Director Josh Greenbaum has made quite an impression with his first three films: Jamie Dornan as a maraca-wielding murderer in 'Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar,' Will Ferrell as a dog on a mission to bite off his abusive owner's wiener in 'Strays,' and a heartfelt road-trip movie in 'Will & Harper.' Now, the unpredictable filmmaker is set to dive into the world of pickleball with 'The Dink.' According to THR, Jake Johnson is poised to lead this sports comedy, with Ben Stiller, Mary Steenburgen, and Ed Harris joining him as co-stars.
Written by 'Kevin Can F*** Himself' scribe Sean Clements, 'The Dink' will feature Johnson as an aging tennis pro who reluctantly takes up pickleball to save a local club and earn his father's respect. The roles of Stiller and the rest of the ensemble are yet to be disclosed. However, Stiller, known for his work on the sports comedy classic 'Dodgeball,' will play a key supporting role, as will US tennis legend Andy Roddick.
Pickleball, a hybrid of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton, has seen a surge in popularity over the past three years, making a movie about the sport almost inevitable. With Josh Safdie's 'Marty Supreme' and Luca Guadagnino's 'Challengers' generating buzz, racket-based movies are currently a hot topic in Hollywood. Production on 'The Dink' is slated to begin in November, so we'll soon see if Greenbaum's latest film can outplay its competitors or if it will, well, drop the pickleball.
