Yahoo News Transformers star Josh Duhamel replacing Emilio Estevez in Mighty Ducks show
Transformers star Josh Duhamel is taking over from Emilio Estevez as the lead star of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers in season two.
According to Entertainment Weekly , Duhamel will play Coach Gavin Cole, who is described as "a former-NHL-player-turned-coach who runs the intense summer hockey institute where the young athletes land".
It is added that Coach Cole is "inspirational, charming, and hardcore," and he's "big on the hockey metaphor that applies to life".
Estevez starred in the original Mighty Ducks movie as Gordon Bombay, the team's coach. In the series, Bombay has his passion for hockey reignited by the Don't Bothers and he eventually becomes their assistant coach.
In November, it was revealed that Estevez was leaving the show ahead of season two.
Despite initial reports the decision was down to the show's COVID vaccination mandate, Estevez himself has spoken out in a lengthy statement, explaining he was not "anti-vax" and instead his exit was caused by "nothing more than a good old-fashioned contract dispute".
Explaining his exit via a letter to Deadline, he said: "I am not anti-vaxx. Full stop.
"I take this pandemic very seriously, and I am often teased about my continued following of the safety protocols and my abundance of caution."
Estevez went on to reveal that he had contracted COVID-19 after shooting the show's pilot and went on to suffer from "long haul syndrome" with exhaustive and long-lasting side effects,
The actor added: "My exit from the show was due to a myriad of creative differences – any other narrative is false. To the fans of the franchise – I am as disappointed as you are.
"To my Ducks cast and crew – have a wonderful Season 2 on the show and please know that I will miss you all.
"It was an honor and a thrill to be able to return as the iconic and beloved character, Gordon Bombay, a character which has been a celebrated benchmark in my 40 year career."
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers is available to watch on Disney+.
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