The success of Cobra Kai and the upcoming sequel Karate Kid: Legends has reignited The Karate Kid franchise and sparked rumors about a prequel series focused on Mr. Miyagi. The creative team behind Cobra Kai has even expressed interest in exploring Mr. Miyagi’s backstory (via Hollywood Reporter), although this would mean recasting the late Pat Morita, who powerfully portrayed this martial arts master across the film series and in archival footage in Cobra Kai. While Morita’s performance would be a tough act to follow, several notable actors could pull it off.

While The Karate Kid has had some amazing characters, the Miyagiverse revolves primarily around one man: Mr. Miyagi. For this reason, a Mr. Miyagi prequel series has the potential to expand upon the lore of the franchise and address the missing gaps and lingering questions of his backstory. Audiences will know of Mr. Miyagi’s tragic circumstances,...