Your Favorite Cobra Kai Stars' Audition Tapes | Cobra Kai (William Zabka, Xolo Maridueña)

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the Cobra Kai cast's original audition tapes! Watch your favorite stars bring their characters to life and see how they landed their iconic roles.
WATCH all Cobra Kai Season 1, full episodes HERE: • Cobra Kai Season 1: Th...
Subscribe HERE: / @cobrakai
Thirty-four years after events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, a down-and-out Johnny Lawrence seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with a now successful Daniel LaRusso.
Seasons I-V Now Streaming | VI: July 18 only on Netflix
BUY SEASONS 1-5 NOW ON DVD:
Season 1 & 2 Set: amzn.to/4bddVKw
Season 3: amzn.to/3xCyG4F
Season 4: amzn.to/4bbq96I
Season 5: amzn.to/3z8e6tA
Cobra Kai soundtracks are available on @madisongaterecords. Listen Now: www.sonypictur...
00:00 Jacob Bertrand
01:52 Xolo Maridueña
04:06 Xolo Maridueña & William Zabka
06:51 Peyton List
08:03 Mary Mouser
08:46 Mary Mouser & Ralph Macchio
11:23 Xolo Maridueña & Mary Mouser
13:51 Tanner Buchanan
14:40 Tanner Buchanan & William Zabka
16:24 Gianni DeCenzo
#CobraKai #RalphMacchio #WilliamZabka

[@Astral_Dusk]

Jacob's shift from broken to HAWK was epic, born for the role.

[@Jebu911]

True this show had some good teen actors for sure. Zabka was still the best.

[@GaryTongue-zn5di]

He is basically just Giovanni Ribisi Jr.

[@elemelanie]

I love how Johnny just cured Miguel’s asthma 😭😭

[@TeghanKnox]

Frrr

[@tim-obeartheclawmachineguy9616]

and Hawk's autism (and lip kinda), and Miguel's paralyses

[@elemelanie]

@@tim-obeartheclawmachineguy9616 lol real

[@ccharfield5635]

Even Johnny can recover the normal state of crippled Miguel in season 3 within a week. Johnny is better than Mr. Miyagi can't changed my mind 🤣

[@WerewolfLPSoldier]

​@@ccharfield5635 Better than Mr. Miyagi's "successor" Daniel when curing a student, that is for sure.

[@PrivateSmiles]

Jacob Bertrand's audition was incredible. I felt sorry for him I thought it was real.

[@JayCee-vm6nk]

yeah.

[@princebpolar8429]

His switch between insecure personality and cocky asf is impeccable. 👏🏼

[@belleradrienn7491]

It was the cooooooolest! Like a movieschizo :O

[@BWSERNKE]

That felt real not acting 😂😢

[@joelwestbury]

He absolutely crushed it 💪🏼🔥

[@babyblue4288]

JACOB DID SO GOOD BRO WHY DO I FEEL BAD ALL OVER AGAIN FOR ELI 😭😭

[@meganwilliams7434]

I hate that scene of Johnny that was just cruel

[@TyrannosaurousRex]

@@meganwilliams7434It was, but it was crucial for character development

[@jbullthekingofentertainment]

1:34 what in the world did he say about sandwich they bleeped it out 🤔🤣🤣🤣😂😂🙏🏿👍

[@XenteBR]

It wasn’t cruel. He was right. If you can’t handle insults how will you handle the real world? He literally even gave Eli good advice and told him to flip the script so people wouldn’t pay attention to his lip. He gave Eli confidence and made him feel much better about himself.

[@meganwilliams7434]

@@XenteBRAnd turned him into a dodge bag in the process

[@bandlover341]

Jacob going from Eli to Hawk is insane

[@jordanx4797]

Johnny be sounding like his younger self at times man it’s amazing. His karate kid voice. He puts it on so well it’s brilliant

[@Mugzh]

Exactly

[@Cadesbaee]

fr

[@ColeDunny568]

I love Johnny 😍

[@joelwestbury]

I thought the same soo nostalgic 😊

[@A-Dubs398]

It's mainly when he yells, he sounds like a teenager again.

[@matthewcox9821]

The dialogue between Sam and Miguel was interesting where it dramatically deviated from the story line.

[@eries77]

I’m glad they didn’t go with that plot line. Sounds like there would be no redemption for Miguel.

[@jah96]

Shows how wrong that attitude could be applied in so many ways😂😂but yet they managed to not go down a path to horrendous in the show

[@k_villu]

Different script in ep 10 about ep 9 😮

[@chibuezeezike5372]

Yeah I was confused because I didn’t remember that scene from the show

[@talkingstraightwithnate]

Yea, when did he trash a car?

