Kevin Costner’s movies have been at the center of TV adaptations before. The seminal1989 baseball filmField of Dreams, written and directed by Phil Alden Robinson, with Costner in the lead role, was in the works for Peacock back in late 2021. Michael Schur, creator ofThe Good Placeand co-creator ofBrooklyn Nine-NineandParks and Recreation, was attached to write and executive produce the potential series.
The project was eventually scrapped, with Peacock opting to focus on other series and declining to spend money on the adaptation. Schur did mention that his version ofField of Dreamswould have included the likes of Nick Offerman and Andre Braugher, in addition to serving as a reunion forThe Good Placeco-stars Kristen Bell and William Jackson Harper. Another one of Costner’s sports dramas, albeit with a more muted reputation, is being eyed for an adaptation.
2014’s Draft Day Is Getting A TV Adaptation
It’ll Focus On Basketball Instead
Draft Dayis getting a TV adaptation. Directed by Ivan Reitman, with Rajiv Joseph and Scott Rothman credited for the script, the film centered on the general manager (played by Costner) of the Cleveland Browns and how he decides to move forward after acquiring the NFL’s number one draft pick. Mixing a fictional lead character with a real NFL team,Draft Dayalso starred Jennifer Garner, Denis Leary, Frank Langella, Sam Elliott, Ellen Burstyn, Tom Welling, Terry Crews, and Chadwick Boseman.
Draft Daydidn’t perform well at the box office, grossing $29.8 million against a reported $25 million budget, and received mixed reviews.
Deadlineconfirmed thatDraft Dayis getting adapted into a TV series, albeit with a twist. The project plans tofocus on basketball and the NBA rather than American football. In particular, theDraft Dayshow plans to “capture the drama and excitement of watching basketball players get drafted and fulfill their dreams.” The project hails from Lionsgate TV and LeBron James' SpringHill alongside Madison Wells, who produced the 2014 film. It isstill early in the process, with no writer attached.
Scott Herbst, EVP and Head of Scripted Development at Lionsgate Television, said the project was in good hands. The sentiment was echoed by Jamal Henderson, SpringHill’s Chief Content Officer. Their statements are included below:
Herbst: “If you are going to do a show set in and around the world of basketball, one person comes to mind ahead of all others. The same passion, drive and commitment to excellence that drove LeBron James to be the best in the game is evident in everything he touches and with SpringHill’s oversight, this project is in the best possible hands.”
Henderson: “This is a dynamic, character-driven project that perfectly captures the grind and hustle of professional sports. We’re excited to team up with Lionsgate to create a fresh look at the pressures and triumphs behind one of the most crucial days in any player’s career.”
Our Take On The Draft Day Adaptation
Casting Is Key
As seen with the fate ofField of Dreams, planned TV projects can fall apart along the way. Still, if the adaptation does move forward and gain steam, a big part of the appeal will come down to who gets cast in the newDraft Day. The film is best remembered, likely, for being one of the lateChadwick Boseman’s earlier movies.
Draft Day Works Better For Football Than Basketball
The NFL Draft Features More Rounds And Is A Massive Deal For Teams
While it must be applauded thatDraft Daywon’t just be a stretched-out rehash of the original film by focusing on the NBA this time, it is also worth noting that it’s pretty easy to see that the premise for both the movie and the show likely works better when it revolves around the NFL draft compared to the NBA draft.Most notable is just how important drafts are for NFL teams, especially when it comes to later rounds, where certain players can fall or even emerge to become stars.
Of course, this isn’t to say that the NBA draft isn’t important for teams, but with only two rounds compared to the NFL’s seven, there is a lot more opportunity for late-draft shake-ups when it comes to football. While NBA teams are much smaller than NFL teams, the vast size of football rosters makes drafting players incredibly complex, as so many variables need to be taken into consideration, rather than what is necessarily the “best player” available at any given time. Still,Draft Daycould surprise a lot of people, and the switch to basketball could be inspired.
