I've got some exciting news to share, but if you want to stay here plucking cows that's your business. One of the best and most quotable sports films of all time, A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, is being reimagined as an Amazon Studios television series!
Word reached the outfield today that Amazon has picked up the retooled version of Penny Marshall's 1992 film, which hails from co-creators Abbi Jacobson (Broad City), who also stars, and Will Graham (Mozart in the Jungle), and Sony Pictures TV.
"This reinterpretation of A League of Their Own evokes the joyful spirit of Penny Marshall's beloved classic while widening the lens to tell the story of an entire generation of women who dreamed of playing professional baseball. The show takes a deeper look at race and sexuality, following the journey of a whole new ensemble of characters as they carve their own paths towards the field, both in the League and outside of it," Amazon wrote in their official press release for the new series.
“28 years ago, Penny Marshall told us a story about women playing professional baseball that up until then had been largely overlooked. We grew up obsessed with the film, like everyone else. Three years ago, we approached Sony with the idea of telling a new, still overlooked set of those stories. With the help of an enormously talented team of collaborators, an amazing cast, and the devoted support of Amazon to this project, we feel beyond lucky and excited to get to bring these characters to life.” said Graham and Jacobson. “It took grit, fire, authenticity, wild imagination and a crackling sense of humor for these players to achieve their dreams. We’re hoping to bring audiences a story with all of those qualities.”
In addition to Jacobson, A League Of Their Own stars Chanté Adams, D’Arcy Carden, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Kelly McCormack, Roberta Colindrez, and Priscilla Delgado, with Molly Ephraim, Kate Berlant, and Melanie Field also playing recurring guest roles.
“There’s no crying in baseball, or at Prime Video,” said Vernon Sanders, Co-Head of Television, Amazon Studios. “Will and Abbi have taken a classic movie, reimagining it for a new generation with new characters and their own fresh, modern vision on a timeless story of big dreams, friendship, love, and, of course, baseball. We’re so excited to partner with Sony to bring this emotional, exciting new series to our Prime Video customers around the world.”
Recently, Matthew A. Cherry called attention to the near-final moments of Marshall's film on Twitter, which depicts a black woman picking up a ground ball and throwing it back to Geena Davis' Dottie Hinson. Cherry's tweet then caught the attention of actress Gabrielle Union, who was more than willing to show her support for the idea of creating a sequel that focuses on the three black women that played in the N*gro Leagues (Toni Stone, Mami "Peanut" Johnson & Connie Morgan).
While Amazon's A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN doesn't appear to honor Cherry and Union's request, it does sound as if the show will introduce players and characters of color, which will certainly lend to Jacobson and Graham's version offering something different for fans of the original film. Personally, I can't wait for Amazon's A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN to step up to the plate, as Marhsall's film is one of my favorites of all time. Play ball!