Walton Goggins is one of the biggest stars of the 2020s, but he missed an opportunity to return to a franchise that gave him an early role. Thanks to shows like The White Lotus and Fallout, Goggins has finally begun to hit the pinnacle of a career that actually started all the way back in the late 1980s.

Known for his one-of-a-kind persona and Southern drawl, Goggins is a rare breed of actor who has lived experiences that he brings to the parts he plays. Whether he’s a goofy televangelist on The Righteous Gemstones or a hardened criminal on Justified, Goggins is going to turn in a performance that immediately elevates him above the rest.

Because he’s been working in the industry for so long, Goggins has appeared in a ton of movies and shows, and he’s no stranger to blockbuster franchises. With recognizable intellectual property all the rage in Hollywood, Goggins seems like a natural fit for a major movie franchise, but he missed his chance to return to his very first franchise role.

Walton Goggins Is Part Of The Karate Kid Universe

He Appeared In The Franchise’s First Failed Reboot

Though it is usually overlooked in favor of better films in the series, Walton Goggins actually had a role in The Next Karate Kid. The 1994 reboot attempt saw Pat Morita return as Mr. Miyagi, but with a new student in the form of Hilary Swank’s Julie Pierce. Critics didn’t like the film, and it was a box office flop.

While The Next Karate Kid is more of a curiosity piece than anything else, it also happens to be Walton Goggin’s third film. He plays the minor role of Charlie, one of Colonel Dugan’s students who is training in martial arts alongside the rest of Alpha Elite. He only has a few lines, but Goggins is his usual intense self.

The part isn’t quite a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo, but Charlie is such a minor character that he would likely be forgotten if not for Goggins’ starpower. It would, however, help kick off a string of years for Goggins in which he played minor but memorable roles in films like The Apostle and Major League: Back to the Minors.

Cobra Kai Or Karate Kid Legends Could Have Brought Back Walton Goggins

The Entire Karate Kid Universe Is Connected

With such a big star in their pocket, the creatives behind the ongoing Karate Kid franchise really had a chance to surprise viewers by bringing Goggins back as Charlie. However, with The Next Karate Kid being such a failure, it was largely overlooked. Even in Karate Kid: Legends, which aimed to unify the franchise, the reboot was completely ignored.

Cobra Kai featured a ton of cameos, and some were even quite obscure. Season 6 featured a return of the minor character, Bobby Brown, with Ron Thomas back in the role. Though Hilary Swank’s Julie still hasn’t returned, a Charlie cameo could have been a nice nod. Furthermore, Walton Goggins‘ popularity would have elevated either the show or the movie.