Are Cobra Kai's Xolo Maridueña And Jacob Bertrand Friends In Real Life?
"Cobra Kai" has turned out to be a bit of a surprise hit, and the "Karate Kid" spin-off series' popularity has only grown in the years since Netflix acquired it following its initial YouTube cancellation (via Deadline). Not only does the show tell a surprising story about Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and how he copes (and doesn't cope) with losing to Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) at the end of "The Karate Kid," but it also reunites the two enemies and forces them to deal with their issues in the present day. Critics have been consistently kind to "Cobra Kai," and the show currently holds a 95% Tomatometer score as well as a 92% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
All of which is to say that it's not surprising that "Cobra Kai" Season 5 is already in the works. In fact, in January, co-creator Josh Heald told Collider, "We still have an endgame plan. We're still writing beyond Season 5." Heald went on to say, "I think we always viewed it as at least six [seasons] was sort of in our heads." Taking that into account, it seems like "Cobra Kai" viewers can still look forward to seeing plenty more of Johnny Lawrence, Daniel LaRusso, and their respective students.
Hopefully, that also means two fan-favorite characters, Jacob Bertrand's Hawk and Xolo Maridueña's Miguel, will get more of the spotlight in the future as well. The two characters are both introduced as bullied students, which leads to them becoming best friends. Now, while their individual arcs have gone in interesting directions, the characters clearly share a close bond.
But are Xolo Maridueña and Jacob Bertrand friends in real life?
Xolo Maridueña and Jacob Bertrand are very close in real life
Just because two TV characters are friends doesn't mean the actors behind them will always be just as close as their on-screen counterparts. However, "Cobra Kai" fans can rest easy knowing that's actually the case with Xolo Maridueña and Jacob Bertrand. The two actors are fierce friends in real life and host a podcast together called "Lone Lobos" (via Netflix). The podcast follows the duo as they "navigate adulthood through all things pop culture with topics ranging from movies and television, to food, music and relationships."
The pair are often seen posting on Instagram about one another, and Maridueña even penned a heartfelt post in March 2021 in honor of Bertrand's 21st birthday, writing, "You are both the little brother and older brother that I never had. I'm so proud to call you my friend and so excited for all of the world we have yet to explore together."
Notably, "Cobra Kai" Season 4 ends with Miguel heading out on an emotional new journey, which means Maridueña and Bertrand's characters might not spend as much time together in the show's next batch of episodes. With that in mind, here's to hoping Hawk and Miguel's friendship manages to survive its latest hardship.