Nearly thirty years have passed since Ralph Macchio played the role of Daniel LaRusso on the Karate Kid FilmsThe actor hung up the part, apparently not averse to new ideas about his return to his character. He finally agreed to the right idea. Cobra Kai. In Macchio’s new book, the actor has detailed some memorable pitches thrown his way over the years, including a Rocky vs. Karate Kid crossover.
As Ralph Macchio’s memoir Waxing On: Me and the Karate Kid hits bookshelves, we’ve learned about some of the contents of the book, via Entertainment Weekly. Macchio shared a portion of the new release in which he said that in the late ‘90s, particularly a lot of ideas about reviving Karate Kid came to his desk at a time when he “wasn’t willing to listen.” However, one in particular he finds difficult to forget. His words were in Waxing:
This was delivered by a screenwriter at John Avildsen’s lunch with two studio executives. This was Hollywood at its best. We were probably having lunch to discuss another movie idea that never came to fruition. After the Hilary Swank version of The Next Karate Kid had been released, this was our lunch. I still remember the excitement with which the writer shared his story. ‘elevator pitch’John, me, the studio execs. John had helmed Rocky and The Karate Kid so it was a natural fit for this writer’s concept idea.
Macchio called it pitch “one of my favorites.” Here’s how it went:
Imagine if Rocky Balboa and Daniel-san had a child and they were both fuckups. Ralph and Stallone would come together between New Jersey, Philadelphia, to train in a Miyagi/Mickey style fight training. It would be crazy!
Yeah… that’s a real idea that might have happened if Ralph Macchio and Karate KidJohn Avildsen, director, agreed to it. However, they both declined it. Macchio continued his explanation of the pitch and said this:
My most vivid memory is of the studio executives leaning in, as if trying to make it all work. John and I looked confused at the idea of the crossover idea. My mind raced trying to visualize Stallone running through Newark’s slums. John broke into laughter and said it would not work. It was a forced suggestion. He may have said diplomatically that he was not interested to combine those two franchises and those characters.
It’s true, this would have been unbelievably forced if it actually happened, especially because we’re talking about world heavyweight championships in Rockyvs. the local All-Valley champions in karate. They are two different animals, and should be treated as such. Both franchises found their own paths and have been successful. Rockyhe did so with the Creed Movies include The future Creed III?, Karate KidFive seasons of Cobra KaiThey arestreaming with a Netflix subscription.
Ralph Macchio finally saw the potential and made a big comeback for the franchise. Cobra Kai, which follows William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence 30 years after losing to Daniel LaRusso, struggling to hold a job when he saves a teen kid and agrees to teach him the ropes of karate. Although the show started as a niche series for YouTube Red in 2018, Netflix bought it. The series has been a big hit ever since, airing its fifth season recently and delivering great content. We have more stories in another season, so we can ask questions about the next..
It was also announced recently that Sony Pictures is creating another. Karate Kid FilmThis book will be available on June 7, 2024. For now, Ralph Macchio doesn’t know if he’ll be part ofThis is how it works Karate Kid movie. Either way, it’s doubtful it’ll be Rocky vs. Karate Kid.