'Friday Night Lights' Creators Wanted Billy Bob Thornton for Finale

What has Oscar-winner Billy Bob Thornton been up to lately? Well, we can tell you what he isn't up to: appearing on 'Friday Night Lights.'

As the much-beloved high school football drama begins its fifth and final season on DirecTV Oct. 27, producers attempted a two-point conversion rather than just an extra point for the finale. Entertainment Weekly reports the show's producers tried to draft to draft Thornton to reprise his role from the 'FNL' feature film and appear as Coach Gary Gaines.

"We wanted to pay homage to the movie, so we came up with an idea for a cameo. But Billy wasn't available," said executive producer Jason Katims.

Since the series' other executive producer, Peter Berg, directed the movie, they probably had a shot at nabbing him. However, they'll have to go with their backup team. Katims didn't reveal what the proposed story for Coach Gaines involved because it would spoil this season's storyline. We do know it involved Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler), though.

"We wanted the episode to be a rich and satisfying ending," Katims says. "Nine-tenths good story and one-tenth nostalgia."

Does that mean he doesn't expect the series finale to be rich and satisfying now? We think Berg still has some trick plays up his sleeve to make it great.