Ben Stiller, Jake Johnson, & Andy Roddick to Star in Pickleball Comedy The Dink

Jake Johnson (New Girl) has signed on for the leading role in the upcoming pickleball comedy titled, The Dink. Besides the Spider-Verse star, Ben Stiller (Zoolander), Mary Steenburgen (Step Brothers) and Ed Harris (Westworld) have also been tapped to portray supporting characters, along with former tennis champion Andy Roddick. Production is expected to begin sometime in November in Los Angeles.

“The film 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,” reads the synopsis.

Who’s involved in The Dink movie?

The Dink will be directed by Josh Greenbaum from a screenplay written by Sean Clements. In addition to being part of the cast, Stiller and Johnson are also set as a producers, along with John Lesher, Rob Paris and Mike Witherill. It is executive produced by Greenbaum, Clements and Rick Steele. The film is a production by Red Hour Films and Rivulet Films, with the latter also fully financing the project.

Before starring in The Dink, Stiller will next star in David Gordon Green’s comedy drama movie Nutcrackers, which had its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. This marks the Night at the Museum star’s first acting movie project in a long while, after 2022’s Bleecker. Stiller is also currently attached to star opposite Colin Farrell in Belly of the Beast.