Josh Greenbaum Sets 'The Dink' as Apple TV+'s Pickleball Comedy

The film, starring Jake Johnson as a washed-up tennis pro who turns to pickleball, marks a deliberate throwback to classic sports comedies.

According to TheWrap, Greenbaum aimed to create a film that was "a little bit of ‘Caddyshack’ here, a dash of ‘Major League’ there." The project was assembled independently before Apple acquired it for a global release. "We were fortunate enough to have some financiers who believed in the movie," Greenbaum said in an interview with TheWrap. "We said, Let’s make it ourselves, make it the way we want to and then we’ll take it out to market."

What is 'The Dink' about?

The film follows a desperate former tennis star trying to save a struggling country club and earn his father's respect by breaking a vow and playing pickleball. The cast includes Ed Harris and Mary Steenburgen, with Ben Stiller serving as a producer. Greenbaum noted the production was a joy, shot entirely in Los Angeles with an "unbelievable cast" that formed a "beautiful family."

How did Apple get involved?

Greenbaum said Apple "got it right away" upon seeing the finished film. "Luckily enough, I’m an Apple Music guy," Greenbaum noted, citing his loyalty to the platform.

Greenbaum also revealed his next directorial effort will be Spaceballs: The New One, scheduled for an April 2027 release. He was finishing the awards campaign for his documentary Will and Harper while filming The Dink, at one point juggling a potential helicopter ride between a screening event and a night shoot with Ed Harris and Ben Stiller.