Back in August, Disney+ announced that “The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers” had been renewed for Season 2. However, according to a new report from Deadline, a key player to the series may not be returning. The outlet reports that Emilio Estevez will not return to reprise his role as Gordon Bombay in the series.
The article on Deadline states the following: I hear Disney Television Studios’ ABC Signature, which produces the hockey-themed sequel series, made the decision not to pick up Estevez’s option for Season 2 after weeks of back and forth with his team over the show’s Covid vaccination requirement. Reps for the studio and Estevez declined comment.
“The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers” has adopted a mandatory vaccination policy for the cast and crew in Zone A, which was included as an option in the most recent Return-to-Work agreement between the Hollywood studios and major unions.
According to sources, Estevez, through his reps, has declined to provide assurances that he would comply with the policy. Meanwhile, sources close to Estevez indicate that creative differences may have played a role in his exit.
While nothing has been confirmed by Disney regarding this news, it would be a major upset for the series. Fans loved the return of Emilio Estevez who reprised his role from the 1992 movie and its 1994 and 1996 sequels.
Season 1 of “The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers” was set in present-day Minnesota where the events take place after the events of the original films. The Mighty Ducks have evolved from scrappy underdogs to an ultra-competitive, powerhouse youth hockey team. After 12-year-old Evan Morrow (Brady Noon) is unceremoniously cut from the Ducks, he and his mom, Alex (Lauren Graham), set out to build their own team of misfits to challenge the cutthroat, win-at-all-costs culture of youth sports today. With the help of Gordon Bombay, (Emilio Estevez) they rediscover the joys of playing just for love of the game.
According to Deadline, Graham and Noon will be back for Season 2 along with the leading cast that also includes Maxwell Simkins, Swayam Bhatia, Luke Islam, Kiefer O’Reilly, Taegen Burns, Bella Higginbotham and DJ Watts.
Disney Plus Informer will keep you updated on this story when any new information becomes available.
Source: Deadline