Banana Ball documentary brings 11 original songs to Disney+ and Hulu
David Beilinson’s film explores the people and community behind Banana Ball, with songs by Pasek and Paul and other writers. Streaming begins in fall 2027.
The short answer: David Beilinson’s film explores the people and community behind Banana Ball, with songs by Pasek and Paul and other writers. Streaming begins in fall 2027.
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Banana Ball already makes room for choreography alongside competition. Now its story is getting original songs: a music-driven documentary directed by David Beilinson will arrive on Disney+ and Hulu in fall 2027, featuring 11 original songs from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, with additional songwriters.
Produced by Connor Schell’s Words + Pictures and Pasek and Paul’s Ampersand, the film follows Banana Ball’s 10-year journey from Savannah, Georgia. Its focus extends beyond the plays to the personalities, stories and community behind a sport that puts entertainment at the center of the game.
Why music fits the game
For viewers who know the Savannah Bananas mainly through short clips, the musical approach has a concrete connection to the field. A 60 Minutes report described players stepping up to bat with lip-synched, choreographed productions. The report also highlighted a rule that brings spectators into the competition: a foul ball caught by a fan counts as an out.
And so we said, "What are all the normal rules of a baseball game? What would be the exact opposite?" Jesse Cole, speaking to 60 Minutes
Created by Cole and popularized by the Savannah Bananas, Banana Ball combines athletic competition with showmanship. The documentary will give that history a musical dimension, with Cole himself among the additional songwriters.
In an interview published October 17, 2026, Cole recalled criticism in Savannah when the Bananas walked away from traditional baseball to focus on Banana Ball. His account adds a less celebratory chapter to the story of how the format took shape.
Pasek and Paul bring credits spanning The Greatest Showman, La La Land and Dear Evan Hansen. Their work for Hulu includes the Emmy-winning “Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It,” co-written with Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman for the musical-themed third season of Only Murders in the Building. Their screen credits also include FX’s sports documentary series Welcome to Wrexham.
A filmmaker with a Bananas connection
Beilinson has worked on the team’s story before. He was a producer on Bananaland, the five-part ESPN+ documentary series about the Savannah Bananas’ 2022 World Tour, directed by Michael Galinsky. He directs the new film.
Schell brings a background in sports documentaries: the Words + Pictures founder co-created ESPN’s 30 for 30 and produced The Last Dance. Paired with Ampersand’s focus on music-driven storytelling, those credits help explain the production’s mix of sports documentary and original songs.
A spring tournament, then fall streaming
The film builds on existing Disney connections, including Savannah Bananas games streamed across ESPN and Disney+. Before the documentary’s fall debut, a separate live event will bring Banana Ball back to Walt Disney World: the Banana Ball Open runs April 15–18, 2027, at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando.
All six Banana Ball teams will be involved in the four-day experience, with four squads competing head-to-head across four games. Fans can join the ticket lottery list at BananaBall.com through October 31, 2026; tickets start at $35.