Netflix Developing New York Yankees Drama Series From Jason Bateman, MLB and Josh Wakely

Netflix is expanding its interest in Major League Baseball — but this time on the scripted drama side. The streamer is developing an untitled drama series about the storied New York Yankees baseball team. MLB Studios, Jason Bateman’s Aggregate Films and writer/director/producer Josh Wakely are on board.

Details about the project are minimal so far, other than the fact that the series will take on “one of the most decorated franchises in American sports” and take place across the team’s several eras. And indeed, the Yankees have won 27 World Series championships, more than any other sports franchise in North America, the most recent in 2009. The team also has 52 players and 11 managers in the National Baseball Hall of Fame — including notables like Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Reggie Jackson, Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth.

Netflix has already been in business with the MLB, having expanded its deal with the league to stream multiple events between 2026 and 2028 including the MLB opening night game on March 25, and then the T-Mobile Home Run Derby on July 13. Netflix also streamed the 2026 World Baseball Classic’s games to Japan subscribers, and will next stream the “MLB at Field of Dreams” game on August 13.

As for the new show, Wakely developed the series concept after securing the rights from the MLB. He’s an executive producer through his Grace: A Storytelling Company shingle. Other EPs include Bateman and Michael Costigan for Aggregate Films, which has a partnership in place at Netflix; MLB Studios’ Nick Trotta; and Brillstein Entertainment Partners’ Peter Sobiloff, Mike Sobiloff, Sean Mullin; Josh Glick, Daniel Cohan and Jon Liebman.

Aggregate Films is behind Netflix’s recent limited series “Black Rabbit,” which earned seven Emmy nominations, including both for Bateman’s acting and directing. Netflix and Aggregate also collabed on “Ozark” and the films “Cackling of the Dodos” (with Bateman directing), Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man” and Aline Brosh McKenna’s “Your Place or Mine.”

The Yankees project also reps the latest for Wakely at Netflix; he previously created and directed the Emmy-winning Netflix series “Beat Bugs” and its follow-up, “Motown Magic.” Wakely is currently shooting the sci-fi thriller “Starman,” which he also wrote, starring Brendan Fraser, Jeff Daniels and Aisling Bea.

Also on Wakely’s plate, he has acquired the TV series life rights to the late Mandela, and plans to executive produce and write “Mandela,” along with South African writer/director Kagiso Lediga (“Queen Sono”) and producer Kweku Mandela, and is developing a TV drama based on the songs and characters by Bob Dylan. He’s also an executive producer on the upcoming Prime Video scripted series “The Greatest,” about the life of Muhammad Ali.