On February 22, 2026, forty-six years to the day after the original “Miracle on Ice,” the United States men’s hockey team has done it again. In a heart-stopping 2–1 overtime victory over Canada in Milan, Jack Hughes cemented his status as a national hero, firing a wrist shot past Jordan Binnington to end nearly half a century of waiting.
Hollywood is already reportedly bidding on the film rights. But forget 1980’s college kids—this story features the greatest NHL stars on the planet. If “Miracle” was a gritty 70s drama, “Do You Still Believe in Miracles: Take 2” is a high-octane, modern blockbuster.
Here is how we’re casting the gold medal heroes of Team USA.
The Casting Call: Team USA 2026
The Hero: Jack Hughes
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Played by: Timothée Chalamet
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The Vibe: You need someone with that specific “superstar swagger” and lean athleticism. Chalamet has the hair, the lean build, and the ability to play the guy who knows he’s the best player on the ice. Seeing him celebrate the OT winner with a “Chalamet-esque” roar is a box-office guarantee.
The Wall: Connor Hellebuyck
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Played by: Glen Powell
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The Vibe: Hellebuyck made 41 saves and looked entirely unshakeable. Glen Powell specializes in playing characters with a calm, almost arrogant level of competence (see: Top Gun: Maverick). He’s the guy you trust to stand in front of a 100 mph slap shot from Connor McDavid without blinking.
The Captain: Auston Matthews
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Played by: Jacob Elordi
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The Vibe: Matthews is the face of American hockey—imposing, stylish, and carries a heavy presence. Elordi has the height and the “brooding leader” energy required to play a captain who has to shoulder the pressure of a nation.
The Agitator: Matthew Tkachuk
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Played by: Barry Keoghan
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The Vibe: Tkachuk is the guy everyone loves to hate unless he’s on your team. Keoghan is the master of playing “the wild card.” He can capture that specific Tkachuk smirk after a whistle and the relentless, “greasy” style of play that won the US this gold medal.
The General: Quinn Hughes
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Played by: Tom Holland
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The Vibe: To play Jack’s brother and the team’s defensive anchor, you need someone who radiates high IQ and agility. Holland’s background in gymnastics fits Quinn’s “skating on clouds” style perfectly, and the brotherly chemistry with Chalamet’s Jack Hughes would be the heart of the movie.
The Architect: Coach Mike Sullivan
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Played by: Kyle Chandler
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The Vibe: Is there anyone else? Kyle Chandler has a PhD in “Inspiring Locker Room Speeches.” He brings the exact mix of intensity and tactical brilliance that Sullivan used to outmaneuver Canada’s Jon Cooper.
The Scenes You’ll Never Forget
SCENE START
INT. LOCKER ROOM – SANTAGIULIA ARENA – NIGHT
The room is a chaotic symphony of heavy breathing and the smell of wet gear. JACK HUGHES (Timothée Chalamet) is hunched over, spitting blood into a towel—his front tooth gone thanks to a high stick. CONNOR HELLEBUYCK (Glen Powell) stares at a spot on the floor, his jersey soaked in sweat after 40 saves.
MIKE SULLIVAN (Kyle Chandler) walks into the center of the room. He doesn’t yell. He doesn’t throw a chair. He just stands there, looking at them with that intense, “Clear Eyes” focus.
SULLIVAN: Look at me. Everyone.
(The room goes silent. Even the trainers stop moving.)
SULLIVAN: For one hundred years, they’ve told us this game belongs to the north. They’ve told us we’re the ‘skilled’ team, the ‘fast’ team, but never the ‘tough’ team. They say when it gets into the deep water, the Americans fold.
(He points toward the wall, toward the Canadian locker room.)
SULLIVAN: Right now, in that room, they’re talking about ‘destiny.’ They think because they have the best player in the world, the gold is already theirs. But they aren’t in this room. They don’t see Jack’s mouth. They don’t see McAvoy’s chest where he wore that puck to keep us alive.
(He lowers his voice, leaning in.)
SULLIVAN: We aren’t playing for ‘destiny.’ We’re playing for the guy to your left. We’re playing for fifteen minutes of forever. You go out there, you win one race to a puck, you win one battle on the wall… and you change your lives until the day you die.
SULLIVAN: American swag. Right now. Let’s go earn it.
HUGHES stands up, grabs his helmet, and flashes a gap-toothed grin. The room erupts.
SCENE END
🏒 The Movie’s “Money Shots”
To make this a true blockbuster, the director would need to focus on these three real-life moments from today’s game:
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The “McAvoy Wall”: A slow-motion sequence of Charlie McAvoy (Jeremy Allen White) diving across the crease to block a wide-open Nathan MacKinnon shot with his ribs.
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The Breakaway Save: Hellebuyck stone-walling Connor McDavid in the second period—a shot that shows the absolute despair on the face of the world’s best player.
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The “Golden Goal” Sequence: A diagram-perfect play where Zach Werenski strips the puck, feeds it across, and Jack Hughes buries it before disappearing under a mountain of white jerseys.
Final Casting Update: The Defense
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Charlie McAvoy: Jeremy Allen White (He has the “Boston grit” and the physical intensity to play a lead defenseman who sacrifices his body).
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Adam Fox: Austin Butler (The technical master. He needs to play the “cool under pressure” guy who directs the power play).
