Actor Devon Sawa has shared his genuine reaction after learning that NFL star Travis Kelce and pop icon Taylor Swift cherish his 1994 sports comedy Little Giants. The beloved nineties movie unexpectedly served as an early holiday bonding moment between Kelce and the Swift family during Christmas 2023. Speaking in an exclusive interview, the former child star reflected on the couple’s enthusiasm, shared his thoughts on a possible sequel, and discussed his latest television project.
The Unlikely Holiday Connection Between a Nineties Classic and an A-List Romance
Nineties nostalgia has found its way into one of the modern entertainment world’s most high-profile romances.
Devon Sawa played an unexpected role in the early chapters of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship.
Back in December 2023, when the couple had only recently gone public with their relationship, a specific piece of nineties cinema helped welcome Kelce into Swift’s inner circle.
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end revealed the story during a holiday episode of his weekly New Heights podcast.
Kelce shared that Swift’s brother, Austin Swift, surprised him with a classic holiday gift that instantly brought back his childhood memories.
Austin gifted Kelce an original VHS tape of the 1994 family sports comedy Little Giants.
Kelce was visibly touched by the thoughtful gesture from Swift’s brother.
“He actually made me feel like a child,” Kelce explained on the podcast when recounting the moment.
The NFL athlete added that Austin handed him a tape of what he called his favorite football movie of all time.
Kelce’s fondness for the nostalgic sports flick is deeply tied to his personal roots.
The storyline of Little Giants is set right in Kelce’s home state of Ohio.
Over the years, Kelce’s devotion to the film has been openly documented across social media platforms.
Cre: Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 2.0
Devon Sawa Opens Up About the High-Profile Shoutout
Hearing that an NFL champion and a global music superstar admire his childhood work came as a welcome surprise to Devon Sawa.
Sawa starred as Junior Floyd, the talented star quarterback of the ragtag youth football team.
In an exclusive interview with Elite Daily conducted by Rachel Chapman and Dylan Kickham, Sawa opened up about how it feels to have Kelce and Swift celebrate the film.
“It’s very flattering,” Sawa admitted when asked about the couple’s appreciation.
The actor made it clear that the respect between them goes both ways.
“I love both of them,” Sawa stated enthusiastically during the discussion.
“I think the world of her, and I’m a fan of his,” the actor continued.
“So I’m happy that they watched that movie or are fans of it,” Sawa added with a smile.
For Sawa, seeing a movie from three decades ago remain relevant in pop culture conversations is a testament to its staying power.
The film holds a special place in the hearts of millennials who grew up watching sports comedies during the nineteen-nineties.
Kelce was born in 1989 and Swift was born in 1989, placing both stars directly in the demographic that grew up renting the film on VHS.
For Austin Swift to pinpoint the exact childhood classic highlights how closely the families bonded during their first joint holiday gathering.
The Enduring Cult Appeal of Little Giants
Released by Warner Bros. in October 1994, Little Giants tells the underdog story of two competitive brothers in the fictional town of Oakhaven, Ohio.
One brother, played by Ed O’Neill, coaches the elite local Pee-Wee football squad known as the Cowboys.
The other brother, played by Rick Moranis, forms a rival team made up of misfits and rejected neighborhood kids known as the Little Giants.
The film captured the comedic and emotional realities of youth sports, teamwork, and resilience.
Sawa’s character, Junior Floyd, served as the athletic anchor of the team alongside Becky “Icebox” O’Shea.
The movie became a staple for children of that era, playing constantly on cable television and VHS tapes throughout the decade.
Unlike high-stakes professional dramas, Little Giants focused on the pure joy and chaotic spirit of kids playing sandlot sports.
That down-to-earth humor explains why an elite athlete like Kelce still holds the movie in such high regard.
The movie celebrated the idea that heart, determination, and clever trick plays like “The Annexation of Puerto Rico” can overcome raw physical advantages.
Those universal themes have helped the film maintain its status as an enduring millennial comfort watch.
Could a Little Giants Sequel Actually Happen?
The renewed spotlight on Little Giants has prompted Sawa to rethink the possibility of revisiting his classic roles.
Millennial fans frequently approach Sawa to ask whether he would ever consider reprising his iconic nineties roles.
Most fans often point toward his role as the human form of Casper in the 1995 fantasy hit.
“People are always like, ‘Would you do a Casper sequel?'” Sawa shared during his Elite Daily interview.
“And I’m like, ‘I’m a little old, but sure,'” the actor joked about returning to the ghost story.
However, when it comes to the football comedy, Sawa sees far more realistic potential.
“Little Giants, maybe it’s a little more possible,” Sawa mused.
The actor even pitched an organic way for his character to re-enter the storyline decades later.
“Maybe I could be a coach,” Sawa suggested.
Stepping into the coaching role would complete a natural full-circle arc for Junior Floyd thirty years after leading the team on the field.
Yet Sawa was quick to acknowledge that creating a worthy follow-up would require bringing back key creative cornerstones.
Specifically, Sawa believes the original adult leads were essential to what made the 1994 film a classic.
“Rick Moranis and Ed O’Neill made that movie special,” Sawa pointed out thoughtfully.
Without the legendary comedic rivalry between Moranis and O’Neill, recapturing that original magic would be a formidable task.
Still, Sawa chose not to close the door on the concept entirely.
“You never know,” Sawa concluded regarding a potential sports sequel. “We’ll see.”
Devon Sawa’s Next Move: Entering the World of Coven Academy
While sports fans and movie lovers dream of a Little Giants reunion, Sawa is actively directing his energy toward fresh acting roles.
The actor has built a diverse screen career over the past several decades, evolving from a nineties teen idol into a seasoned genre performer.
He earned widespread acclaim among horror and thriller enthusiasts for his roles in Final Destination, Idle Hands, and the hit television series Chucky.
Now, Sawa is expanding his supernatural resume by guest starring on the new Freeform fantasy series Coven Academy.
The witch-centered drama represents an appealing crossover between suspenseful storytelling and family-friendly viewing for Sawa.
Given his extensive background in horror and dark thrillers, Sawa explained that joining the show was an immediate decision.
“It was a no-brainer,” Sawa stated regarding his choice to sign on for the role.
One major factor in taking the job was making something his own children could actually watch with him.
“Now [my] kids can watch it as well,” Sawa noted with pride.
Sawa believes television viewers have been eagerly waiting for this particular brand of supernatural storytelling.
“I think that audiences are waiting for a show like this to come along,” the actor explained.
He highlighted the specific aesthetic and nostalgic atmosphere that Coven Academy captures on screen.
“It’s got the vibe of old Vampire Diaries, Dawson’s Creek, and Charmed,” Sawa described.
Coven Academy is scheduled to premiere on Freeform before making its streaming debut the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.
Between mentoring a new generation in supernatural drama and appreciating love from Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, Devon Sawa continues to embrace every chapter of his Hollywood journey.
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