Will Spielberg Defy Hollywood’s Conservative Blacklist?

There’s a rule when it comes to sequels, remakes and reboots.

Bring the original players back by any means necessary.

For “Top Gun: Maverick,” that meant creating a part for Val Kilmer’s “Iceman” that worked around his vocal limitations.

Another example? 

Last year’s “The Fall Guy” film squeezed the original TV actors Lee Majors and Heather Thomas into the post-credit scenes. That means the producers behind the upcoming “Goonies” sequel will try to bring all the once-youthful cast back for more comic adventures.

Will Robert Davi join the fun?

The versatile star played the opera-singing Jake Fratelli in the 1985 film. His villainous turn left an impression, and fans routinely bring the character up to Davi in public.

Why wouldn’t the team behind the film find a spot for Davi? The actor/singer can think of one big reason, and he’s not being dramatic.

He’s an openly conservative actor in an industry that punishes artists for those views. And he’s faced his share of professional discrimination over the years.

“We shall see,” he told Fox Digital. “We shall see if they revive Jake Fratelli, or the Fratelli brothers in some way. I hope. I would love to be part of it because it’s such an iconic film that people all over the world still reach out to me on ‘Goonies.’ It’s interesting. It’s become beyond cult status, I think.”

He’s right on several fronts. He deserves to be in the sequel and true fans wouldn’t have it any other way.

Now, it’s in the film’s key player’s hands.

“The Goonies” are officially back.

Warner Bros. has hired Potsy Ponciroli to write the script for the sequel — almost 40 years after the original movie hit theaters back in 1985. https://t.co/U4oTQSraQt pic.twitter.com/nW06nqBuLn

— Variety (@Variety) February 14, 2025

Steven Spielberg, who co-wrote and co-produced the original film, is one of the sequel’s producers. Co-writer Chris Columbus also returns to the creative team.

Columbus’ film credits are impressive, but few people have more power in Hollywood than Spielberg. Yet the Oscar-winning director has never spoken out against the new conservative blacklist.

He’s not alone, of course. Given his stature, he should have said something about talent being discriminated against for their political beliefs.

The subject is beyond debate.

• Variety: Blacklist Worse for Female Trump Supporters
• Sorbo Schools Whoopi: I’m Proof of Hollywood Blacklist
• James Woods: Oscar-Nominated Face of Hollywood Blacklist
• Rogan Confirms Hollywood Blacklist Against Conservatives
• Alec Baldwin Calls Hollywood Blacklist Against Conservatives ‘Unfortunate’

It’s possible Davi will eventually get a call to appear in the film. So far, that hasn’t happened, but the project was announced roughly 10 days ago.

There’s a chance his phone never rings.

Just ask Zachary Levi. The “Shazam!” alum knew the risk when he supported Donald Trump’s presidential campaign last year. He dubbed the decision “career suicide.” He’s still gainfully employed, for now, but some critics wouldn’t mind seeing him canceled.

Another possible solution? The older, wiser Goonies stay true to their “never day die” spirit and fight for Davi’s inclusion. That scenario seems less likely given the industry’s general cowardice.

Roseanne Barr’s longtime cast mates refused to defend her after she sent one awful, racially-charged Tweet in 2018 that convinced ABC brass to fire her.

More recently, no major stars stood up for Gina Carano when Disney dismissed her from “The Mandalorian” for an inoffensive social media post.

It may take someone of Spielberg’s stature to ensure Davi gets his rightful place in the sequel.

The question is … will he?

The post Will Spielberg Defy Hollywood’s Conservative Blacklist? appeared first on Hollywood in Toto.