Tanner Buchanan – Cobra Kai

By starrymag | April 24, 2019

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) Were you familiar with The Karate Kid franchise before starring in “Cobra Kai?”

A) When they said “Cobra Kai” it sounded familiar, but I wasn’t fore sure. [laughs] When they said it was The Karate Kid continuation I knew. I had watched it when I was really young a couple times with my mom. My mom was actually big into karate. She was like a second-degree black belt in karate. So, that’s the reason I knew The Karate Kid.

Q) How was your character Robby Keene originally described to you?

A) When I got it, I knew that Robby was this kind of delinquent kid. He wasn’t in with the best crowd, but it wasn’t just another teenager being a rowdy kid getting into trouble for no reason at all. He hadn’t been guided in the right direction. His mother wasn’t really there for him. She’s always out with guys. His father was never there either. He left at birth and never looked back. He never guided him in the right direction and Robby never had a good role model.

Q) What was your audition process like?

A) For this one it was actually fairly quick. I went out on the audition. I know the casting director very well, actually. [laughs] So, it was kind of like meeting with each other and going over the character. After that I got a call back and got to do a chemistry read with Billy (William Zabka). Then, Ralph [Macchio] was there and I got to talk to him. The writers were there and we got to discuss some stuff. After that, I waited for the call and I got a call saying we were going to testing. And about a day later I found out I had booked the job. The three writers called me and said, “Congratulations!” They asked me the same question – had I seen The Karate Kid? I said “many, many years ago” and they said, “Well, you need to watch those because there is going to be a lot of references.”

Q) What kind of training did you have to do for this season compared to last season?

A) Well, last season (like I mentioned) it was fairly quick. As soon as we got there, we started training probably a couple weeks in. So, we were shooting and training at the same time. It was a little bit harder. This season we all go to train for about a month or month and a half before production even started. We trained three times a week around I think three to four hours at a time. When we got there, we would train every day from anywhere from about two to three hours until the schedule got a little bit crazy trying to get everything done. Then, we just tried to train whenever we could and whenever there was free time. Whenever our stunt coordinators had time, we would take advantage of it. Sometimes it would be thirty minutes or an hour and sometimes it would be hour on hour to get in as much time as possible.

Q) Talk about working with Ralph Macchio and Billy Zabka.

A) Honestly, it’s incredible because Ralph and Billy and Marty [Kove] are all such nice guys that it is just absolutely incredible to be around them. A lot of people grew up with them and they are the most down to earth guys and fun to work with and fun to go to work and sharing scenes with them and getting to work with them. They are fun to play off of. In between takes we’re laughing and joking around so it’s absolutely incredible.

Q) What can you tease is in store for Season 2?

A) I think I can say that there is definitely a lot more action. There is a lot more emotion. You’re getting thrown into more information of this Karate Kid world that we’ve only seen a little bit of. And it’s going to be super badass, fun and enjoyable.

Q) Was there someone this season you were hoping to share a scene with that you hadn’t worked with in Season 1?

A) I think whenever I would read the script I would laugh or what I enjoyed watching was Demetri’s character played by Gianni Decenzo. I thought he was extremely funny and the things written for him and the way he acted them out was always extremely hilarious. I never got to work with him so in Season 2 I hoped I’d get to work with him. I guess you’ll find out when you get to watch.

Q) What can you share were some of your favorite behind the scenes moments from filming?

A) Well, favorite behind the scenes moments are plenty! A lot of behind the scenes involves laughing and fooling around with each other, just making jokes and having a good time. Any of the behind the scenes are enjoyable to me. I’m excited for everyone to see all of the fighting that is going to go on. There is ten times more fighting that happens this season and it’s going to really, really keep everyone on their toes.

Q) You were also on the series “Designated Survivor.” What can you tease is in store for this coming season on Netfilx?

A) [laughs] Basically, the fans wanted to keep it around. I can’t say much about that. Just the fact that you’ll soon see more information about it coming in the next few months.

Q) What does it mean to you to be a part of a series that was cancelled and then resurrected by the fandom?

A) It truly shows that people have a lot of power and something they want done can be done. Not just in TV shows or movies – if people kind of band together and work towards one goal it can happen. I’m extremely grateful for it because it’s flattering to see how many people enjoy the show and watch it and support it. They actually want it to come back and I feel extremely grateful for the opportunity that the fans have given us.

Q) What else do you want to be sure to share with “Cobra Kai” fans about Season 2?

A) Be ready for April 24^th because I think it’s going to be absolutely insane! [laughs]

Q) Is there any chance to get you on social media?

A) I am on Instagram! However, I am not on any other platform. I’m kind of like Johnny in that sense – me and technology don’t get along very well. I can stick with the pictures. I’m good with pictures! [laughs] But that’s probably as far as it will go for me.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Thanks for all the support. I’m extremely grateful for all of the fans out there. Without them, we wouldn’t be here. If no one watched the show or tuned in to support it we wouldn’t be here. It’s really all up to them. It’s amazing that they want to watch and support. They’re what drives us to do better, create more and do really everything. Truly, just thank you to them.