Jake Johnson and Ben Stiller are heading to the pickleball court. Apple TV+ has released the trailer for “The Dink,” a sports comedy directed by Josh Greenbaum set to begin streaming July 24.
Johnson stars as Dusty Boyd, a former tennis prodigy turned reluctant pickleball convert. Once destined for athletic greatness, Dusty spends his days teaching kids at his father Chuck’s country club until an injury sidelines him from tennis altogether. With pickleball offering a path to rehabilitation, and a new partner in the enthusiastic Candace, played by Mary Steenburgen, Dusty slowly finds himself warming to the sport he once dismissed.
Ed Harris plays Chuck Boyd, Dusty’s father and a vocal opponent of pickleball’s rising popularity. Stiller appears as the friend who nudges Dusty toward the court. “I know pickleball is sorta dorky, but it’s the fastest road back to tennis for you,” Stiller’s character tells him in the trailer.
The cast also includes Patton Oswalt, Chloe Fineman, Chris Parnell, Aaron Chen and Christine Taylor, with former tennis pros Andy Roddick and John McEnroe making appearances.
Greenbaum, who previously directed “Strays” and “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar,” helmed the film from a script by Sean Clements, who drew partial inspiration from his own experience rehabbing injuries by playing open mixers with retirees. Stiller, who produced and starred in the 2004 sports comedy “Dodgeball,” serves as a producer alongside Johnson, John Lesher, Rob Paris and Mike Witherill.
Johnson, who had never played pickleball before taking the role, said his appreciation for the sport grew during production. “Our director wanted to make it a real sports movie, so the pickleball is represented,” he said. “We shot the hell out of the pickleball stuff, and it looks good.”
“The Dink” arrives as sports comedies have quietly become one of streaming’s more reliable genres, with Netflix releasing “Happy Gilmore 2,” Hulu scoring with “Chad Powers” and Apple TV+ finding its own footing with the golf series “Stick,” which has been renewed for a second season.