Prepare for the Battle of the “Battle of the Sexes”! Deadline has just revealed that a third big screen take on the highly-publicized 1973 tennis match is on the way. This one, set up at Fox Searchlight, boasts a cast that includes Steve Carell as Bobby Riggs and Emma Stone as Billie Jean King. The Little Miss Sunshine and Ruby Sparks pair of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris will direct from a screenplay by Slumdog Millionaire scribe Simon Beaufoy. What’s more, Danny Boyle will produce alongside Christian Colson through their respective companies, Decibel Films and Cloud Eight.
In real life, Riggs was an aging tennis pro whose match against the significantly younger King became a broadcast sensation with a lot more going on behind the scenes than most viewers of the day were aware.
The new project joins the previously-announced Gary Sanchez Productions and Chernin Entertainment project Match Maker, set to star Will Ferrell in the Riggs role. Elsewhere, Playtone is developing an untitled take that is planned to be headlined by Paul Giamatti as Riggs and Elizabeth Banks as King.
Of the three projects, it is noted that Battle of the Sexes is likely to be put before an audience first. With a cast and a script in place, it should be looking to go into production immediately.
(Photo Credit: Brian To / Nicky Nelson / WENN.com)