[@syncere]

they’ve all grown so much as actors. gianni did the best for sure. ralph and mary’s chemistry read was great. xolo definitely improved the most.

[@matrix35]

Yeah these casting clips have some terrible acting but to be fair they have all improved alot. The fact that Xolo was the leading man in the Blue Beetle speaks volumes of his massive improvement as an actor.

[@syedzeeshan8022]

Xolo , mc for a reason

[@wendyfrench8042]

I can’t imagine another Miguel- I absolutely adore Miguel - I cried so many times with his story line - I mean literally bawled

[@syedzeeshan8022]

@@wendyfrench8042 yeah bro , but in the first part of season 6 , I really felt so bad for miguel man , although I know robby deserves a place after getting 2nd place everytime but man miguel is the MC he was the one who started the whole show so i really want him to win tho

[@jessy8a10]

​@@syedzeeshan8022yeah I also thought he was the main character of the kids but the last two seasons they gave robbie and tory a lot of importance..

[@Seetherfever555]

William Zabka's projection is so on point the mics are peaked to hell lmao

[@mkayyy1918]

Damn Miguel robbing Daniel and breaking Sam's phone is what originally led to their breakup? Interesting.

[@aydentube_]

When did he do that or was it deleted?

[@jeremysanchez5227]

​@@aydentube_It was just the audition you see here, it didn't come an actual scene

[@rayvega3163]

@@jeremysanchez5227I’m actually glad it’s changed. That would’ve been completely different and not a great look for Miguel.

[@kagemaru2503]

I wonder if the original script is darker than what we got in the actual show

[@perfectharbinger1398]

Man, they really struck gold with Xolo and Mary's chemistry. This is likely their very first time meeting, unless they informally met before this chemistry read, yet they capture the chemistry of "Teenage friends with crushes on each other" so perfectly.

[@starrmartinez5963]

They actually work together before they said on a interview so this wasn't there first time working together.

[@AlexTamayo.]

Damn, acting with someone who's just reading is REALLY tough. This audition tapes are great!

[@laurab6418]

Yeah that was annoying! I know it’s her job to just read, but she was so monotone and boring, giving them almost nothing to work with…yet the actors still did amazing

[@AlexTamayo.]

​@@laurab6418 they really did amazing! It is really hard to act off someone how's not acting and it's just reading. You do it when rehearsing and/or memorising lines with a friend or a family member, but doing it for your audition must be really nerve-racking since you have nothing to play off of. You have to emote your part and imagine what the other person would be doing and reacting to that, so you're basically emoting for two. All of this whilst having the performance anxiety of the audition itself.

[@RutchitiWarriors]

the improv with mary mouser and xolo mariduena was amazing.

[@ghostwalk2446]

Pretty sure it was scripted

[@JaredSchadler]

@@ghostwalk2446 They do have some improv chemistry reads somewhere on the internet. They have some really good chemistry in those clips I hope they use in season 6.

[@musu68]

GIMME THE PHONE 😡

[@CobraKaiNation]

I’m so glad everyone that was casted! So well selected!

[@TonyownsWorldChoseOne]

Tanner and Mary are awful, as for you Shamoon, you and Jacob your buddy are sexist and so disrespectful to women. You two should be ashamed of yourselves, your channel is embarrassing, your scared of me exposing you that's why you block me.

[@TonySellers-di1tb]

You and Jacob are sexist against women I have video proof

[@MelissaSimpsforSam-dl4yz]

You and Jacob are sexist against women I have video proof

[@MelissasimpsforSam]

You and Jacob are sexist against women I have video proof

[@Itsmemelon]

Hi I’m a big fan of

[@L.scardi9138]

Gianni had the tone of speach spot on from the start, underrated actor

[@Apollola]

Real!

[@BrodyStag]

We’ve all sinned. Trust in Jesus alone for salvation, our works can’t save us, but He can. Much love.

[@L.scardi9138]

@@BrodyStag ?

[@malachicasimir8294]

“doctor said i could be on the spectrum” “yeah we’ll get off it, pronto” i would’ve blown the audition from laughing😭

[@rubenfuentesiii5169]

Gianni’s audition was perfect! His was the only one that felt and exactly like on screen. Jacob and Mary second best. Miguel and Johnny have fantastic chemistry together. I’m glad we got the cast we did

[@kayprivate2720]

Love seeing this. I am so glad we never saw that Sam and Miguel scene actually happen.

