Warning: Comprises SPOILERS for Karate Child: Legends!
Though Karate Child: Legends was a field workplace and important disappointment, I already know what the franchise must do subsequent with a purpose to make up for it. The Karate Child started a contemporary renaissance within the 2010s with the discharge of Cobra Kai, the spinoff TV sequence that concluded with the discharge of season 6 in 2025. Whereas Karate Child: Legends was meant to capitalize on the success of Cobra Kai, this did not fairly work, resulting in the movie underperforming on the field workplace. Nevertheless, if the franchise needs to proceed specializing in its legacy, there’s a clear path ahead.
Karate Child: Legends had a surprisingly low funds, with the 2025 movie costing solely $45 million to make. Sadly, Karate Child: Legends has solely made $90 million on the field workplace as of the writing of this text. Since most films have a break-even level of double their funds because of the prices of promoting and distribution, which means Karate Child: Legends could have solely barely turned a revenue, if it made a revenue in any respect. Whereas this may increasingly paint a grim future for The Karate Child franchise’s theatrical releases, all hope is not misplaced.
Karate Child Wants A Film With Hilary Swank Subsequent
Bringing Her Character From The Subsequent Karate Child Again
After the field workplace failure of Karate Child: Legends, it’s clear that the franchise must focus extra on hardcore The Karate Child followers relatively than interesting to a basic viewers. If bringing again characters from the unique The Karate Child and the fashionable reboot will not work for basic audiences, it’s uncertain that one other legacy strategy will. So, making smaller-scale films focused at followers of the films and Cobra Kai could be the technique to preserve the franchise going. Fortunately, there may be one main actor who might help this legacy develop: Hillary Swank.
1994’s The Subsequent Karate Child was the primary The Karate Child undertaking to launch after the unique trilogy. The movie starred Hillary Swank as Julie Pierce, a lady who meets Mr. Miyagi whereas he’s in Boston for a navy reunion. The Subsequent Karate Child was a field workplace failure and is taken into account to be one of many worst The Karate Child tasks by critics. Nevertheless, it does have its followers, and it has an plain place within the historical past of The Karate Child universe. So, if the subsequent movie needs to deliver again one other main star, Hillary Swank is the most suitable choice.
Karate Child Has Ignored Hilary Swank’s Julie Pierce For Too Lengthy
The Franchise Wants To Convey Her Again
Though Julie Pierce was the second The Karate Child protagonist after Daniel LaRusso, she has by no means been acknowledged for the reason that launch of the 1994 movie. The franchise has fully ignored her, and that should change. The problem is that The Subsequent Karate Child was poorly acquired, and plenty of The Karate Child followers most likely have not seen it.
Associated
After Watching Karate Child: Legends, I am Nonetheless Aggravated One Character Has But To Return After 31 Years
After the discharge of Karate Child: Legends, it is disappointing {that a} character who as soon as led a Karate Child film nonetheless hasn’t returned to the franchise.
Fortunately, bringing Hillary Swank again in a future The Karate Child sequel might repair this. Julie Pierce might be redeemed in a legacy sequel, fixing the problems with The Subsequent Karate Child. Placing her alongside Daniel LaRusso and different legacy characters might reinforce her significance, which means that she is going to now not be ignored. On prime of that, the shortage of recognition that exists round The Subsequent Karate Child implies that a future film might do virtually something it needs with the character of Julie Pierce.
Restrictions On Karate Child Films Might Enhance The Chance Of Hilary Swank’s Return
Cobra Kai Characters Are Caught On Netflix
Apparently, Karate Child: Legends couldn’t use any of the unique Cobra Kai characters as a result of they’re owned by Netflix, not Columbia Photos. So, whereas Johnny Lawrence might seem within the movie, the vast majority of the Cobra Kai solid needed to keep behind. Bringing again characters from the TV present can be the plain subsequent step for an additional film, however since that may’t occur, the pool of returning characters is proscribed. This will increase the probability of Julie Pierce returning, as she is among the few big-name characters who did not seem in Karate Child: Legends.
Karate Child: Legends
7/10
- Launch Date
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Might 30, 2025
- Runtime
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94 minutes
- Director
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Jonathan Entwistle
- Writers
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Rob Lieber, Robert Mark Kamen, Christopher Murphey