We still don’t know exactly when Amazon Prime Video’s TV version of A League of Their Own will debut, but we do have a few more details about one of the characters, thanks to actress D’Arcy Carden.
Speaking to Collider, the former Good Place star explained the television series, while remaining faithful to the 1992 original film, is not a remake.
“I do think reimagining is a good way to explain it,” she said. “We’re not remaking it. It’s not the same characters, but it’s the same world. It’s women playing baseball in the ’40s while the men are at war… We’re diving a little deeper into the storylines and expanding it. I’m loving it.”
Production on the series, which comes from Will Graham and Broad City co-creator Abbi Jacobson, is underway — marking another instance in which Carden has been able to work with Jacobson, with whom she has been friends for years.
The pair met as improv students at New York’s now-defunct Upright Citizens Brigade comedy school (which was co-founded by Broad City executive producer Amy Poehler).
I just basically like to work with my friends all the time,” said Carden. “This job is a little bit big kids getting to play pretend, so when you get to do that with your friends, it’s even more like, ‘Let’s go play.’ And not only that, but we’re playing baseball. This is big kid dream stuff. It’s been a blast.
“We shot the pilot before the pandemic, so the actors in the show have really gotten close, over the pandemic, waiting and crossing our fingers, hoping to get picked up. And then, we got picked up. It’s been a long, fun process with this group that I think of as my teammates. It’s been really fun.”
Along with Carden and Jacobson, Chanté Adams Gbemisola Ikumelo, Kelly McCormack, Roberta Colindrez and Priscilla Delgado also star in the series, which features recurring guest stars Molly Ephraim, Kate Berlant and Melanie Field.
In July, it was announced that Parks and Recreation star Nick Offerman had joined the cast to play the team’s coach Casey “Dove” Porter, a version of Jimmy Dugan, who was portrayed by Tom Hanks in the 1992 film.
According to the synopsis, Dove is described as a former Cubs pitcher who is brought in to coach the Rockford Peaches. The character is most famous because his forkball killed a dove in mid-air in the middle of a game. Inspiring and charismatic, Dove was thought to be the next big Major League Baseball star but blew his arm out after three years. Now he’s looking to make his comeback by making the Peaches into champions.
So, what about Carden’s character then? According to the actress, she is one to watch.
“I think she’s very cool,” Carden revealed. “She’s a cool chick. She’s a little bit more worldly than the other girls. She’s confident and cool, and I strive to be her, me [being] D’Arcy.
“Her name is Greta, and I’m like, ‘How can I be more like Greta in my own life?’ She’s got George Clooney swagger.”
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