FOX Sports Films Announces New Original Documentary If You Build It: 30 Years of Field of Dreams Premiering Saturday, August 7 on FOX
Film Pays Homage to Beloved Academy Award®-Nominated Movie “Field of Dreams” Ahead of Historic MLB Game on August 12
For link to trailer, click here.
LOS ANGELES – FOX Sports Films, in association with Major League Baseball, announced today the new original documentary IF YOU BUILD IT: 30 YEARS OF FIELD OF DREAMS premiering Saturday, Aug. 7 at 12:00 PM ET on FOX, five days before the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox face off in the first-ever MLB at Field of Dreams Presented by GEICO game in Dyersville, Iowa.
IF YOU BUILD IT is a stirring tribute to the enduring legacy of Universal Pictures’ beloved Academy Award®-nominated movie “Field of Dreams” from the people who brought the story to life, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Featuring interviews with memorable actors Timothy Busfield, Frank Whaley and Dwier Brown, producer Larry Gordon and FOX Sports’ lead MLB play-by-play announcer Joe Buck, IF YOU BUILD IT is a nostalgic look at how the film was made and explores the themes that continue to resonate with audiences 32 years later. More than just a baseball movie, the documentary reminds us that “Field of Dreams” is an enduring story of family, resilience and hope.
“This moving documentary captures the spirit and meaning of ‘Field of Dreams’ so beautifully,” said Barry Nugent, Vice President of Original Programming, FOX Sports. “We’re always looking for the human element in the stories we tell at FOX Sports Films, and the emotional ties people feel to this film continues to resonate so strongly decades later. It reminds us that sport can connect us across generations and communities.”
“Baseball’s rich history has inspired Hollywood for decades but the connection and nostalgia that ‘Field of Dreams’ continues to generate more than 30 years later is unparalleled,” said Nick Trotta, Senior Director of Global Media and Programming at Major League Baseball. “This documentary brings together all the elements of the story and our game that make this movie so special, as we prepare to play our first Major League Baseball game on the iconic site.”
IF YOU BUILD IT is produced by 20-time Emmy award-winning Texas Crew Productions (“Friday Night Tykes,” “Ironman World Championship,” “The 44th President: In His Own Words”). The film’s executive producers are Chip Rives, Director and Executive Producer, Texas Crew Productions; David Karabinas, CEO, Texas Crew Productions; and Brad Bernstein, Chief Creative Officer, Texas Crew Productions.
The MLB at Field of Dreams Presented by GEICO game, featuring the Chicago White Sox hosting the New York Yankees, airs exclusively on Thursday, Aug. 12 at 7:00 PM ET on FOX and FOX Deportes, with pregame coverage beginning at 6:00 PM ET on FOX from Iowa. Taking place on the same Dyersville farm site where the classic film was shot, this marks the first Major League game ever held in the state of Iowa. In order for both teams to play at the fan-favorite tourist destination, MLB built a temporary ballpark adjacent to the movie site, with a potential capacity of up to 8,000 fans.
Universal Pictures’ “Field of Dreams” was nominated for the Academy Award® for Best Picture in 1990 and was selected to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 2017. Starring Kevin Costner, Ray Liotta and James Earl Jones, the 1989 film tells the story of Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella, a husband and father who is tending to his cornfield when he hears a mysterious voice intone, “If you build it, he will come.” According to the American Film Institute (AFI), those words are the 39th top film quote of all-time. The Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees are the two favorite Clubs of Ray’s father, John Kinsella, at different points of his life.
FOX Sports Films is dedicated to presenting captivating global sports documentaries through an unconventional and entertaining lens. Working with FOX Sports’ league and conference partners, the brand produces original programming, connecting live sports events to sports culture. Past documentaries in association with Major League Baseball include WHEN NEW YORK WAS ONE, SEAVER, WALK OFF STORIES: ONE CRAZY NIGHT IN BASBEBALL, TRUTH BE TOLD: RICK ANKIEL, A PERFECT GAME, IN THE BLOOD and THE PENCE METHOD.
“Field of Dreams” is now available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital. “Field of Dreams” is a trademark and copyright of Universal Studios. Licensed by Universal Studios.
