Apple TV+ is expanding its comedy slate with Bad News Dads, a half-hour comedy mystery set to star and be executive produced by James Marsden. Deadline first reported the project.
Based on the upcoming novel by Adam Frost, Bad News Dads follows a men’s recreational baseball league whose season is thrown into chaos after one player’s wife dies in a suspicious accident. As suspicions mount, one of the dads leads his teammates into an amateur investigation that uncovers far more than any of them expected.
The series comes from You’re the Worst creator Stephen Falk, who will write, showrun, and executive produce.
Here is everything we know so far about the project.
When will Bad News Dads premiere?
An official premiere date has not been announced for the Apple TV series, as the project is still in early development. Please check back for updates.
Paramount Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection
Who stars in Bad News Dads?
James Marsden plays Ben, a catcher on a recreational baseball team who is a little light in the friend department. No other casting has been announced at this time.
What is Bad News Dads about?
Based on Frost’s upcoming comedy novel of the same name, Bad News Dads follows a group of bored, middle-aged fathers who play on a terrible recreational baseball team. Looking for some excitement, the team’s catcher, Ben, convinces two teammates to investigate after one player’s wife dies under suspicious circumstances. The catch is they have to keep their amateur detective work a secret from their wives as they dive deeper and deeper into the case.
The book is due out in April 2027.
Despite the name, the story has nothing to do with the 1970s classic comedy romp The Bad News Bears.
Who is behind Bad News Dads?
The project is led by star and executive producer Marsden, creator Stephen Falk (You’re the Worst), Berlanti Productions, and Warner Bros. Television.