'The Sandlot' Star Patrick Renna on Hershey S'mores Collab, Failed Disney+ Sequel and New Cast Reunion Series

Courtesy of  Hershey's / Patrick Renna / MSL

For over three decades, The Sandlot has been one of the most “go-to” movies when it comes to themes of childhood, friendship, and well-some good ol’ baseball. Starring as Hamilton “Ham” Porter and bringing forth a personality that perfectly balances being obnoxious with a neighborly charm, actor Patrick Renna hit a home run with “You’re killing me, Smalls!” There’s no question that this line has a corner in the pop culture universe all to itself. 

As culturally significant as The Sandlot was, Renna is looking forward as much as he celebrates the past. Today, the actor, producer, and entrepreneur is in the midst of numerous projects: launching his own production company called Hambino Media, prepping a highly anticipated reunion series with his original Sandlot castmates, and teaming up with Hershey's for the ultimate s'mores collaboration.

The Movie Nerds recently sat down with Renna to talk about the lasting impact of the film that started it all, why that rumored Disney+ sequel didn't quite make it home safe, and what fans can expect from his newest ventures.

Salvatore Cento: The Sandlot still connects with so many people on so many different levels. From your perspective, what is it about this coming-of-age sports movie that keeps on resonating with audiences?

Patrick Renna: The fact that it’s a period piece already kind of creates that nostalgia and I think baseball is a bit of a nostalgia sport, ya know?  It’s also a sport where you can play it anywhere as long as you have a bat, glove and a ball. I think that the movie itself is about friendship and has a timeless nature and is about inclusion and bringing someone into the fold. Just getting out there. During that time there weren’t screens anywhere - you’re not behind a screen - you’re out there living life - you’re enjoying, you’re meeting, you’re talking - you’re having experiences. I think those are all the things that - wrapped up into one - make it a movie that people like to pass on.

Cento: I have to ask - what is your opinion on Sandlot 2 as well as 2007’s Heading Home and do you think they do a good job of honoring the original film?

Renna: Ya know - I can’t speak to it because I never saw them. So unfortunately,  I wish I could give you a better answer but I never saw either of them. I’m kind of always an original guy though. I’ll always take the original over sequels.

Cento: In his initial email, Mr. Danzis instantly refamiliarized me with your character - Hamilton “Ham” Porter - in The Sandlot by shouting out the catcher’s signature catchphrase “You’re killing me, Smalls!” Was there ever an initial point during or after filming where you were - “like oh this line is making an impact”?

Renna: No, there was no moment after we filmed that I thought - I don’t think anyone knows what’s really going to catch fire. It’s kind of like social media when you put these videos out. You never know which ones are going to strike perfectly. I always say - when we filmed the movie - we knew that it wasn’t terrible because we could tell that we were doing something good.

Nobody had any idea that it was going to be something passed on through two generations and I had no idea that saying “You’re Killing Me Smalls”  was going to turn into what it’s become - coffee mugs or even people yelling at me from across the street.

Cento: While we can all easily point to the filming of The Sandlot’s summer story being one of your fondest on-screen memories, what are some of your family’s most favorite activities to do during the warm summer months?

Renna: We like to travel as much as we can. We have a third child and she’s not one yet so - we’ll probably do more next summer. But I think - sports, baseball, camping and anything with water - my kids love swimming. So, ya know, as much swimming, camping and a little bit of local travel - with the young kids, I like to travel in a car if possible. We’re in California so we can go up to Yosemite or go to Big Sur or go down to San Diego. There won’t be any trips to the Florida Keys anytime right now. Unless you’re paying! If anyone wants to fly me there, we’ll go!

Cento: I’ll find someone!

Cento: Let’s rewind for a moment - to seven years ago when Disney+ came out and numerous projects were rumored and/or announced. A Sandlot series - with the original cast - was in the works and then cancelled. Is there any hope of that coming back whatsoever or is the spirit of The Beast now claiming the IP just like all those lost baseballs?

Renna: laughs, I don’t know. I know there were talks of it. I never met with anyone from Disney - I sort of just heard rumors. But I’m bringing them back. At the end of June, I’m filming a TV show called Little League Dads. They’re going to be five minutes each and I’m going to put them on my Youtube channel and I’m having all of The Sandlot guys in it. We’re all going to be the dads. It won’t have any Sandlot IP in it, but it will be a reunion of the cast at least and that should be fun. As far as a Sandlot sequel goes, we’ll see - you never know.

Cento: While researching your current endeavors for this interview, I saw that you not only recently announced Hambino Media but that it also comes with a slate of projects in development. Could you explain what this is and some of the forthcoming productions?

Renna: Yea, obviously it’s a production company and we produce different content and I’ve worked with different brands over the years, shot different spots for them. We’ve done some original work and like I said, we’re producing this show Little League Dads at the end of June so that’s one of them. It’s just my production company and we’re developing different types of projects.

Little League Dads is being written by Sebastian Jones and Dan Kopelman. Sebastian wrote on Friends for a long time and Dan’s a very well known writer. Victor Nelli is going to direct it so we have a really good team. Kyle Howard is my producing partner with Hambino Media so he does it with me and we do a lot of different fun projects and we’re developing different things.I continue as an actor outside of that - similar to what I’m doing with Hershey's - that’s sort of just me as an actor having this fun collaboration with this great brand. I got to have my son in it as well so when we filmed the commercial for Hershey’s, he was in a couple of the spots too so that was a lot of fun. I said “do you want to eat s’mores for a day and have some Hershey chocolate - and get paid to do it?” He said “yeah, I’ll do it.” Skip school? No problem. Of course, we had a set teacher and all that.

Cento: We know Ham in The Sandlot is all about the s’mores - even if they’re quite messy. As the years have gone by and your dessert tastes have possibly changed, what is Patrick Renna’s go to sweet snack?

Renna: I’m not just saying this because I’m doing a collaboration with Hershey's. Hershey’s is my favorite go-to snack. My oldest and I are chocolate guys. If I get ice cream, it’s chocolate ice cream, if I get any sort of snack, it has chocolate in it. I’m not a big - like - gummies or sugar - I’m not into those at all. Anything with chocolate is my jam. If I had a Hershey's bar and just had a few bricks off of it, I’d be satisfied.

Cento: Alright, that is it, Mr. Renna! Thank you. Thank you so much for this little chat.

Renna: Thank you man.- -

If you would like to experience this timeless sports film for yourself (either for the first time or as a rewatch), The Sandlot is currently streaming on Prime Video, Disney Plus and The Roku Channel - as well as many other platforms. Even though a premiere date is unspecified, Little League Dads will be available to watch on Patrick Renna’s own Youtube Channel which can be found here.

There are two kinds of people in this world when it comes to s’mores. Those who carefully rotate their marshmallow until it’s perfectly golden, and those who light it on fire and call it a strategy. This summer, Hershey's is here to let America settle it once and for all.

Introducing Hershey's Heated Debate, a summer-long campaign, in partnership with actor, creator, and

s’mores icon Patrick Renna, that celebrates the ritual of making s'mores, the opinions it ignites, and the moments it creates. Because whether you're Camp Gooey or Camp Toasty, we can all agree on one

thing: nothing makes a s’more like Hershey’s milk chocolate.