Ben Stiller acting in new sports comedy

Pickleball-mania has swept the U.S. in recent years, with the sport taking over local parks and tennis centers and spawning several pro leagues, with many teams owned by pro athletes or celebrities.

Here’s one more sign the sport has achieved major status: Ben Stiller will produce and act in a new pickleball comedy, The Dink .

Stiller’s Red Hour Films will team with Rivulet Films on the movie. Jake Johnson will star as an aging tennis pro who starts playing pickleball to win his father’s affection and save a tennis club. Mary Steenburgen and Ed Harris are also set to star. Stiller will have a supporting role along with former tennis great Andy Roddick.

According to The Hollywood Reporter , Josh Greenbaum will direct the film based on a screenplay from Sean Clements.

Production is set to begin in Los Angeles in November, with a release date to be determined.

As noted earlier, there have been plenty of media efforts to capitalize on the pickleball boom, from a dedicated TV network ( Pickleballtv ) to primetime pickleball action on ESPN . However, what industry insiders have determined, generally speaking, is that while people love to play pickleball, it doesn’t draw big ratings . Perhaps Stiller can work his magic and draw big numbers with the film at the box office.

[ The Hollywood Reporter ]

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