Created by Jason Keller, Apple TV+’s upcoming sports comedy series Stick, starring Owen Wilson, follows an ex-golfer who finds career resurgence after he turns coach to a 17-year-old golf phenom. The series is described as a ‘heartfelt, feel-good sports comedy.’ 

The sports comedy projects have recently seen a surge in production following the success of Jason Sudeikis’ Ted Lasso. Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore 2 is also one of the sports comedies set to release. Fans are just curious about the authenticity of Wilson’s Stick.

Owen Wilson’s upcoming sports comedy Stick is set to debut in June on Apple TV+

Apple TV+ recently dropped a three-minute-long trailer for its upcoming sports comedy drama Stick that stars Owen Wilson in the lead role. The trailer gives a closer look at Wilson’s Pryce Cahill shifting his focus to mentor a 17-year-old golf phenom, Santi Wheeler, played by Peter Dager.

The audience is also given a glimpse of how Pryce Cahill’s career derails 20 years before. The former golfer’s marriage and job are not in a very good state, as his wife walks out on their marriage, and he’s fired from his job at an Indiana sporting goods store. Stick will focus on a found family and their relationships set within the world of golf.

Owen Wilson as Pryce Cahill in Stick | Credits: Apple TV+

As much as golf is a part of Stick, the series will also explore the mental health struggles of individuals, especially sportspeople. In the trailer, a patron describes Cahill’s breakdown at a match, which summarizes what the former golfer must be going through.

Fans are extremely excited for Stick because it’s Owen Wilson, also because it’s been compared to Apple TV+’s successful show Ted Lasso, and because the studios mentioned that it’s the first time a series is going to show the world of golf to the audience. The ten-episode season is set to make its global debut on Apple TV+ with three episodes premiering on June 4, 2025, followed by one new episode every Wednesday until July.

Related: Forget Ted Lasso, Owen Wilson’s Upcoming Apple TV+ Show ‘Stick’ Might Be Better

During an interview with Esquire, showrunner Jason Keller revealed that it was important for them from the start to have golf right for golfers who were going to watch the show. He added that they also knew that they needed the golf to work for the ones who do not play golf.

Reports have suggested that real-life golfers, including Collin Morikawa, Keegan Bradley, Max Homa, and Wyndham Clark, will appear in the series. The showrunner noted that his hope for the show is for people to relate to the characters in a very real way and see the found family struggling to get along in a way that they can relate to.

Is Apple TV+’s Stick based on a real story?

Jason Keller shared in an interview with Esquire that the story of Stick was inspired by his father, Ronald Keller, a former MLB pitcher and pro athlete. But Keller wanted to focus on golf as a sport because, according to him, it’s a sport where one can appear out of virtually thin air and rise to greatness.

The creator added that the character of Pryce Cahill, who he describes as a beautiful loser or incredibly talented person, had been bouncing around his head for a long time. And he was excited when Owen Wilson agreed to be on board to portray him.

Owen Wilson and Peter Dager as Cahill and Wheeler in Stick | Credits: Apple TV+

Owen Wilson also spoke to Esquire and shared about his character.

Luke [Wilson] had told me about hearing somebody in a tournament yelling out, which sounds almost like you’re talking to the universe. I like that idea of Pryce feeling that way about this game. Because a lot of times, these games that we play become metaphors for life.

During the conversation, Jason Keller also mentioned Lilli Kay’s gender-fluid character, Zero, who he says was an opportunity for him to better understand Gen Z and challenge himself on what he thought or understood about the young generation. The publication goes on to mention that Stick is not only Santi Wheeler’s origin story but also his coming-of-age story, which also means exploring his bond with Cahill.

Related: ‘Stick’ Trailer: It’s Nice to See Owen Wilson Back in His Element After Back-to-Back MCU Projects

Peter Dager shared,

It’s such a luxury doing original material that was created by a great writer, who cares about the material, in this sort of, like, day and age where a lot of the stuff that is being made is recycled material.

Dager goes on to appreciate Owen Wilson and calls him a writer at heart, adding that he has learned a lot from him. So, it’s pretty much evident from Dager’s statement that even though Ronald Keller’s life may inspire the story, Stick is an original story with original characters that Jason Keller created, and Owen Wilson, along with the team, is going to bring to life.

Stick is releasing on June 4, 2025, on Apple TV+.
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