Billy Bob Thornton has turned down the chance to reprise his "Friday Night Lights" role for the TV spin-off's upcoming season finale because his busy schedule doesn't allow it. The movie star was approached by the film's director Peter Berg and his fellow producers and asked to play Coach Gary Gaines again.

Executive producer Jason Katims tells Entertainment Weekly, "We wanted to pay homage to the movie, so we came up with an idea for a cameo, but Billy wasn't available."

Although refusing to give detail of the story, Katims says, "We wanted the episode to be a rich and satisfying ending. Nine-tenths good story and one-tenth nostalgia." The much-beloved high school football drama begins its fifth and final season on DirecTV on October 27.