Netflix’s $13.5M Cubs Epic: Craig Counsell Leads ‘Wrigley: Heart of Darkness’ – A Cinematic Ode to Baseball’s Beating Heart.vc
Chicago, October 26, 2025 – The Chicago Cubs transcend the diamond—they’re woven into the fabric of American dreams, a symphony of agony and ecstasy echoing from Wrigley Field’s ivy walls. Now, that timeless tale is coming to the screen in a groundbreaking $13.5 million Netflix production, spearheaded by Cubs president of baseball operations Craig Counsell. Titled Wrigley: Heart of Darkness, the film promises a raw, unflinching chronicle of a century’s worth of curses, curses-breaking miracles, and unyielding devotion, culminating in the euphoric 2016 World Series redemption—and peering into the horizon beyond. In a Hollywood first for MLB lore, Counsell’s vision transforms Wrigley from ballpark to beating heart, a love song to the fans who never wavered.
From Cursed Grounds to Cinematic Glory
Announced exclusively at a Wrigley Field presser on October 25, Wrigley: Heart of Darkness isn’t your standard sports doc—it’s a narrative hybrid blending archival gold with dramatic reenactments, directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Alex Gibney (The Inventor) and scored by Hans Zimmer. The $13.5 million budget—Netflix’s largest for a sports biopic—funds rare 1908 footage of the Cubs’ last title, intimate interviews with 2016 heroes like Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, and sweeping drone shots of Wrigley under midnight skies. Production kicks off in spring 2026, aiming for a 2027 premiere timed to the Cubs’ 116th season.
Counsell, who orchestrated the Cubs’ 2025 NLDS run before ascending to the front office, isn’t just executive producer—he’s the emotional core. A lifelong Cubs devotee who grew up idolizing the team’s ’80s grit, he pitched the project to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos during a 2024 offsite, framing it as “the story of America’s patience personified.” “Wrigley isn’t a stadium; it’s a mirror to our souls,” Counsell said, voice thick with gravel. “From the Black Sox shadow to the Billy Goat curse, the ’85 collapse to that rain-soaked Game 7 in ’16—this film honors the wait, the faith, the roar when it finally came.”
A Century of Heartbreak and Heart
The film’s arc mirrors the Cubs’ odyssey: Act I plunges into the “heart of darkness”—the 108-year drought, amplified by Steve Bartman’s 2003 ghost and the ’08 collapse. Archival whispers from Ernie Banks (“Let’s play two!”) and Ron Santo’s radio anguish set a somber tone, intercut with fan testimonials from bleacher bums who passed down season tickets like heirlooms. Act II builds to redemption: The 2016 miracle, narrated by a grizzled Bill Murray (a Cubs superfan cameo king), captures Kris Bryant’s final out grounder and the Clark Street pandemonium, with never-before-seen clubhouse footage of champagne-soaked catharsis.
But Counsell insists it’s no hagiography. “Beyond 2016, we explore the ‘what next?’—the 2025 NLDS heartbreak, the rebuilds that tested us,” he revealed. Emerging talents like Pete Crow-Armstrong and Cade Horton get spotlight reels, symbolizing the eternal cycle. Cameos from Barack Obama (2016’s ceremonial first pitch) and Bill Murray add star power, while Zimmer’s score fuses “Sweet Caroline” riffs with brooding strings, evoking both joy and longing.
On X, Cubs Nation is ablaze: “$13.5M for Wrigley’s soul? Counsell gets it—take my subscription!” one fan posted, while another teared up: “From curse to confetti… this’ll wreck me.”
Counsell’s Vision: Baseball as Cultural Epic
Counsell’s involvement elevates the project beyond sports. Since hiring as manager in 2023 (and promoting to president in 2025 after a 92-70 season), he’s championed Wrigley’s lore as American mythology—echoing Ken Burns’ Baseball but with Netflix’s global reach. “This isn’t just Cubs history; it’s a love letter to every underdog who believed,” Counsell told Variety. Netflix, fresh off Sunderland ’Til I Die’s soccer success, sees it as a tentpole: 10 episodes blending docu-drama, projected to stream in 190 countries.
The deal includes Wrigley naming rights for a “Heart of Darkness” suite and Cubs Foundation tie-ins for fan screenings. As production ramps, expect teases: A 2016 rain-delay clip narrated by Counsell, hinting at the film’s intimate access.
Conclusion
Netflix’s $13.5 million bet on Wrigley: Heart of Darkness isn’t just a movie—it’s a resurrection of the Cubs’ mythic soul, led by Craig Counsell’s unyielding passion. From curse-lifted tears to 2026’s promise, this film immortalizes Wrigley as America’s enduring love song: heartbreak’s sting, devotion’s fire, redemption’s roar. Cubs fans, prepare your tissues and tickets—Hollywood’s about to feel the ivy’s embrace.
