It’s Not a Sequel – It’s a Reboot
Those of you who know me – who really know me – know that I love the 1986 hockey movie “Youngblood.” You might even say I am obsessed with it.
Back in 2016, I wrote an article for The Hockey News about the making of “Youngblood” for the film’s 30th anniversary.
I own a custom-made Hamilton Mustangs puck autographed by Eric Nesterenko and a Thunder Bay Bombers jersey signed by George Finn.
I even own a “Youngblood” Japanese movie program. (In Japan, theaters sell programs for movies like stadiums in the U.S. do for sporting events.)
So, naturally, I was excited when I found out last week that a new “Youngblood” movie is currently being filmed.
But I was also a little sad, because this means that my unpublished fanfic sequel “Youngblood II: The Wrath of Racki” will never get made.
See, this new “Youngblood” isn’t a sequel – and that’s fine. Rob Lowe didn’t like doing the film. Patrick Swayze has passed away, as has Eric Nesterenko. And the whole stick-swinging fight at the end is totally cringe for those who know hockey.
The new “Youngblood” movie is a reboot, reimagined for the 2020s. It is directed by Hubert Davis, a Black filmmaker who created the 2022 documentary “Black Ice,” which is about racism in hockey.
In Davis’ new version of the film, Dean Youngblood is Black. The film studio’s website gives this synopsis: “When Dean is invited to join the Hamilton Mustangs, he travels to Canada from Detroit where his skill commands respect and his arrogance earns him fast enemies.”
Davis further explained to Deadline.com:
“Youngblood is not an homage to the movies of the ’80s but a re-orienting of these films and ideas — especially those about masculinity which my generation grew up on. Through our protagonist Dean Youngblood, we explore the nuances of the Black masculine experience via the camaraderie, brutality and triumph of the world of hockey.”
The 2020s have been good for hockey-themed entertainment so far. We had two seasons of “The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers,” which continued the “Ducks” movies from the 1990s. The original hockey series “Shoresy” is now in its fifth season in Canada and will be released in the U.S. next week. And now we are getting a reboot of “Youngblood.”
Could “Slap Shot: The Musical” be next? I don’t really like musicals – but I’d watch it.
Note: This article is an updated version of an editorial that originally appeared in Volume 3 – Issue 8 of the Puck Junk Newsletter. For stories like these, plus news and updates about hockey cards and collectibles, subscribe to the newsletter here.
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