Abhiroop Das
Helmed by Jeff Tremaine, ‘Jackass: Best and Last‘ is the fifth and final film in the ‘Jackass’ franchise, and amplifies just about everything that has made this journey so unique. While large chunks of this movie go back in time to revisit the Jackass team’s most iconic stunts and pranks, there is also a distinctly emotional tint to it all, as Johnny Knoxville and company reflect on their legacy and that of the franchise as a whole. In the same vein, there is also a constant stream of previously unreleased footage and new, even more daring and dangerous stunts. However, a few familiar faces seem absent throughout it all, and among them is Eric Manaka, the skateboarder and stunt artist who joins the Jackass team as a rookie in the penultimate movie, ‘Jackass Forever,’ and has left his impact since.
Eric Manaka Likely Couldn’t Join Jackass Best and Last Due to Scheduling Issues
Eric Manaka is the only cast member from ‘Jackass Forever’ to not make an appearance in the finale film, ‘Jackass: Best and Last,’ and the reason for that remains ambiguous to an extent. He is one of the five new performers introduced in the penultimate film, alongside Zach Holmes, Jasper Dolphin, Sean “Poopies” McInerney, and Rachel Wolfson, and all but Manaka seem to have returned in ‘Jackass: Best and Last.’ While we do see him in archival footage, be it unreleased scenes or the best-of compilations that are scattered all throughout the film, Manaka doesn’t feature in any of the newer stunts and sequences. Furthermore, neither Johnny Knoxville nor any of the co-creators of the franchise has made a public comment explaining Manaka’s absence, which makes things all the more puzzling for fans.
The ‘Jackass’ franchise isn’t exactly a stranger to cast members only joining the shows or movies for a single appearance, as many of its stunts rely on guest and cameo appearances. However, what makes Manaka’s case unique is that he is introduced as a rookie in ‘Jackass Forever’ and participates in several stunts over the course of the film. However, one thing that sets him apart from the other four rookies might be that he doesn’t live in the homeland. A resident of South London, England, Manaka reportedly faced quite a lot of traveling challenges while filming for the penultimate film due to COVID-19 restrictions. The impact of this is also felt in the film as he seems to have a relatively reduced screentime when compared to the other rookies.
It is possible that Manaka faced scheduling conflicts during the production of ‘Jackass: Best and Last,’ but without an official update from him or the team behind the film, this remains within the realm of speculation. Since the release of ‘Jackass Forever,’ Manaka has had limited on-screen appearances. He plays Fi’s friend in the film ‘How to Have Sex,’ but apart from that, it appears that he has directed his creative energies to other pursuits. That doesn’t mean that his journey with ‘Jackass’ is over, though, as evidenced by his appearance at the special screening of ‘Jackass: Best and Last’ in June 2026, at BFI IMAX in London. While he does not feature in the new footage of the finale film, he has still cemented himself as one of the best additions to this team and to the franchise’s legacy at large.
Read More: Where Was Jackass: Best and Last Filmed?
You must be logged in to post a comment.