Amazon MGM is Creating a Heartfelt Queer Sports Rom-Com Series ‘Playing The Field’ Inspired by Meryl Wilsner’s ‘Cleat Cute’; Sarah Tapscott to Lead as Showrunner
Amazon MGM Studios Announces Development of New Series "Playing the Field"
Amazon MGM Studios is set to bring "Playing the Field" to screen, a series inspired by the USA Today sports romance novel "Cleat Cute," authored by Meryl Wilsner.
Sarah Tapscott will take the helm as showrunner, executive producer, and writer. She will be joined by executive producers Jeff Wachtel and Jared Berenholz from Future Shack Entertainment, along with Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe representing A Touch More. Other notable producers include Camille Bernier-Green, Emily Rasenick, and Wilsner herself.
"Playing the Field" is described as an ensemble comedy that delves into the vibrant and chaotic lives of four female athletes on Crescent City, a professional women’s soccer team based in New Orleans. Central to the narrative is the will-they-won’t-they romance between newly drafted player Phoebe Matthews and team captain Grace Henderson.
The original novel was published by Macmillan in September 2023.
Tapscott brings substantial experience to the project, currently serving as a co-executive producer on Hulu’s upcoming series "Not Suitable For Work." Her prior roles include co-executive producer on "The Sex Lives of College Girls" and "The Big Leap," along with significant work on "New Girl," "Single Parents," and "Life in Pieces" during her tenure with 20th Century Fox. She is represented by UTA and Ken Richman at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.
Meryl Wilsner is recognized for her contemporary romances featuring LGBTQ+ characters, with previous works including "Something to Talk About," "Mistakes Were Made," and the USA Today bestseller "My Best Friend’s Honeymoon." Wilsner’s film and TV rights are represented by Katherine Curtis of New Leaf Literary & Media, while all other rights are managed by Patrice Caldwell of The Caldwell Agency.
