Kevin Costner has been a ghost in Dyersville since starring in "Field of Dreams" in 1989.
He has not returned to the eastern Iowa town since its famous cornstalks resurrected Shoeless Joe Jackson on the big screen 17 years ago.
But the whisperings that began in June are true. Costner will come.
The star of "Field of Dreams" will appear Aug. 11 at the baseball field in Dyersville as part of a "Rolling Roadshow" tour, in which 10 classic movies are being shown at the sites of their filming.
Netflix, an online movie rental service that organized the tour, confirmed this week that Costner will make an appearance before the movie is shown on a 30-foot inflatable screen in the outfield.
Costner will play a free concert with his unnamed rock band at 7 p.m., followed by the movie. The "roadshow" will be hosted by Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Lisa Loeb.
"We're real excited about it," said Keith Rahe, manager of Left & Center Field of Dreams. "This is going to be a nice setup."
"Field of Dreams" was an Academy Award nominee and featured one of the most famous movie lines ever: "If you build it, they will come."
The movie attracted numerous baseball greats and celebrities to the field near Dyersville. Now Costner is expected to again draw a big crowd to the small town.
"Basically, it took it from a low-key event of about 500 people to something much, much bigger," Rahe said. "People are excited about it."
Rahe said the free event will now need additional security, concessions, shuttle buses and remote parking to accommodate the expected surge in interest.
Costner, who plays guitar, has played with his fledgling band at small events such as a charity golf tournament in South Carolina. He said he is looking forward to playing in Iowa.
"Returning to the 'Field of Dreams' location to play a concert ... has special meaning for me," Costner said in a press release. "The movie was significant in my career, and the band is an important part of my future."
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On the Net:
Rolling Roadshow: http://www.netflix.com/roadshow
