Amazon just released the full trailer for the new "A League of Their Own" TV series, and we're already counting down the days until it premieres.
The reboot of the 1992 film “A League of Their Own" was announced in 2020. The classic film follows the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which came about in 1943 when many men were fighting in World War II and couldn't play baseball. Based on a true story, a real team — the Rockford Peaches of Rockford, Illinois — inspired the movie and show.
The TV series “evokes the joyful spirit of Penny Marshall’s beloved classic” and also takes things one step further to tell the story of “an entire generation of women who dreamed of playing professional baseball,” according to Amazon Prime Video.
Here's everything you need to know before it debuts this summer.
When does 'A League of Their Own' premiere?
The new series will be streaming on Amazon Prime Video starting Friday, August 12 — a summer series for a summer sport.
The trailer introduces a new set of characters
Like the original film, the series will center on the Rockford Peaches, but will feature a new set of characters. The first footage from the series shows the characters in all the various aspects of their lives, from the baseball field to the workplace and at home with their families.
The two-minute clip sets the tone for the theme of the series and shows the cast working hard to overcome the odds while they pursue their dreams. The first scene shows one of the characters, Carson Shaw (played by Abbi Jacobson) facing judgment from fellow hopefuls as she makes her way to tryouts. “She doesn’t look like much competition,” Greta Gill (played by D'Arcy Carden) declares.
Next, two Black women show up to tryouts and are turned away. "I don't think you understand. This is the All-American League," one of the coaches says. "We're pretty All-American," Max Chapman (played by Chanté Adams) replies and throws a killer pitch that stuns everyone.
Max is desperate to play baseball, even if it's not for the Rockford Peaches, so she tries out for another team. "I'm a pitcher, and you need me," she tells a coach as male players stand by and watch. The coach then tells her that she needs a job at the local factory in order to play, so she secures one and learns how to weld.
Meanwhile, the Rockford Peaches are settling into their new team and soon realize that they have a lot of rules to follow: no smoking, no drinking, no pants (only dresses) and early curfews. Nonetheless, they defy the rules and seem to have a lot of fun cutting loose together.
While the Rockford Peaches players seem to live a more glamorous life, behind the scenes they are frustrated with their leadership and are determined to call their own shots on and off the field.
Carson soon overhears a league official suggest that the women should wear shorter skirts to make the game "more exciting." She doesn't like that one bit and throws a baseball at her coach.
In the trailer, same-sex romance is also prevalent, and the show plans to explore topics of sexuality and race.
The cast of the new series is packed with stars
“Broad City” star Abbi Jacobson is pulling double duty as both a star and executive producer of the project. Many talented producers have been working by her side, including "Mozart in the Jungle" producer Will Graham.
“It took grit, fire, authenticity, wild imagination and a crackling sense of humor for these players to achieve their dreams,” Graham and Jacobson said in a statement in 2020. “We’re hoping to bring audiences a story with all of those qualities.”
Here's a full run-down of the cast and the characters they play, positions included, per Deadline.
- Abbi Jacobson: Carson Shaw, a catcher from a small town
- D’Arcy Carden: Greta, who plays first base
- Chanté Adams: Max, a powerful pitcher
- Gbemisola Ikumelo: Clance, Max's best friend
- Kelly McCormack: Jess, a shortstop originally from Canada
- Roberta Colindrez: Mita, a pitcher from a Texas ranch
- Priscilla Delgado: Izzy, a baseball player from Havana and the team's youngest player
- Melanie Field: Jo, a "power hitter," according to her official description
- Nick Offerman: The team's coach, Casey “Dove” Porter
- Nat Faxon: Marshall, the Rockford Peaches’ team manager
- Kevin Dunn: Morris Baker, the league owner with "conservative views," per his official description
- Marquise Vilsón: Red Wright, a former pitcher for the Negro Leagues turned celebrity coach
- Nancy Lenehan: Vivenne Hughes, a cosmetics entrepreneur
The show also stars Patrick J. Adams, Kate Berlant, Dale Dickey, Marinda Anderson and Don Fanelli.
Rosie O'Donnell, who starred in the original film, will guest star in the show as a bartender at a local gay bar, as she revealed on an episode of "Everything Iconic with Danny Pellegrino."
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