Youngblood (2025 film)
2025 Canadian sports drama film
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Youngblood is a 2025 sports drama film directed by Hubert Davis.[3] A contemporary remake of the 1986 film Youngblood in a Canadian context, the film stars Ashton James as Dean Youngblood, a Black Canadian junior hockey player in Hamilton, Ontario, who dreams of getting drafted into the National Hockey League.
Josh Epstein
Kyle Rideout
Seneca Aaron
by Peter Markle and John Whitman
Andrew Rosen
| Youngblood | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Hubert Davis |
| Written by | Charles Officer Josh Epstein Kyle Rideout Seneca Aaron |
| Based on | Youngblood by Peter Markle and John Whitman |
| Produced by | Anthony Leo Andrew Rosen |
| Starring | Ashton James Blair Underwood |
| Cinematography | Stuart James Cameron |
| Edited by | Matt Lyon |
Production companies | Aircraft Pictures Dolphin Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Photon Films (Canada) Well Go USA Entertainment (United States) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 104 minutes[1] |
| Countries | Canada United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1 million[2] |
The cast also includes Blair Underwood as Dean's father, as well as Shawn Doyle, Alexandra McDonald, Oluniké Adeliyi, Henri Richer-Picard, Emidio Lopes, Donald MacLean Jr., Tamara Podemski, Joris Jarsky, Matt Wells, Keris Hope Hill, Jonathan Valvano, Ty Neckar, Dylan Hawco and Evan Buliung in supporting roles.
Plot
Cast
- Ashton James as Dean Youngblood
- Blair Underwood as Blane Youngblood, Dean's father
- Shawn Doyle as Murray Chadwick
- Alexandra McDonald as Jessie Chadwick
- Oluniké Adeliyi as Ruby Youngblood
- Henri Richer-Picard as Denis Sutton
- Emidio Lopes as Kelly Youngblood
- Donald MacLean Jr. as Carl Racki
- Tamara Podemski as Ms. McGill
- Joris Jarsky as Lucas Turco
- Matt Wells as Coach Murphy
- Keris Hope Hill as Winnie
- Jonathan Valvano as Josh Lempelius
- Ty Neckar as Xavier Harris
- Dylan Hawco as Connor Hewitt
- Evan Buliung as Ervin
Production
Production on the film was first announced in 2022, with Charles Officer slated to write and direct it.[4] Although the screenplay was completed with co-writers Josh Epstein, Kyle Rideout and Seneca Aaron, the film had not yet gone into production by the time of Officer's death in 2023, and Davis took over helming the film.[5]
It was shot in winter 2025 in Hamilton and Barrie.[6] A key scene in the film was shot at Barrie's Sadlon Arena during the intermission in a real Barrie Colts game.[7]
Release
The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.[8] It is also screened in the Borsos Competition program at the 2025 Whistler Film Festival.[9][10] The film was acquired for U.S. distribution by Well Go USA Entertainment, and it was released in the United States on March 6, 2026.[10][11]
Critical response
For Exclaim!, Rachel Ho wrote that "James's performance as Dean complements his turn as Rome in Boxcutter earlier this summer. Where Rome showed off the up-and-coming actor's abilities to embody insecurity and apprehension, Dean gives James the chance to occupy the other side of the coin as a brash teen filled with an anger instilled by his father (Blair Underwood). Rather than simply playing Dean as singularly enraged, James lends the character dimension and depth. It's another commanding performance that only hints at what's to come for the Toronto actor."[12]