In another setback for 'Field of Dreams' TV series, producers decline state tourism grant
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The team adapting "Field of Dreams" into a streaming series has turned down a state grant, jeopardizing the project that officials hoped would draw attention to Iowa.
Executive Producer Morgan Sackett told the Iowa Economic Development Authority in an Oct. 24 email that Universal Television, the company producing the show, had declined the state's grant. Gov. Kim Reynolds awarded Universal $6 million on June 27 through Destination Iowa, a fund she created with federal COVID-19 relief money to assist tourism projects around the state.
"Our plans have changed and we will not be making the TV Series 'Field of Dreams' in the coming year," Sackett wrote in the email, which the Des Moines Register obtained Wednesday through an open records request. "We greatly appreciate your help getting the grant and are disappointed not to be filming in Iowa."
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Grant recipients have much longer than a year to spend the money, with federal laws requiring that recipients of COVID-19 relief grants complete their projects by June 30, 2026. But Sackett told the Register on Thursday that the show's production team didn't want to take money from other potential projects as Universal suspends the production indefinitely.
Reynolds allocated $100 million in federal funds for Destination Iowa. Through Dec. 2, the IEDA has received 138 applications seeking $298 million. With Universal cancelling the grant, about $28 million remains unallocated.
IEDA spokesperson Staci Hupp Ballard added that the state has not provided any money to Universal Television.
Universal's decisions comes during a tough time for streaming services. Advertisers reduced spending amid fears of a recession this year. Tech companies that have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in streaming platforms, most of which are not profitable, have cut spending.
The biggest media companies are reducing headcounts. Puck News reported in early November that NBC Universal will cut jobs, and Business Insider reported last week that layoffs are coming to the company's broadcast and cable TV groups in January.
Universal Television, the production arm of NBC Universal, budgeted $28 million for the "Field of Dreams" limited series, an adaptation of the 1989 film. They planned to shoot primarily in Polk City.
"It's kind of an expensive show," Sackett said Thursday. "We still have the scripts and the (intellectual property) and a lot of talented people intact. So we're sort of taking a beat."
When Universal Television applied for the Destination Iowa grant in May, company representatives told state officials that they planned to film the series from late July through August. Michael Schur, creator of "Parks & Recreation" and "The Good Place," was a key producer on the project.
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The series hit a roadblock in June, when NBC executives announced they would not carry the adaptation on their streaming service, Peacock. Schur has a nine-figure contract with NBC to create content for the company, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
NBC's decision gave the "Field of Dreams" team flexibility to shop the project to another outlet, such as Netflix or HBO. Oskaloosa-based Musco Lighting erected stadium lights in a Polk City corn field, where the producers planned to shoot.
More:Hoover library, museum to get $5 million in latest round of Destination Iowa grants
Sackett said the field's property owners sent him video this fall of them harvesting corn under the baseball lights, which will remain up in case the producers go forward with the series.
The nature of Iowa limits the potential filming window. The creative team needs to film with Iowa's distinctive rows of tall, green corn in the background, forcing them to shoot during the late summer.
The TV series was one of the top Destination Iowa initiatives backed by Reynolds, who hopes the federally backed tourism projects will raise Iowa's national profile. The $6 million that she allocated to Universal Television ranked fifth among tourism projects that have received awards so far.
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In its application for the state grant, the Universal Television team told IEDA officials that a "national and international launce campaign" would accompany the show's debut.
"The series is a top launch priority and will receive a top-tier push," they said.
Tyler Jett covers jobs and the economy for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at tjett@registermedia.com, 515-284-8215, or on Twitter at @LetsJett.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 'Field of Dreams' TV producers decline Iowa grant, say project on hold
