Prime Video is serving up a new young adult drama, with ‘Rally‘, a series set in the fiercely competitive world of elite tennis academies. And there are some interesting names on the team sheet, with Julie Plec, the woman behind ‘The Vampire Diaries’ and ‘We Were Liars’, writing and running the show, while eight-time Grand Slam singles champion Andre Agassi joins as an executive producer.
If you’ve ever thought a tennis match could use more relationship drama, intense rivalries and emotionally complicated teenagers, this might be your show. Although, given Plec’s track record, we’re guessing the emotional damage could be at least as brutal as anything happening on court.
Love, rivalry and the pressure to win
The series follows a group of ambitious young players at a hyper-competitive tennis academy, all hoping to turn their talent into a professional career. But becoming the next tennis superstar comes with a price. As friendships and rivalries develop, the players must decide how much of their personal lives they’re willing to sacrifice for a shot at winning.
The premise is built around a particularly awkward contradiction: tennis is an individual sport, but the people around you may be the very reason the victories are worth having. In other words, expect considerably more than a few arguments over whether a ball landed on the line.
The idea for ‘Rally’ came from Guymon Casady of Entertainment 360, whose own children trained in the demanding world of elite junior tennis at IMG Academy.
“The inspiration for Rally came from a deeply personal place – watching my kids train and navigate the intense pressure, dedication, and heartbreak of elite junior tennis at the IMG Academy,” said Casady. “To build this world alongside a master storyteller like Julie Plec, and to ground it in the unmatched, authentic perspective of a true legend like Andre Agassi, is a remarkable privilege.”
Julie Plec meets Andre Agassi
Plec is certainly no stranger to young people making terrible decisions under enormous emotional pressure. Alongside ‘The Vampire Diaries’ franchise, which also includes ‘The Originals’, she is behind Prime Video’s ‘We Were Liars’, which has been renewed for a second season. Bringing that experience into the world of competitive sport should make for an interesting change of scenery, even if the personal relationships look likely to be just as messy.
Agassi, meanwhile, brings genuine first-hand knowledge of what it takes to reach the top of the sport. The former world number one won eight Grand Slam singles titles during his career, and this marks his first producing role. He will work alongside fellow former professional player and business partner Justin Gimelstob, who is also an executive producer.
“I am eager for Justin and I to lend our experiences to help the incredible Rally team,” said Agassi. “At this stage of our lives having an endeavor that allows us to work with the best in class in what they do and hopefully contribute to the process, is an exciting challenge. We are all aligned in creating an entertaining and most importantly, authentic look at a beautifully complicated sport.”
Interestingly, Gimelstob is also involved in the upcoming Apple TV documentary series about Agassi’s life, which was announced earlier this year. So, between the documentary and ‘Rally’, the tennis legend is having a rather busy time away from the baseline.
The new drama comes from Universal Television, Entertainment 360 and Amazon MGM Studios. Plec will write, serve as showrunner and executive produce alongside Emily Cummins for My So Called Company, with Casady, Agassi and Gimelstob also executive producing.
There is no cast announced yet, and Prime Video hasn’t confirmed when filming might begin. It also hasn’t set a premiere date, so we’re some way off finding out who will be playing the next generation of ambitious tennis hopefuls.
‘Rally‘ is coming to Prime Video, with a premiere date yet to be announced.
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