[@dawudkhan473]

why it was so good

[@replicaclone4776]

​@@dawudkhan473Sam turned into a grade A Karen

[@eleven-hopper]

@@replicaclone4776 Sam? Miguel started yelling at her for no reason

[@EvanKaufman227]

@@eleven-hoppergimme the phone👹

[@LateNiteBreaks]

Tanner and Billy gave me chills, they've had chemistry since Day 1. Awesome job by all of them, Gianni is a natural from the start!

[@user-pc1dw5bo1f]

You mean Willy?

[@hahah912]

yes!!!!

[@BrodyStag]

We’ve all sinned. Trust in Jesus alone for salvation, our works can’t save us, but He can. Much love.

[@galacticprops]

it's really interesting seeing the original script unfold here, it seems like Miguel was originally meant to have a sort of Robby role potentially with him unlocking what I imagine is the larusso auto group door with the code that Robby gets in season 1 and different interactions between characters. it's so awesome to see these new/old scenes that were originally meant to be in cobra kai

[@cheetah219]

I'm thinking these could be fake scripts or rejected ideas just for the audition. Maybe lines that were good enough for the audition and direct character motivations without giving away the plot or to your point, too early in the writing process that characters were still developing. Some shows like breaking bad changed significantly after casting

[@Sebastian62608]

Fun fact: Originally Jacob auditioned for Demetri but he didn’t get it. They then offered for him to try out for Eli. Jacob actually thought he was auditioning for 2 different characters because of how different Eli and Hawk are.

[@isa.bel_]

Peyton’s audition was one of the best that girl is so talented!! I also loved Jacob’s🔥

[@onmas909]

Immediately has the bad girl persona down

[@sparrowhawk5673]

Felt too stiff, hardly moving. Like you could tell she was nervous during the audition. Sam was much more believable and into it.

[@stevenharper9108]

Peyton out here looking like she's the cheerleader we gotta save to save the world.

[@luiscarrasquillo4543]

Is that a Heroes reference 🤔

[@harbournolan1122]

Save the cheerleader… save the world

[@sparrowhawk5673]

Felt like she could of done better.

[@Barbara-pj1nw]

The way Jacob changed the personalities is amazing 😮❤🥰

[@EagleMan1234]

It's cool to see what's essentially one of the draft versions of the lines, as well as the actors' audition. Also, Johnny's QUIET in the audition was more intimidating than the QUIET he yelled in the final cut.

[@brandoncastillo_05]

OMG Xolo looked like such a baby The young lad was so cute back then 🥰🥰🥰 I'm starting to feel old now Lol

[@fatimafakhrualdin5142]

Right?! Feels like it was a century ago 😅😅

[@Hot_Mufasa]

Seeing the actors 7 years ago is wild... they changed so much

[@austinhayles3049]

“My doctor says I might be on the spectrum” “Right well I don’t know what that is but get off it pronto” That line was way to funny man 😂😂😂

[@philybarra2702]

4:14 Johnny says the magic word "QUITE!" 😆😆😆 👍

[@TheLastLineLive]

How wild would it have been if Ralph or William screwed it up and the casting director was like “yeah, we’ll be going with someone else, thanks though” 😂

[@CobrakaieditsMD]

How is that supposed to work😂 they are the original actors

[@derrickhewitt6171]

@@CobrakaieditsMD That's the joke though

[@Hajdukovacsko]

That quiet from Johnny is loud and legendary

[@eries77]

Macchio is such a natural. Cant believe how young they all were.

[@H.Y2294]

Gianni did really good

[@kayprivate2720]

He even got them chuckling. Which to be honest, I laughed out loud the first time I saw that scene and he said that line about yasmine spitting in his face. His delivery was on point. That whole scene makes me laugh every time. Kinda reminds you a bit of Superbad trio.

[@KcityMikeThomas]

Yeah, they chose the right guy to play Demetri. I love that character.

[@MegaKabou]

Just what I thought. He nailed it. 💯

[@letsrollthediceyeah]

10:11 "ur mother was watching wendy williams the other day and--" LMAO

[@PopkyleG09]

They really changed the plot for season 1 episode 9

[@user-zt7yx6ww7l]

How so

[@PopkyleG09]

@@user-zt7yx6ww7l because they said something about Miguel and Eli on security footage meaning they did something but wasn’t shown

[@isa.bel_]

yeah they were suppose to rob the larussos or something and then Miguel would break sams phone at the beach that’s what would of led to their breakup.

