The Karate Kid fans were equal parts excited and skeptical when Cobra Kai aired in 2018. The series focused on Johnny Lawrence, who was once a villainous high school bully, but the premise sounded too odd, and people had their doubts.

William Zabka in Cobra Kai | Netflix

But what followed was a journey of trust and collaboration that took the series to new heights. It all began with one crucial decision that shaped the show into a cultural phenomenon.

William Zabka talks about the pitch for Cobra Kai William Zabka and Ralph Macchio in Cobra Kai | Netflix

William Zabka is the actor who played Johnny Lawrence, whose journey began in the classic The Karate Kid (1984). In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor told how he was approached by the show’s creators, Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitzm and Hayden Schlossberg, who had a clear vision of where the character’s arc would lead.