Exclusive Sneak Peek: Jaw-Dropping Cast Unveiled for Canceled Field Of Dreams TV Show

Summary

The scrapped television adaptation of Field of Dreams had an impressive cast including Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, Nick Offerman, and Andre Braugher.

Mike Schur, the creative mind behind The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Parks and Recreation, has officially announced the participation of these talented actors in his rendition of the show.

Centered around the character Moonlight Williams, the show delves into the fictional player's journey while also shedding light on the immense societal expectations placed on Tom Yawkey, the owner of the Red Sox, to provide opportunities for Negro league players during the pivotal year of 1945.

The Field of Dreams television adaptation, which unfortunately never came to fruition, had an impressive cast, as revealed by creator Mike Schur. In August 2021, it was announced that the iconic 1989 baseball film Field of Dreams, written and directed by Phil Alden Robinson and starring Kevin Costner, would be remade into a TV show for Peacock. Schur, the mastermind behind The Good Place and co-creator of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Parks and Recreation, was set to write and executive produce the project. However, by June of the following year, the Field of Dreams television adaptation was ultimately dropped.

During an interview on the Pablo Torres Finds Out podcast, Schur confirmed that his iteration of Field of Dreams would have featured actors from three of his previous hit shows.

Kristen Bell and William Jackson Harper (The Good Place), Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation), and Andre Braugher (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) are specifically mentioned by Schur. Additionally, Schur reveals some insights into the character that Harper would have portrayed.

Andre Braugher, Kristen Bell, and Nick Offerman were all lined up to be a part of the production. Joining them was William Jackson Harper, known for his role as Chidi in The Good Place.

In a compelling true story from 1945, the Boston city council exerted intense pressure on Tom Yawkey, the owner of the Red Sox, compelling him to hold tryouts for Negro league players. Reluctantly, Yawkey granted tryouts to three players, one of whom happened to be the legendary Jackie Robinson. Robinson arrived at Fenway and went through the motions of a tryout, although it was clear that the whole affair was merely for show.

I portrayed this narrative through the perspective of a character named Moonlight Williams, a player who was offered a tryout but then confronted with the harsh reality that he would never be part of the team or make it to the major leagues. This pivotal moment sets the tone for the entire series, as it culminates in a significant encounter between Moonlight, who would have been played by Will Harper, and Tom Yawkey.

Field of Dreams Explains Some of Peacock's Problems

Schur explained that Peacock's ambitious plan to create a star-studded version of Field of Dreams fell through due to the platform's reluctance to invest in the project. He further emphasized that a baseball stadium was constructed in an Iowa cornfield, but remains unused, indicating that Peacock has yet to establish its desired direction. Once praised for its support of notable shows like Saved by the Bell, Bumper in Berlin, and even Field of Dreams, the platform has now abruptly canceled all three endeavors.

Peacock has achieved some moderate success with a couple of shows, notably the murder mystery "Poker Face" by Riann Johnson and, to a lesser extent, the recent adaptation of "Twisted Metal." However, when considering the cast, it is difficult to understand why Peacock did not give the show at least one or two seasons to build an audience. This is especially true when taking into account the significant impact of the movie "Field of Dreams."

The film received three Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture. Its influence has only grown over time, thanks in part to the renewed popularity of its star, Kevin Costner, from the show "Yellowstone." Despite Peacock's efforts to distinguish itself from larger streaming platforms and make changes to its programming and leadership, it is peculiar that a promising project from a well-known creator was not enough to salvage the television prospects of "Field of Dreams."

Source: Pablo Torres Finds Out