Ben Stiller‘s Red Hour Films and Rivulet Films will re-team for the upcoming pickleball comedy, The Dink, which is set to star Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, and Ed Harris.
Stiller and former tennis champion Andy Roddick will have key supporting roles.
Josh Greenbaum (MGM’s upcoming Spaceballs sequel, Will & Harper) will direct the original screenplay from Sean Clements (Workaholics, Kevin Can F**k Himself).
Pic follows a washed-up tennis pro (Johnson) who, in trying to save a club in crisis and win his father’s respect, is forced to break a solemn vow and do the one thing he swore he’d never do: play pickleball.
Cameras roll this November in LA.
John Lesher and Stiller are producing through their Red Hour Films banner alongside Rivulet’s Rob Paris and Mike Witherill. Johnson will also serve as a producer. Stiller and Rivulet’s most recent collaboration, Nutcrackers directed by David Gordon Green, made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in the opening night slot. Nutcrackers sold for eight figures to Hulu in a competitive situation. Rivulet will also be fully financing this production and the company’s senior strategic advisor Rick Steele will serve as EP alongside Sean Clements and Greenbaum.
Greenbaum is a director, screenwriter, and producer known for his work on adult comedy films such as Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar and Strays. His documentary Will & Harper, which follows Will Ferrell and former Saturday Night Live writer Harper Steele as they embark on a road trip after Harper decides to go through a gender transition. The pic, which is in contention this awards season will drop on Netflix on Sept. 27. The Dink marks Clements’ feature film debut as a screenwriter.
