“Marvel Star Was Nearly Cast in a Remake of Kevin Costner’s Field of Dreams”

Chris Pratt was nearly cast in a remake of “Field of Dreams” that never came to be, according to new reporting from Puck’s Lesley Goldberg. In a feature titled “The Best and Worst Deals of the Peak TV Era,” Puck News revealed that Pratt, known for his role in “Guardians of the Galaxy,” was once set to lead a Peacock series adaptation of the 1989 sports classic. However, Pratt reportedly withdrew from the project abruptly.

The TV series was initially planned by Mike Schur, the acclaimed creator behind hits like “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “The Good Place,” and “Parks and Recreation,” the show that launched Pratt’s career. When the project was first announced in 2021, Lisa Katz, President of NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, expressed enthusiasm about Schur’s involvement. Katz described “Field of Dreams” as a beloved classic, and praised Schur’s ability to bring a fresh yet faithful version of the film to Peacock.

The series had received a straight-to-series order shortly after the original film gained renewed attention from a “Field of Dreams” themed Major League Baseball game. Despite this initial excitement, Pratt’s involvement was never publicly disclosed, and it was later reported that the series would not move forward. By June 2022, TVLine revealed that Universal Television was seeking a new home for the show, but no further progress was made.

Schur’s involvement typically suggests a strong chance of success, but the project faced significant challenges. Peacock, which had been struggling financially with a reported $2.8 billion in losses by the end of 2023, had been canceling several promising shows. Despite having notable series like “Poker Face” and “Rutherford Falls,” the streaming platform struggled to maintain its momentum, although the 2024 Summer Olympics provided a temporary boost.

Puck’s latest revelation offers new insights into why the “Field of Dreams” remake faltered. Pratt’s sudden departure and Schur’s eventual exit left the project in limbo. According to Goldberg, while Schur had a lucrative five-year deal with NBCUniversal worth $125 million, a replacement named Bill Heck was considered but deemed inadequate for the show’s high production costs. It is unclear if this Bill Heck is the same actor known for roles in “Locke & Key” and “The Old Man.”

The series was estimated to have a per-episode cost of $15 million, a significant expense even for a streaming service. Schur had also expressed interest in filming at Fenway Park, which would have further inflated the budget. Ultimately, these financial hurdles, combined with Pratt’s exit and Peacock’s own challenges, led to the demise of the “Field of Dreams” remake.