Cobra Kai star Gianni DeCenzo discusses the spinoffs he hopes to see in the future. As the main character Demetri Alexopoulos, DeCenzo has been with Cobra Kai since the very beginning. and, at the end of the show's fourth installment, the character finds himself in a positive place overall. His friendship with Hawk (Jacob Bertrand) is repaired after a series of ups and downs, as the two are seen celebrating after Hawk scores a big victory.
It's a decidedly better spot than some of the other characters are left in during the Cobra Kai season 4 finale. Kreese (Martin Kove) is arrested after he's betrayed by Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith). And, in an even bigger surprise, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) looked like they might have to leave their karate dreams behind. While it all sets up intrigue for the return of the Karate Kid spinoff, DeCenzo recently revealed that his ideal spinoff takes place a little bit removed from dojo battles and backstabbing.
In an interview with TV Insider, to promote Cobra Kai season 5, which premieres September 9 on Netflix, DeCenzo spoke of the potential for a spinoff of Demetri and Hawk going off to college in the future. The actor said that he could even see the two of them becoming detectives, with Hawk playing 'the bad cop' and Demetri taking the opposite end. Read his quote below.
I would love to see a Demetri and Hawk spinoff. I always thought of them as, yes, going to college, but also for some reason being detectives. Maybe Hawk is the bad cop and Demetri the good cop. Demetri uses his brain while Hawk uses his fists to solve these crimes while in college. I would like to see a spinoff. I just want to see Demetri get better at karate and continue his relationship with Yasmine and become president of the world.
Speaking of the possibility of more spinoffs, series co-creator Jon Hurwitz said that spinoffs and ways to continue the franchise are being discussed. Answering a question on Twitter, Hurwitz even indicated that some Cobra Kai spinoff ideas were further along than others and noted that he wouldn't want to spoil anything. A story set in college and focused on detective work is probably a tongue-in-cheek response from DeCenzo, but the broader idea of a continuation centered around Hawk and Demetri certainly holds merit. The pair, who were once known as the "binary brothers," have had a rich arc. They've gone from the closest of friends to rivals before reconnecting in recent episodes. There's certainly a strong foundation there, which could be expanded upon or tested.
One way the Netflix show could do that in the future would be to devote a standalone episode or storyline to Demetri and Hawk. It'd be a way to see how fans would respond to the setup and though it might sound a little random, it's worth remembering that many doubted the viability of a Karate Kid continuation before it happened. With the right premise and the right talent, both in front of and behind the camera, it's possible that a looser and more overtly comedic Cobra Kai spinoff could be just what the franchise needs.
Source: TV Insider