Chris Fleming and Irina Shayk Set to Join Emma Stone and Chris Pine in Universal’s Baseball Rom-Com ‘The Catch’

Universal Pictures is moving forward on The Catch, a new baseball-themed romantic comedy, with casting additions that include comedian Chris Fleming and actor-model Irina Shayk, according to an exclusive report from Deadline published July 31, 2026. The studio’s film is set to star Emma Stone and Chris Pine, with Fleming and Shayk joining the project as additional cast members.

The Catch is described by Deadline as a romantic comedy built around baseball, though the report says character and plot details remain under wraps. Beyond confirming the genre and the film’s starring pair, Universal has not publicly detailed how the story will incorporate baseball elements or how Fleming and Shayk’s characters will fit into the romantic framework.

Deadline identifies Fleming as the newest addition to the Universal project. The comedian is associated with HBO’s Live at the Palace and is also described as remaining in the fold at Universal after being tapped for a role alongside a larger ensemble. Deadline does not specify what that earlier Universal role was, nor does it describe Fleming’s character in The Catch.

For Shayk, Deadline links her casting to her prior screen work, including a reference to Hercules. The report does not provide specifics about which character Shayk will play or what her casting means for the film’s romantic and baseball-centered storyline.

The report positions the new casting as part of Universal’s broader slate, with The Catch continuing to assemble recognizable talent across comedy and mainstream acting. No release date, production start timeline, or distribution details were included in the report, and Deadline did not provide any information on the size of the supporting cast or whether additional names are expected to be announced soon.

As of publication, the only confirmed creative framework comes from the film’s described premise and its lead actors. With Fleming and Shayk now attached, the next step for the project will be further disclosure, including the specific roles the two performers will play and any additional casting or production updates Universal chooses to release.