Emilio Estevez is not coming back for the second season of Disney+’s “Mighty Ducks” series due in part to the requirement that actors and those in close contact be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Disney declined to comment, but an individual with knowledge of the production told TheWrap that the studio did not pick up Estevez’s option for the second season after multiple back and forths with the actor regarding the vaccine mandate.
“Mighty Ducks: Game Changers” is produced by Disney TV Studios’ ABC Signature, and like most productions requires all those designated in Zone A (essentially the actors and everyone that comes into direct contact with them) t be vaccinated. Because Estevez apparently wouldn’t guarantee he would comply with the mandate, the show did not pick up his option.
Deadline first reported the news, which added that sources close to Estevez said creative differences also played a role. Reps for Estevez were not able to be immediately reached.
The series stars Brady Noon and Lauren Graham, with additional cast including Maxwell Simkins, Swayam Bhatia, Luke Islam, Kiefer O’Reilly, Taegen Burns, Bella Higginbotham and DJ Watts. Numerous actors from the film series made cameo appearances as well: Fulton Reed (Elden Henson), Adam Banks (Vinny La Russo), Kenny Wu (Justin Wong), Averman (Matt Doherty), Connie (Marguerite Moreau) and Guy (Garret Henson).
Steve Brill, the original creator, writer and executive producer of all three “Mighty Ducks” films from the ’90s, is co-creator and executive producer on the new series alongside showrunners Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa George Heller and Brad Petrigala of Brillstein Entertainment Partners are also executive producers on the new season.