Pickleball's Next Big Comedy
Apple TV+ Premieres 'The Dink,' a Sports Comedy About Pickleball and Redemption Starring Jake Johnson
Key Points
The Dink is led by director Josh Greenbaum with a script by Sean Clements, and a notable producing team including Ben Stiller along with John Lesher, Rob Paris, Mike Witherill, and Jake Johnson.
Andy Roddick appears in the project as himself, serving as Dusty’s childhood rival who features in the storyline.
The ensemble cast expands beyond the leads to include Chloe Fineman and Chris Parnell, joining Patton Oswalt and Aaron Chen in the lineup.
Coverage emphasizes a Dodgeball-like tonal vibe—exaggerated competition, eccentric characters, and an underdog redemption arc central to Dusty’s journey.
Apple TV+ dropped the full trailer for The Playlist 's most-anticipated summer comedy on June 23, 2026. *The Dink* stars Jake Johnson as Dusty Boyd, a washed-up former tennis prodigy who gets dragged into the world of pickleball — and finds himself along the way.
The film premieres July 24, 2026, on Apple TV+. It is directed by Josh Greenbaum and produced by Ben Stiller, who also appears on screen. HeyUGuys notes the trailer immediately trended for its "Dodgeball-esque" humor and sharp underdog energy.
Dusty Boyd's Fall From Tennis Royalty
Dusty Boyd was once a tennis prodigy. Now he coaches kids at his father's suburban country club. His dad, Chuck Boyd, is played by Ed Harris and runs a "vendetta" against pickleball, according to Mashable. The father-son clash sits at the heart of the story.
Ben Stiller plays Dr. Stone, a character who pushes Dusty toward pickleball. In the trailer, Stiller's character tells Dusty that pickleball is the "fastest road back to tennis." Mary Steenburgen plays Candace, Dusty's pickleball partner who helps him rediscover his passion, per Apple TV Press.
Andy Roddick Returns as the Rival From Dusty's Past
Tennis star Andy Roddick appears as himself in the film. He plays Dusty's childhood rival — the ghost of the glory Dusty never achieved. The Playlist reports Roddick serves as a key antagonist tied to Dusty's painful past.
The ensemble goes deep beyond the leads. Patton Oswalt, Aaron Chen, Chloe Fineman, and Chris Parnell all round out the cast. Director Josh Greenbaum, known for *Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar*, describes the film as an "underdog story" rooted in modern sports culture, per HeyUGuys.
Pickleball's Real-World Boom Powers the Story
Pickleball is not just a backdrop. It is the fastest-growing sport in America for five straight years. As of 2025, 24.3 million Americans played pickleball — a 22.8% jump from 2024, according to the SFIA 2026 Participation Report. Worldwide, the sport now has over 50 million players.
That real-world tension between pickleball and tennis — noise complaints, court takeovers, and culture clashes — drives the film's plot. The Guardian has framed this conflict as a "turf war" between new and old sport culture. The film uses it as a catalyst for Dusty's personal growth.
Apple TV+ Bets Big on Sports Comedies in 2026
*The Dink* fits squarely into Apple TV+'s growing sports comedy strategy. Following hits like *Ted Lasso* and Owen Wilson's golf series *Stick*, Apple is positioning itself as the top home for heartwarming sports stories, according to Business Insider.
Production began in Los Angeles on November 4, 2024, and wrapped by December. The film runs 102 minutes and is rated PG-13, per MacObserver. Jake Johnson, who also produces, confirmed the Apple partnership in January 2026, calling it "a ton of fun."
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