Fans of The Mighty Ducks will remember Greg Goldberg (Shaun Weiss) as the goalie of the titular team. Although he starts his character arc off as an uninspired player with a fear of the puck, his confidence and ability grow over the course of the first film thanks to the continued support (and rather creative training techniques) of his coach Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez).

By D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994) and D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996), he is a dedicated goalie who is reluctant to be replaced by fellow player Julie Gaffney. Many would consider him an irreplaceable aspect of the team dynamic, somebody whose personality and growth serves as an integral part of overall Mighty Ducks film franchise experience. Considering his arc is about overcoming personal struggles and fears to realize one’s ultimate potential, it feels wrong that his actor isn’t being afforded the same shot at a comeback.

Mighty Ducks Star Arrested and the Mug Shot Is Shocking
Walt Disney Studios

According to reported rumors, showrunners for The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers had plans to bring the character of Greg Goldman back for the Disney+ reboot, similar to other players in the team of the original three films. Unfortunately, legal issues in actor Shaun Weiss's personal life have proven anathema to that goal. Arrested multiple times on charges of petty theft, breaking and entering, and public disturbances while under the effect of narcotics, Weiss's image has been less than stellar for these last couple of years.

The most recent incident in January 2020 – which could also be considered the instigator behind Weiss's own dedication toward change – occurred when a homeowner in Marysville, California called the police on Weiss after discovering that the former child actor had broken into his garage and fallen asleep in his car. Upon the arrival of law enforcement, Weiss admitted his guilt and was held in Yuba County Jail under bail of $52,000 US. He was discovered to be under the influence of drugs at the time of the crime, and his previous run-ins with the law also allegedly had connections to this same issue. This is an illness that clearly took its toll. A reality made all the more apparent when shown side-by-side images of Weiss's younger self compared to a man harmed by the effects of narcotics.

Related: Josh Duhamel Joins Mighty Ducks: Game Changers After Emilio Estevez ExitThese issues have led to an understandable, though no less upsetting, reluctance on Disney's part to allow Weiss's involvement in the reboot of the Mighty Ducks franchise. As reported to TMZ through sources close to the actor, Weiss has admitted his disbelief that Disney would ever reach out to him. However, he has also expressed excitement at the series' reboot and is holding out hope – however thin it may be – that he will eventually be invited back to take part in Disney Plus's The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers.

A Man on the Mend

The Mighty Ducks Star Shaun Weiss Celebrates 265 Days of Sobriety with a New Smile
Shaun Weiss

Weiss has definitely faced his own bout of difficulties over the years. Fans have despaired at released images showing the man's physical differences after years of drug addiction, a thin-framed face, and sallow skin replacing what we are used to from the original films. Thankfully, his health has taken a turn for the better over the years, as shown in recent selfies and updates. Following a rehabilitation program after his 2020 arrest, Weiss has recently celebrated two years sober, a monumental feat for anybody formerly suffering from drug addiction, and the change is immediately evident.

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While the lives of Greg Goldman and Shaun Weiss obviously cannot match up perfectly, we can at least witness certain surface-level similarities in a personal struggle. As with his Mighty Ducks character, Weiss has gone through both high and low periods of transformation. This would also be far from the first time an actor has suffered through battles with addiction and mental illness. A prolific name which immediately comes to mind is Robert Downey Jr.. After spending many years dealing with drugs and facing multiple arrests, The actor made the decision to attend and stick with rehab. Now he is considered one of the most successful actors in Hollywood and the godfather of the MCU, living proof that betterment is always possible. If he could do it, why not Weiss?

According to sources, Weiss has already accomplished one of the most difficult aspects of recovery: sticking to it. Perhaps Disney will reach out and go the rest of the way.