Emilio Estevez leaving ‘The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers’ Season 2 due to vaccination mandate

Ducks fly together, but Coach Bombay won't be there this time. 

Emilio Estevez, who played Gordon Bombay in all three "Mighty Ducks" films in the 1990's and also reprised his character in Disney+'s revival series The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, will not be returning in Season 2. 

The reason why is reported to be the COVID-19 vaccination mandate. According to Deadline, the 59 year old actor's option for the second season of the series wasn't picked up "after weeks of back and forth with his team over the show's COVID vaccination requirement." 

Representatives for Estevez and the company both have yet to respond for requests for comment. 

The Walt Disney Company made headlines when they were one of the first major companies to issue a requirement that all salaried and nonunion hourly employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

"At the Walt Disney Company, the safety and well-being of our employees during the pandemic has been and continues to be a top priority. Toward that end, and based on the latest recommendations of scientists, health officials and our own medical professionals that the COVID-19 vaccine provides the best protection against severe infection, we are requiring that all salaried and nonunion hourly employees in the U.S. working at any of our sites be fully vaccinated," the company announced in July. "In addition, all new hires will be required to be fully vaccinated before beginning employment."

The company added, "Vaccines are the best tool we all have to help control this global pandemic and protect our employees."

Earlier this year, Estevez's co-star Lauren Graham praised his vision for the show. 

“He likes what this iteration of the franchise is and believes that some stories you can continue without diluting what was great about them from the beginning,” the Gilmore Girls alum, 54, told E! News in March. “He just has a really clear view of what his character would or wouldn’t do — of how to respect the original.”

The show will reportedly work the upcoming script around his absence. The role of Gordon Bombay has become one of Estevez's best known roles.