Hannah Kepple didn't expect 'Cobra Kai' to be the 'massive hit' it became, credits success to Ralph Macchio and Martin Kove
Not many expected 'Cobra Kai', the martial arts dramedy series to be the staggering hit it has become. Given the success of 'The Karate Kid' movie series in the '80s, there was enormous pressure for 'Cobra Kai', to make a mark. Set 34 years after the events of 'The Karate Kid', the series follows the reopening of the Cobra Kai karate dojo by Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and the rekindling of his old rivalry with Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio).
Created by Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg and Josh Heald, the series garnered positive reviews, not just from the fans who were familiar with the iconic movie series, but also from new audiences. The seasons also saw a host of new teenage characters who had their own storylines on the show.
Coming back to the show's success, the characters too are still basking in the show's achievements. In an exclusive interview with MEA WorldWide (MEAWW), Hannah Kepple, one of the stars of the show, spoke about how the show surpassed all their expectations and went on to become one of the top-rated shows of 2019.
"We knew the impact it would have," Kepple said. "But we weren't sure that it would go on to become a massive hit that it has now." Kepple plays Moon, one of the popular characters in the show and added that it was a lot of fun playing the role. Her persona comes across as a supremely confident teen at the start of the series but progresses into being a lot more mature and understanding over time.
Kepple also confessed one of the reasons she was excited to play a part in the series was because of Macchio and had previously seen only the first part of 'The Karate Kid' (1984). Macchio played Daniel LaRusso, the main protagonist in 'The Karate Kid' movie series and also a central character in 'Cobra Kai'. "I am a huge fan of Ralph Macchio," she remarked. The 'Your Worst Nightmare' star also explained that credit for the show's success goes to the senior actors, whom she said was "an absolutely exciting experience to work with."
Kepple also added that working with veteran actor Martin Kove, who plays the antagonist John Kreese in the series, was a great learning experience. "He is a force to reckon with. Mr. Kove brought in a lot of dynamism to his role as Kreese," she said. "It was a great experience for all of us to be working alongside him, and we learned a lot on the sets."
'Cobra Kai' seasons 1 and 2 boasts a 94% and 88% rating respectively on Rotten Tomatoes and Kepple's Moon was one of the characters who contributed to it. The star, however, showered praise on her co-stars as well for the show's success. Kepple will reprise her role as Moon in the third season of 'Cobra Kai.' Production of the show is set to go on floors this year and the series is slated for a September 2020 release.
'Cobra Kai' Seasons 1 and 2 are available for streaming on YouTube Premium.
