Why This Mighty Ducks Star Was Against A Reboot Until Now

The Mighty Ducks trilogy is one of the most iconic sports franchises of the '90s, and fans of the beloved films were elated after Disney+ announced a reboot called The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. While the entire original cast isn't in the new series, which premieres on the streaming service on March 26, fans will see some of their favorite familiar faces grace their television screens once again. Vincent LaRusso (Adam Banks), Elden Hensen (Fulton), Marguerite Moreau (Connie Moreau), and Matt Doherty (Averman) are just a few of the OG Ducks featured on the 10-episode season (via IMDb). Of course, Emilio Estevez is reprising his iconic role as Coach Gordon Bombay, but for a long time, he was actually against any type of Mighty Ducks reboot or reunion for decades after the final film premiered.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Estevez got candid about the reason why he refused to do reunions and reboots for any of his blockbuster films over the years, saying that while he was fortunate enough to star in movies that have "stood the test of time," he was just never interested in reprising any of his roles. "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. So to come back to do a Mighty Ducks reunion with replaying this role was a big step."

Estevez and The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers writer Steve Brill were toying around with the idea for years, but the seasoned actor thought Bombay's character had been played out, and he had no idea where his character could go. "Steven and the writers started talking to me about this idea that Bombay has been hiding out, that hockey hasn't been good to him in the last couple of decades, that he's this guy who's living on the outskirts of town and not really engaging with people," Estevez revealed. "He's not married. He doesn't have any kids. He's a bit of a mystery in terms of where he's been. But it wasn't a good place; it was a much darker place than the last time we saw Bombay. And that appealed to me."

Estevez, who has worked on and off in the industry over the past two decades, appearing in critically acclaimed films like The Way (2010) and The Public (2018), credited society's obsession with nostalgia for an extra push into reprising his Mighty Ducks role. "I was inspired to a certain extent by the idea that if I'm ever going to reboot a character, it's probably now or it will never happen," he said.

You can stream season 1 of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers on Disney+ starting March 26.