The “Youngblood,” remake starring Ashton James, Blair Underwood and Shawn Doyle, had its world premiere in Toronto at TIFF 2025.

Academy Award nominee Hubert Davis (The Well, Black Ice) was the ideal candidate to continue production on the remake of Youngblood in honour of his friend Charles Officer, who died in December 2023 during pre-production.

The remake of the classic film addresses issues of race, grief, growth, emotional intelligence and identity from a more modern perspective than it did in the 1980s.

The film opens with a Black hockey family, the Youngbloods. Their father, Blaine Youngblood, is a former talented hockey enforcer portrayed by powerful actor Blair Underwood, recognized for the television drama L.A. Law, and roles in films such as Rules of Engagement and the miniseries When They See Us.

He is loud, tough, with a no-nonsense approach to adversity. His wife Ruby, played by accomplished Canadian leading actress Olunike Adeliyi (Village Keeper and the upcoming film It Comes In Waves), is his opposite in personality, with her quiet assuredness.

Despite being so different, they have similar motivations that are rooted in the love of their children. The youngest, Dean, played by Ashton James (Boxcutter, Revenge of the Black Best Friend), is a hockey prodigy who has good hands, fast legs and equally fast fists.

All his skills are not enough when one hit doesn’t just result in a penalty but has the potential to ruin his future as a hockey player. He has one more chance to prove himself or end up like his older brother Kelly (Emidio Lopes), a star hockey player who experienced a controversial career-ending injury. 

Dean tries out for the Hamilton Mustangs and has no problem showcasing his talent, but learning to play as a teammate and handling the pressures of being a target is another thing. He skates that fine line between the type of player his father coached him to be and embracing his own style of play. 

To pull off his own Gordie Howe hat trick, Dean must play like the talent he’s destined to be, enforce his toughness, and deflect the glory by assisting his teammates.

Davis crafted a well-shot sports movie with fast-paced hockey scenes that intensify the stakes with each line shift. The film has depth, and while it addresses toxic masculinity within the sport, it also speaks to generational growth in emotional intelligence and explores different aspects of fatherhood, which is rarely done with such insight. 

This remake not only offers a modern take on the 1986 version while exploring the variables surrounding the sport of hockey, but also expands the scope with coach Chadwick and his daughter Jessie’s relationship. We root for Dean as he overcomes his personal challenges, with the support of Ms. McGill (Tamara Podemski) and his relationship with her young daughter Winnie. 

This could be a breakout role for James. He delivers one powerful performance after another as Dean, navigating the struggles of growth and healing throughout the film. Watching him face off with Underwood, who gives a remarkable and stellar performance, underscores the film’s strength and affirms this story as a timely remake.

Underwood’s final scene is especially compelling, reminding audiences of his depth as an actor after 40 years in the industry. Youngblood is a well-crafted hockey remake to watch for when it arrives in theatres.