Disney+ is bringing The Mighty Ducks back to life with a new 10-episode live-action series starring Lauren Graham. The new series will be based on the franchise created by Disney in the early 1990s. The Mighty Ducks spawned three theatrical movies, an animated series that aired on ABC, and even a real-life team that has been part of the NHL for nearly three decades. A live-action series has reportedly been in development since January 2018.
In the original 1992 film, troubled attorney Gordon Bombay (played by Emilio Estevez) is sentenced to community service and begins coaching a terrible peewee hockey team. His inspirational coaching helps bring his ragtag team together, eventually winning the title game in their district. The succeeding films continued to follow Bombay and some of his players to the Junior Goodwill Games and then to a prestigious high school. Outside of Estevez, Joshua Jackson - who played star Charlie Conway - is arguably the best known actor to emerge from the franchise.
Estevez was the established star for the movies, but Lauren Graham will step in as the established star for the Mighty Ducks series, playing a new coach. The actress will take on the role of a mother who starts a new team in Minnesota after her son is cut from Mighty Ducks, who are now considered one of the powerhouse youth hockey teams in the area. Her new team will be in the same vein as the original Mighty Ducks, a "ragtag team of misfits" who will set out to rival the elites. Graham is best known for her maternal roles in Gilmore Girls and Parenthood.
In another piece of The Mighty Ducks casting news, Brady Noon will play Evan, the son of Graham's character, Alex. Noon is no stranger to television, alternating the role of Tommy Darmody with his twin brother in HBO's Boardwalk Empire for several years. The child actor is best known, however, for playing young thespian Thor in 2019's Good Boys, a critical darling comedy that made over $100 million at the box office.
Streamer Disney+ is reviving several different Disney properties, with new seasons of Lizzie McGuire and The Proud Family in development, among others. Perhaps as important as the casting of Graham and Noon, the success of the new Mighty Ducks hinges on the return of franchise creator Steven Brill, who will serve as a co-creator and executive producer for the series. Additionally, Estevez is reportedly returning to revive his role as Coach Bombay. All of the elements are coming together as fans of The Mighty Ducks begin quacking their way to a late 2020 release.
Source: Disney