Thornton Turns Down The Chance To Return To The Football Field

BILLY BOB THORNTON has turned down the chance to reprise his FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS role for the TV spin-off’s upcoming season finale because his busy schedule doesn’t allow it.

The movie star was approached by the film’s director Peter Berg and his fellow producers and asked to play Coach Gary Gaines again.

Executive producer Jason Katims tells Entertainment Weekly, “We wanted to pay homage to the movie, so we came up with an idea for a cameo, but Billy wasn’t available.”