Ralph Macchio has an intriguing ambition to direct aCobra Kaispinoff about Daniel LaRusso, andStar Trekalready proved his plan would work over 40 years ago.Cobra Kaiseason 6 concluded the present-day saga of Daniel LaRusso and his eternal-rival-turned-friend, Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka). Daniel endedCobra Kaiby acting as Johnny’s sensei, helping Lawrence win theSekai Taikai world tournament. Daniel and Johnny also shared the satisfaction of teaching a new generation of students their combined Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai karate.
Daniel LaRusso’s story continues inKarate Kid: Legends, picking up a few years afterCobra Kaiended. Recruited by Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) to help train his beloved student, Li Fong (Ben Wang), Daniel-san passed on Mr. Miyagi’s (Noriyuki “Pat” Morita) lessons to the newest karate kid. Daniel’s story in his late high school years was the focus ofThe Karate Kid’s first three movies, andCobra Kaichronicled LaRusso’s life as an adult, husband, father, and sensei. However,Ralph Macchio wants to personally complete LaRusso’s arcby going back to his very beginning.
Ralph Macchio Wants To Direct Daniel LaRusso’s Karate Kid & Cobra Kai Origin
One Part Of Daniel-San’s Story Remains Untold
Ralph Macchio dreams of directing an origin story for Daniel LaRussoset before the events ofThe Karate Kid. Macchio expressed his desire during Newport Beach TV Fest’sCobra Kaipanel, where he received the Artist of Distinction award. Macchio told the crowd ofCobra Kaifanatics:
I’ve always wanted to know who Daniel LaRusso was up until he was 15 ½ years old. We never really talk about who his real father was. You never see him really address that. You know, the first fifteen years of your life is stuff you talk about forever… That’s an area… I would love to direct that [Daniel’s origin], whatever that might be…
As Ralph Macchio points out, when audiences meet Daniel LaRusso inThe Karate Kid,he’s mourning the loss of his father.The Karate Kiddoesn’t delve into who Daniel’s father was, focusing instead on his relationship with his new mentor and father figure, Mr. Miyagi. However,Macchio always kept in mind that LaRusso was dealing with a profound loss, and it informs Daniel-san’s moodiness and anger inThe Karate Kid.Ralph now wants to tell the full story after over 40 years.
Ralph Macchio’s Cobra Kai Idea Can Be Modeled After Leonard Nimoy Directing Star Trek
Nimoy Directed Star Trek III: The Search For Spock & Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Ralph Macchio directing aCobra Kaispinoff about Daniel LaRusso has a successful precedent: Leonard Nimoy directingStar Trek III: The Search for Spock. After the Vulcan was killed off inStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,Nimoy campaigned to direct the sequel involving Spock’s resurrection.“Leonard Nimoy directing The Search for Spock"had an irresistible marketing appeal, and Nimoy got the job.Star Trek IIIwas a success, but Leonard’s follow-up,Star Trek IV: The Voyage Homewas a crowd-pleasing blockbuster, standing as thehighest-grossingStar Trekfilmfor 23 years.
“Ralph Macchio directing Daniel LaRusso’s origin"has the same allure as"Leonard Nimoy directing The Search for Spock.“Macchio directedCobra Kaiseason 6, episode 3, “Sleeper,” which showcased his filmmaking talent. Ralph’sCobra Kaiepisode sawSamantha LaRusso (Mary Mouser) and Tory Nichols(Peyton List) resolve their feud and become friends, at last.
Ralph Macchio offers more insight on Daniel LaRusso’s past in his autobiography,Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me.
Director Ralph Macchio evoked Francis Ford Coppola’sApocalypse Nowfor the scenes centering on John Kreese (Martin Kove) in South Korea.Macchio is hungry to direct his vision of Daniel LaRusso’s origin, and Sony Television could model it after Leonard Nimoy’s success directingStar Trekmovies.
Why Ralph Macchio Directing Daniel LaRusso’s Origin Is A Great Idea
Who Better Than Ralph Macchio To Deliver Daniel’s Untold Story?
Post-Cobra Kai, there’s no one better than Ralph Macchio to map out Daniel’s untold origin story, which would have to be a period piece set in early 1980s New Jersey. Macchio came of age in that era, andRalph could deliver the project with the proper verisimilitude. Macchio would also be ideal to personally cast a new young actor to play a fifteen-year-old Daniel LaRusso. Young Daniel’s New Jersey setting would return to and open up a new locale for theever-expanding and limitless “Miyagiverse.”
No one is closer to and knows the character of Daniel LaRusso like Ralph Macchio does.
If Ralph Macchio gets his wish, then he could personally complete Daniel LaRusso’s story and finally answer the biggest question about Daniel-san’s past. Just as, in theStar Trekmovies of the 1980s, no one understood Spock better than Leonard Nimoy, no one is closer to and knows the character of Daniel LaRusso like Ralph Macchio does.
Cobra Kaicouldn’t fit Daniel’s untold story in its six seasons, but Ralph Macchio directing the prequel of Daniel LaRusso and his father could tap into the same kind of magic as Leonard Nimoy directing Spock in theStar Trekmovies.
