Jason Bateman and Netflix are reuniting for another exciting new project as the streaming giant and Bateman’s production company, Aggregate, have managed to nab the rights to adapt the 2021 Esquire magazine article Daddy Ball written by David Gauvey Herbert. Per Deadline, Bateman will showcase his talents both behind and in front of the camera as the director and lead star of the forthcoming TV series. Deadline even reveals that an intense bidding war ensued for the rights to the dark comedy series, with a remarkable “eight offers on the table.” Despite the fierce competition, Netflix and Aggregate, ultimately emerged victorious, securing the rights to the show.
Reports indicate that Netflix and Bateman will explore a different title for their upcoming project but remain committed to sticking to the source material and developing it into an engaging eight-episode limited TV series, with the Ozark actor in the lead role. Set in the highly competitive landscape of youth sports, Daddy Ball delves into an intense rivalry between two fathers. The forthcoming series is being positioned as a dark comedy limited series, drawing parallels to the recent Netflix hit show Beef.
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In a nutshell, Herbert’s article delves into the familiar territory of youth sports rivalries between fathers. It begins like any typical youth sports rivalry between dads; however, what sets this particular narrative apart is the complex pasts of both fathers and the astonishing escalation of their rivalry. Much like Beef, the seemingly innocuous grudge between Bobby Sanfilippo and John Reardon in the context of Little League baseball transforms into an all-consuming saga, encompassing allegations of stalking, involvement of corrupt police officers, and even ties to organised crime.
“Both Sanfilippo and Reardon have rap sheets of their own, but what went down in the summer of 2012 at Baseball Heaven will define them and their families forever,” explains Mike Fleming Jr of Deadline. “Stalking claims, threatening text messages, and an unwarranted arrest later at the heart of it all, it’s a story about the lengths fathers will go for their sons.” For Netflix’s upcoming dark comedy series adaptation, Bateman, Michael Costigan and Roxie Rodriguez will act as co-executive producers for Aggregate alongside David Herbert and David Klawans.
The status of the show’s script remains unclear at this time. While Netflix has shown interest in the concept and made a bid, the series still remains in the developmental phase. Considering the ongoing WGA strike, it seems unlikely that the show will go into production sometime in the near future. Casting details for the series are also currently under tight wraps, with the exception of the confirmed involvement of Jason Bateman as a lead actor. Although the specific role he will portray has not been disclosed, based on the plot details, it appears that he will likely assume one of the central roles as one of the two fathers at the heart of the gripping rivalry.
