It looks like Bam Margera is a part of Jackass Forever after all. During the production of the upcoming sequel, set to finally hit the big screen next month, it was reported that Margera had been fired after allegedly testing positive for Adderall. At the time, Margera had also posted videos speaking about his struggles and decrying the Jackass team for his removal.
Margera has since filed a lawsuit against Johnny Knoxville along with many other defendants involved with the film. He says he endured "psychological torture" through the "wellness agreement" he had signed, insisting that he was taken advantage of while in a fragile emotional state. The filmmakers had hopes to get the suit tossed but a judge recently ruled that it will be moving forward.
Despite the feud, Margera hasn't been completely scrubbed from the theatrical release of Jackass Forever. Per Variety, he is listed as No. 45 of 49 performers in the end credits. The lower listing is likely as he only appears in just one stunt, although it's not clear what the scene entails or how much footage exactly features Margera.
“We wanted him all throughout the movie, but unfortunately that’s not the way it worked out,” Knoxville said of Bam's limited involvement. “It’s really heartbreaking. I love Bam. We all love Bam. He’s our brother, you know? You just hope that he takes it upon himself to get the help that he needs, because we all care about him a lot.”
On if he was surprised by the lawsuit, Knoxville added: “Yes and no. Because he’s in such a way that anything’s possible. So, something will break your heart — but it might not shock you.”
For Jackass, Controversy Comes With the Territory
Given the nature of the original TV series and the movies it spawned, controversy has always been a part of Jackass. It comes of no real surprise that the lawsuit is not the only problem that has plagued Jackass Forever. PETA has also come out against the film, condemning the cast and crew for allowing live animals to be a part of the stunts.
"PETA's attention has been drawn to the production of the upcoming Paramount Pictures movie, filmed in Los Angeles County, the trailer for which shows Johnny Knoxville being charged by a bull, Sean McInerney being bitten on the nose by a snake, and a tarantula trapped in a plastic tube between Ehren McGhehey and Compston Wilson's heads," the organization said in a statement.
They added: "PETA notes that these activities appear to violate California's prohibitions on bullfighting and similar exhibitions, causing any animal to fight with a human, and cruelty to animals and that other acts of cruelty may well have been committed on set without making it into the trailer or the film's final cut."
Additionally, the pandemic has brought about delays to the movie's release. The good news for fans wanting to see the sequel is that its current release date appears to be set in stone. You can watch Jackass Forever when it debuts in movie theaters on Feb. 4, 2022.