Tony Hawk got involved for Bam Margera to return to the Pro Skater franchise.
The former Jackass star appeared in installments of Pro Skater from 2001 to 2007, but in a new promo for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, fans were uncertain if Margera, 45, would make an appearance. Due to Margera's history of legal issues and alleged substance abuse, it was speculated that the skater wouldn't be tapped for the long-running skateboarding video game, which Rodger Bagley alluded to in a recent episode of his livestream, The Live Club.
Last August, Margera pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct for assaulting his brother, Jessie Margera, and threatening his family members at their Pennsylvania home. One month later, Margera was arrested for a suspected DUI and, upon release from Fulton County, Pennsylvania jail, was ordered to a 28-day rehab treatment.
But, according to Bagley, although Activision reportedly took issue with Margera's legal and alleged addiction troubles, Hawk still wanted him in Pro Skater.
"The game was already done. Tony called up Activision and was like, 'Hey, we’re putting Bam in the thing,’ and they were like ‘Hey, we can’t,'" said Bagley around the 20-minute mark of the video below. "He goes, 'No, you’re gonna do it,' and basically made them fly Bam back out there to get body-scanned and everything else, and get him back in the game."
Additionally, TMZ reports that Hawk met with Margera earlier this month to chat about his sobriety, and as Bagley said, recorded his moves in a motion-capture body suit for the upcoming game.
But without official word from Hawk or Margera, we won't know if the stunt skater is actually in the game until it launches on July 11.