the cast trifecta is Logan Marshall-Green, who plays the film’s primary antagonist, Philip. You might recall Marshall-Green playing Trey Atwood in The O.C. He also recently completed a stint on the ABC series Big Sky.
Here’s the complete cast list for the Netflix movie:
Allison Janney as Lou
Jurnee Smollett as Hannah
Logan Marshall-Green as Philip
Ridley Asha Bateman as Vee
Matt Craven as Sheriff Rankin
Greyston Holt as Chris
Daniel Bernhardt as Tony
RJ Fetherstonhaugh as Gerry
Andres Collantes as Deputy Torres
Marci T. House as Agent Lee
Toby Levins as Agent Hampton
Netflix movie Lou starts streaming on Friday, September 23.
