‘Duck Dynasty’ returns, but one star is missing for a heartbreaking reason

On By Littum

It was a big week for fans of “Duck Dynasty” when it was announced that the Duck Commander gang would be returning to AEW for a revival of the show.

Eight years after the series finale, “Duck Dynasty: The Revival” has been greenlit by A&E. TVLine.com reports That the original order is for two seasons and 20 episodes. The site said the new series is slated to begin this summer and will feature Willie and Korie Robertson, their children and grandchildren, in Louisiana.

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But there will be a heartbreaking omission when the show returns to air.

Phil Robertson, the family patriarch, is reportedly not appearing on the show after it was announced late last year that he is battling Alzheimer’s and other health issues.

“We tried to figure out the diagnosis, but according to the doctors, (Phil) has some kind of blood disorder that causes all kinds of problems,” Jase Robertson said on the ‘Undamaged with the Robertson Family’ podcast late last year.

He also revealed that his father has been battling the blood disorder for years, but it has gotten worse.

“We have a team of doctors and then we have another set of doctors who look at all the tests and they all agree that there is no cure for what he has,” Jase said.

Jase then said that Alzheimer’s was in the early stages and that Phil would still be a part of the podcast.

“I’m like, ‘Well Phil, you can barely walk around without screaming in pain, and your memory isn’t what it used to be,'” Jase said. “He’s like, ‘Tell me about it.’ ” So he is literally unable to — I think he would agree — just sit down and have a conversation. “

Given that, the news that Phil won’t be a part of the revival probably shouldn’t come as a surprise, but it’s still a bummer in what was an otherwise good news day for fans.

“Duck Dynasty” began airing in 2012 on A&E and became popular, running for 11 seasons before being canceled in 2017.

“Going back to A&E feels a bit like going home,” Willie and Korie said in a statement on Persons. “We are grateful to everyone who has followed along as our family has grown and expanded and can’t wait to get the cameras rolling again on all our new adventures, or perhaps misadventures.”