Peacock is stepping up the plate and hopes to hit a home run after giving a straight-to-series order to Field of Dreams. Based on Universal’s Oscar-nominated film, the newly-announced project hails from The Good Place creator Michael Schur, the film’s producer Lawrence Gordon, and Universal TV.
Written by Schur, Field of Dreams will reimagine elements of director Phil Alden Robinson’s 1989 sports drama that centers on Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella and his magical baseball field. According to Deadline, Peacock became interested in the project amid a surge in popularity for the 1989 film starring Kevin Costner following MLB’s Field of Dreams game between the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox, which aired on Fox. In fact, Nielsen says it was the most-watched regular-season Major League Baseball telecast on any network since 2005.
“Through the years, Field of Dreams has remained a fan favorite, maintaining its rightful position in the zeitgeist,” said Lisa Katz, President, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. “It’s whimsical and grounded, a space where Mike Schur excels, and we’re looking forward to bringing a new version of this classic to Peacock.”
“Field of Dreams is an iconic Universal Film title from venerable producers Lawrence and Charles Gordon, that we could only have entrusted to Mike Schur,” said Erin Underhill, President, Universal Television. “His talent, his love for baseball, and his reverence for its themes make him the perfect choice to revisit this beloved film that evokes nostalgia and visceral emotion in so many of its fans.”
Written and directed by Phil Alden Robinson, the original Field of Dreams is an adaptation of W.P. Kinsella’s 1982 novel Shoeless Joe. The film tells the story of Ray Kinsella, an Iowa farmer inspired by a voice he can’t ignore to pursue a dream he can hardly believe. Supported by his wife, Ray begins the quest by turning his ordinary cornfield into a place where dreams can come true. It stars Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, Ray Liotta, James Earl Jones, Gaby Hoffman, Timothy Busfield, Frank Whaley, Dwier Brown, and Burt Lancaster.
Field of Dreams is one of several baseball-related film or television projects currently in the works. Currently, Amazon is preparing to call a series version of A League of Their Own to the field, while Disney+ is busy developing a series version of The Sandlot. Play ball!