Cobra Kai Creators Express Disappointment Over Hilary Swank Declining Return

The creators of Cobra Kai, Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, revealed that they reached out to Hilary Swank to reprise her role as Julie Pierce from The Next Karate Kid for the show's sixth and final season, but she declined the offer. They had planned a one- or two-episode arc for Swank's character, similar to how Elisabeth Shue was brought back in a pivotal role, and were hopeful to discuss the idea with her. However, Swank, who had recently had children and was involved in other productions, respectfully passed on the opportunity without a meeting. Despite this, Cobra Kai successfully brought back many characters from the Karate Kid franchise, including Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Elisabeth Shue, and several original villains. The creators expressed disappointment at not being able to include Swank but understood her reasons for declining. There is potential for future expansions in the Miyagi-verse, including possible spinoffs, though nothing has been officially announced.