Warning: Spoilers ahead forCobra Kaiseason 6, part 2!Hilary Swank made her franchise debut in 1994’sThe Next Karate Kidas Julie Pierce, and despite spending the movie as the title character, she has yet to join her fellowKarate Kidalums inCobra Kai. Instead, an incredibly minor star from the original trilogy has managed to pull off a franchise comeback before Swank. As such,Julie is still the biggestKarate Kidcharacter yet to appear in Netflix’s legacy spinoff show, and another cameo perhaps makes it even less likely to happen whenCobra Kaiseason 6 concludes on July 14, 2025.
Ofall theKarate Kidmovies, Swank’s lone installment is the most maligned. It bombed at the box office and currently has an embarrassing rating of just 7% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the questionable quality of the otherKarate Kidmovies hasn’t prevented other legacy actors from coming back to reprise their roles. Plus,Swank went on to have a great career afterThe Next Karate Kid, so her star power would be a great addition to the show. As such, there were still those who expected to see her as part ofCobra Kaiseason 6, part 2’s cast.
The Karate Kid Part III’s Dennis De Guzman Somehow Got His Franchise Comeback Before Hilary Swank
De Guzman appeared very briefly in the third Karate Kid movie
If Julie is going to show up inCobra Kai, time is rapidly running out for her to do so. By theend ofCobra Kaiseason 6, part 2, she has yet to appear, and there are just five more episodes left to air in 2025 before the show is done for good. Despite such a stringent deadline,theCobra Kaiwriters don’t seem too concerned with bringing Swank backto the franchise. Instead, the show opted for the return ofWilliam Christopher Ford’s Dennis De Guzman.
Axel’s Obsession With Samantha In Cobra Kai Season 6 Creates One More Rivalry Before The Show Ends
Cobra Kai’s Axel Axel Kovačević has already proven himself to be a formidable fighter, putting his main romantic rival in great danger.
Given the gulf in significance between the two characters, it becomes even more confusing why Ford was invited to return ahead of Swank. De Guzman - known simply as “Dennis” in 1989’sThe Karate Kid Part III- was given very little to do when he made his franchise debut, and the same is true of his role inCobra Kai. Althoughhe does get to engage in an exciting face-off with Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRussofor the first time in decades, Ford’s lines are non-existent, and his screen time is very sparse - making his comeback over Swank even more confusing.
Mr. Miyagi’s Shock Return Strengthens The Argument That Julie Won’t Appear In Cobra Kai Season 6
Cobra Kai season 6 found a way to bring back Pat Morita’s iconic character
There is, of course, still time for Julie to show up inCobra Kai’s final season. Unfortunately, the recent return of another hugeKarate Kidmakes Swank showing her face far less likely. Due to Pat Morita’s death in 2005,no one would have expected Mr. Miyagi to show up in the Netflix show. Surprisingly, Daniel’s late sensei did make a brief cameo in “Eunjangdo.” As shockingly brilliant as Daniel vs. Mr. Miyagi inCobra Kaiwas, it also ticked another box in terms of debuts-per-season.
Although De Guzman may only have been a bit player during his first time out, that doesn’t change the fact he fits into the same category as figures like Thomas Ian Griffith’s Terry Silver and Sean Kanan’s Mike Barnes.
The show has long spaced out the re-introduction of itsKarate Kidlegacy characters. Although De Guzman may only have been a bit player during his first time out, that doesn’t change the fact he fits into the same category as figures like Thomas Ian Griffith’s Terry Silver and Sean Kanan’s Mike Barnes. So, paired with Miyagi’s return from out of nowhere inCobra Kai- a role shared by Brian Takahashi and a Morita deepfake, the show’s final season could be a little too stacked with comebacks, which could distract from theSekai Taikai storyline and Kwon’s death.
Hilary Swank Could Still Return As Julie Pierce After Cobra Kai Ends In 2025
Karate Kid: Legends is a great chance for Julie’s comeback
Cobra Kai’s ending doesn’t mean the conclusion of theKarate Kidfranchise. WithKarate Kid: Legends' release datescheduled for July 14, 2025, fans won’t be waiting long at all to see more from the same universe. Interestingly,Macchio is currently the only confirmed actor to be carried over fromCobra Kaiand intoLegends. The cast and crew have also been very vocal about the fact thatLegendswill be the beginning of a new era for the largerKarate Kidsaga. So, although the canon won’t be reset, it’ll serve as a great jumping-on point for new fans.
“Cut The Feed!": Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 2’s Final Line Comes Way Too Late
Cobra Kai’s final mid-season finale ends with a line that makes perfect sense but would have been much more effective if spoken earlier.
With Jackie Chan also coming back to play Mr. Han for the first time since 2010’s then-remake ofThe Karate Kid, the upcoming movie clearly has something special in store. As the final franchise protagonist still to reprise her role,it would make perfect sense for Swank’s character to also return inLegends. Furthermore, it would also explain her ongoing absence from the Netflix show. If Julie Pierce had made the jump fromThe Next Karate KidtoCobra Kai, it would have made it even more difficult to keep the spinoff show separate from the upcoming legacy sequel.
Cobra Kai
Cast
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
