Part 2/9:
Hurwitz shared the fascinating backstory behind Cobra Kai, expressing how his childhood love for The Karate Kid laid the foundation for the show's inception. Along with his long-time collaborators Hayden Schlossberg and Josh Heald, the trio sought to explore the narrative outside the original movie context—turning the tables to focus on the classic bully character, Johnny Lawrence.
Growing up in the '80s media landscape, they were inspired by the nostalgic elements of the era and recognized a growing audience for that sentiment, especially with platforms like Netflix pushing out content rich in nostalgia. Their persistency paid off when they ultimately acquired the rights to The Karate Kid, overcoming obstacles to secure key actors like William Zabka and Ralph Macchio.