[@jaysal_dies]

@@isa.bel_ I'm glad they didn't go this route but I also like the parallels to Johnny freaking out on Ali and busting up her radio

[@isa.bel_]

@@jaysal_dies yeah same

[@alisamirmulla9322]

6:14 my ear is broken😂😂

[@PhoenixWrightAceAttorney]

_Q U I I E E E T T T ! ! ! !_

[@kotukx]

Real

[@arabianflowers]

I was absolutely floored by all of this! Everyone did so well and all the actors have amazing chemistry! The original script for Miguel qnd Sam's breakup shocked me. My jaw literally dropped. They did such a good job acting, too. What an amazing cast.

[@melodramaticalz]

Gianni’s delivery on the “So how’d it go?” is so good

[@laurab6418]

I love how Tanner is the total opposite of his character and still did an amazing job acting as Robbie

[@nabilafakira2208]

What do you mean? Tanner is a nice guy and Robby is not?

[@marshhhh_10]

​@@nabilafakira2208in the first few seasons he wasn't a nice dude

[@moonchild_luv3854]

Lol Jacob really was Eli here. I know he was so happy that he go to change into Hawk as well crazy versatility 🙌❤️.

[@TheRealRickGrimes]

Amazing chemistry between Xolo and Mary!

[@DaYurizc]

6:14 bro broke the sound barrrier

[@SCP_210]

Tanzit is wild 💀😭😭

[@omgbygollywow]

I can't imagine anyone else playing those roles. Perfect casting!

[@charaznable9209]

This is the best cast for anything ever, sure there are movies or tv shows with 2-3 or sometimes even 5-6 great actors, but everyone in this series was golden.

[@selenatorswiftiegirl]

William yelled too loudly, my phone scratched😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@AmanSingh019]

so miguel was going to rob daniel? good thing they scrapped that idea, i don't see that working

[@rayvega3163]

And obviously it’s a bad look for Miguel and way too controversial enough I’m sure even the fanbase would be completely against him. So super glad they changed that into someone more fitting while still having Miguel be likable.

[@daved1535]

At 5:00, it's the exact line Kreese uses in the 1st Karate Kid when he is addressing Johnny, and Miyagi and LaRusso walk in the dojo

[@rcrdfilms]

Best casting ever could not imagine anyone else for the parts 🎉😊

[@cassidy_lavin]

omg tanner looks so young

[@fatimafakhrualdin5142]

Ikkkkkk what a cutie

[@jbullthekingofentertainment]

He literally looked exactly the same 🤦🏾🤷🏾‍♂️🤣🤣🤣😂

[@gamingparadise3390]

Exactly lol he is the one that changed tje least lol​@@jbullthekingofentertainment

[@vvansvanity]

this is so cool! it's nice to see how they have progressed, and how it looks different from here to the actual show.

[@sarthaknikhal5540]

Mary, Jacob and Gianni immediately fit into the role.

[@cathybetonio9409]

And xolo

[@ianpreston4408]

Wow! Time flies!

[@jdjdhdjfjsmcmcejjsjs]

Peyton List's facial expressions are insane. Her acting skills are on another level, damn.

[@thisgustin]

Wow, they're really so good.

[@jimikelley189]

Wow, these are amazing. No wonder they got the roles; perfect casting

[@JohnDoe-ly6bt]

their auditions were really amazing even better then their actual performance in the show

[@tellyjr100]

Missed the line where Johnny said “gouge your eye out and we’ll call you patch…no don’t do that.”

[@brunnaoliveira7747]

Wow... Tanner auditioning with Zabka... 👏👏👏👏👏

[@IsraelA739]

13:28 😂😂 I couldn’t breath

[@thatgamerguy1982]

Now that's acting right there 😎

[@KingstonHolmes-ct7in]

miguel is a fake johnny and sam is a fake ali

[@kiera352]

GIVE ME THE PHONE!!!😡👹

[@contrerascounty824]

Bro just really wanted that phone 😂😂😂

[@dreaxy28]

IM DONE TALKING WITH YOU 👹👹

[@cesaranibalochoa3454]

Xolo , Miguel IS THE BEST 🔥

[@vision-xb4fi]

Until hawk enters

[@imtiyazyasir23]

Man season 1 (and 2) had such a unique and special feeling, the more recent seasons like 4 and 5 are too abnoxious and unrealistic

[@imtiyazyasir23]

@Brandon-up7sg Yh that's why the first two seasons had such a special feeling to them, because history was repeating itself

[@syncere]

@@imtiyazyasir23 the show did eventually need to form its own identity tho. remakes and revivals rarely work, this one does but i only think it’s lasted this long because it’s not karate kid 2.0

[@hannahhester8376]

I think it's so funny hearing the producers read Johnny's lines.

