Because of Disney’s COVID-19 mandate that cast and crew must be immunized, Emilio Estevez is reported to have ‘not returned’ to The Mighty Ducks – Game Changers.
The 59-year-old actor, who first starred in the franchise as coach Gordon Bombay in the 1992 hockey flick The Mighty Ducks, left the Disney+ series because of disagreements over the show’s vaccine requirements.
‘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,’ according to Deadline.
Skating on thin-ice: Emilio Estevez “not returning” to The Mighty Ducks Game Changers, reportedly due to Disney’s COVID-19 mandate that cast and crew be vaccinated; this was seen in 2019.
Game Changers, like many Hollywood productions, has a policy that everyone in their Zone A group — actors and most crew members — must be vaccinated against COVID-19.
DailyMail.com reached Emilio’s representatives for comments.
Estevez reprised his role as Coach Bombay for season one of Game Changers, which debuted on the streaming service in March and was picked up for another season in August.
Iced Out: Estevez reprised the role of Coach Bombay on season one Game Changers. Game Changers debuted online in March. Estevez was then picked up by streaming services for the second season.
He’s played the role a host of times, first starring in the classic film nearly two decades ago before the sequel took the kids hockey team to the Olympics in D2: The Mighty Ducks.
“There have been many reunions over the years through Anaheim Ducks and various charities. Famously, I have rejected all of those, whether it’s a reunion for Breakfast Club or The Outsiders or St. Elmo’s Fire or Young Guns, all of them,’ Estevez told Entertainment Weekly in March.
‘Fortunately I’ve been able to have starred in movies that have stood the test of time and have a long shelf life, so a lot of folks have wanted to see reunions of where are they now.
Coach knows: He’s played the role a host of times, first starring in the classic film nearly two decades ago before the sequel took the kids hockey team to the Olympics in D2: The Mighty Ducks; seen in 1994
It’s not great. Emilio is joining a growing number of celebs who have declined the shot.
‘So on one hand, it’s a blessing to have been involved in that but on the other hand, it’s like, I rarely, if ever, participate. To be back at the Mighty Ducks reunion and to play this part again was huge.
Estevez and Steven Brill, original Mighty Ducks writer, reunited to create the series. This was while Brill was filming The Public 2018, which Brill directed.
Emilio joins a growing list of celebrities declining the shot, including Ice Cube, real name O’Shea Jackson Sr., who recently exited Sony’s comedy Oh Hell No after declining a request from producers to get vaccinated.
The 52-year-old West Coast rapper lost out on a $9million payday for declining the vaccination to work on the project which was supposed to film on the island of Hawaii, a state that has reported nearly 90% vaccination rates for residents 12 and older.