Ralph Macchio Teases Major Momentum for Karate Kid 7

Ralph Macchio just gave a cautiously optimistic update on where The Karate Kid could go next. Translation: people are talking, nothing is locked, and if it happens, he wants to do it right, not fast.

What Macchio said, and why it matters

At the 24 Hour Plays Annual Gala, Macchio told People that there have been discussions about the franchise’s future. The 64-year-old was pretty clear about one big thing: with the streaming series and the Jackie Chan movie lane both in play, the brand needs a reset before anyone launches into a new phase. In his words, it’s about finding the perfect way to relaunch and respecting a fanbase that’s been there since 1984.

He also stressed the storytelling guardrails: keep it organic, protect the integrity of the characters, and acknowledge that staying honest gets harder the longer a franchise runs. That’s the behind-the-scenes reality check you don’t always hear out loud.

'Cobra Kai never dies. Karate Kid lives forever.'

The reset idea, explained

Macchio’s point is pretty sensible: you’ve got the long-running series on one side and the Jackie Chan corner of the universe on the other. Rather than piling on more, take a breath, recalibrate, and then relaunch with a plan that actually fits all the pieces. He says the creative team talks all the time and everyone’s open to possibilities, but there isn’t a secret sequel sitting on a shelf.

• Where things stand: Macchio says there are conversations about the future, but nothing currently planned. He’s 'open to communicating' with the team, and they talk 'all the time,' but 'something isn’t coming tomorrow' and he doesn’t 'have that secret yet.'
• The guiding principle: any next step needs to be 'organic' and true to the characters. That’s the challenge when you’re playing the long game.
• That earlier tease: a few months back, he told Rolling Stone he’d be into a Cobra Kai movie 'two years from now' — as long as it’s rooted in genuine truth. So the appetite is there if the story is, too.
• What’s official right now: The Karate Kid 7 (and any other future installments) is not confirmed.
• The most recent project in the universe: The Karate Kid: Legends, which gives substantial roles to both Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso and Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han from the 2010 film. In it, they train Mr. Han’s great nephew, Li Fong (Ben Wang), after he’s bullied at school.

Bottom line: the door’s open, the wheels are turning, but don’t expect an announcement tomorrow. If and when they press go, it sounds like Macchio wants a clean relaunch that actually earns its existence — which, frankly, is the smart way to keep this thing alive without burning it out.