Chloe Fineman, Patton Oswalt, John McEnroe and More Join Pickleball Comedy ‘The Dink

By Brent Lang

According To The variety Chloe Fineman, Patton Oswalt and tennis legend John McEnroe have joined “The Dink,” a new pickleball comedy from Josh Greenbaum, director of the new Netflix documentary “Will & Harper.” Other new ensemble members include Aaron Chen, Martin Kove, Chris Parnell and Christine Taylor.

Previously revealed stars of “The Dink” include Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris, Ben Stiller and, another tennis great, Andy Roddick. Principal photography on “The Dink” began in Los Angeles this week. Sean Clements (“Workaholics”) wrote the script, which follows a washed-up tennis pro who tries to save a club in crisis and win his dad’s respect by taking up pickleball and breaking a vow he made.

John Lesher and Stiller are producing through their Red Hour Films banner, alongside Johnson and Rivulet’s Rob Paris and Mike Witherill. Rivulet will also fully finance the production and the company’s senior strategic advisor Rick Steele will serve as executive producer, alongside Clements and Greenbaum. Tennis coach Brad Gilbert, who coached Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff, has joined the production as technical consultant, alongside his wife, Kim. The couple recently played a similar role on “Challengers,” Luca Guadagnino’s romantic drama about a love-triangle playing out on and off the court. Stiller and Rivulet recently collaborated on “Nutcrackers,” directed by David Gordon Green and starring Stiller. The film was acquired by Hulu and Disney+ after premiering at the Toronto Film Festival.

Fineman is a castmember of “Saturday Night Live” and is set to lead Hulu’s “Summer of ‘69.” Oswalt’s credits include “The King of Queens,” “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” and “Young Adult.” Chen currently stars in the Netflix comedy “Fisk” and will appear in the film “Kinda Pregnant” opposite Amy Schumer. Kove is best known for his work in “The Karate Kid” films and the spinoff Netflix series “Cobra Kai.” Parnell was a cast member of “SNL” from 1998 to 2006 and lends his voice to FX’s “Archer” and Adult Swim’s “Rick and Morty.” Taylor recently had roles in “High Desert” from Apple TV+ and HBO Max’s “Search Party,” as well as co-starred in “Dodgeball” and “Zoolander.” And McEnroe won seven Grand Slam titles. He also appeared in Adam Sandler’s “Jack and Jill” and “Anger Management,” and as the narrator of the Netflix series “Never Have I Ever.”

Fineman is represented by CAA, Nicole Garcia Management, and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Feldman, Rogal, Shikora & Clark. Oswalt is represented by UTA, Independent Artists Media, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein. McEnroe is represented by IMG. Chen is represented by UTA and 3 Arts Entertainment. Kove is repped by Gary Ousdahl at Advanced Management and Eric Feig & Pano Spanos of Feig Finkel LLP. Taylor is repped by UTA and Strand Entertainment.