[@LBeaverMonkey]

Xolo Miguel’s hair line is criminal

[@path5657]

Really cool to see some plot ideas that didnt pan out!

[@CrabbyBatty]

Jacob’s part is hilarious the woman behind the camera was going in with sensais lines😭

[@auseerplays846]

“GIMME THE PHONE!!!”

[@micellaragua]

YOU BROKE MY PHONE 😡 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@Kuraujia]

Demetri had me spitting out of laughter 😂

[@HipsteryDibstery]

Gianni going from incharacter to "So how'd it go :3" in a millisecond got me

[@Bfettrules]

Wow the casting crew did an amazing job. They all have great chemistry together.

[@jonhpeter000]

Johnny and Miguel is perfect

[@TheRealAndreScorman]

“I have Asthma” “Not anymore”

[@user-kn9fb9gv8u]

bro Peyton was ON POINT! Like every character was a little different from their audition, but Peyton was already PERFECT!!!!

[@cele_defa2012]

Jacob looks just like Hawk, it's so good😭😭

[@lannyoneill3489]

I need to know the context of the scene from Mary and Xolo's chemistry read ✋🏻😂 Seemed better than the actual scene ngl

[@akanshaverma6236]

Mary Mouser done soo good it's like i am watching cobra kai not an audition tape

[@wendyfrench8042]

There could be no other Miguel or Hawk - PERIOD.

[@AuthorLeepoy]

The audition looks natural. No wonder they got the role.

[@TekBill]

Gianni was my fav - i had so many friends in HS like Demetri - he nailed it.

[@TheNunchuckNinja]

11:25 This was my favorite audition with Xolo and Mary their acting is amazing! 👍

[@TheChosenEditss]

SOOO EXCITED FOR THE NEW SEASON!

[@ProdigyAutomotive]

Woww so there was an original storyline where Miguel, Eli, and possibly others from Cobra Kai went to the Larusso house, took a car, and crashed it.. Might've been one of Miyagi's cars.. Thank goodness they realized that was taking it too far.

[@dancerkris95]

I think it might have been the dealership because she said she trusted him with the security code and that she had seen the security footage and recognized the watch she got him.

[@Robloxgames_gymnastiques]

Am so excited for the new season 😊😊

[@C01by0_0]

This is how our legends were created 💯

[@Shebeast3]

every single cast member are so well made for these parts and are such great actors and actresses

[@tigrispanthera5496]

i love billy’s “QUIET”

[@miguelsqueencobra]

no way the ralph and billy still had to audition..they should've gotten the part anyway lol.

[@asonofpeter]

they’re not auditioning, they’re doing chemistry readings for the kids

[@miguelsqueencobra]

@@asonofpeter got it

[@benjaminreuse]

Gianni's audition was incredible

[@melwasf0und]

i’ve loved jacob’s acting since he was on disney xd! he’s so underrated

[@blinksstayfresh2524]

Damn audition is more terrifying than public speaking.

[@bebravebewisebetricky]

4:11 (Miguel trying to have a conversation) QUİĒĖTT (Edit) btw these guys are awesome actors and they’ve all advanced sm

[@CatBreadOfficial]

6:14 Q̷̢̡̬̾͑̚Ṵ̴́͋͠İ̶̖͓Ë̵̤̣͌T̵̫̊̒͘ ̵͎͙̂̆

[@ericmarshall8097]

Wow this reminds me of the Ralph Maachio audition tapes. So glad these are public amazing to see these classic scenes were the initial audition lines.

[@You2lessgetit]

4:14 QUIET Can't imagine how many times they had to film that 😂

[@Joeythe]

These actors are legendary! Can’t wait for Cobra Kai S6

[@mirenageorgieva2655]

Oh gosh....the dialogue between Sam and Miguel was really interesting. I definitely felt it and Sam was hurt for a reason....it was a sad scene

[@keren.icehand]

I love william Zapka😂💜

[@blueskybelyr]

oooohh my god Xolo was a BABY

[@user-yi8hx9if6l]

I love cobra kai❤❤❤

[@str8ballinonyou]

Lol made me feel old 😂 i forgot how young they were they first started.

[@Lana-oz7np]

Tanner Buchanan reminds me of a 90s heartthrob