Sarah Silverman Will Play Famed Tennis Publisher in ‘Battle of the Sexes’
After receiving critical acclaim for her dramatic portrayal of a self destructive housewife in I Smile Back, Sarah Silverman is set to take on another semi-dramatic role in a docu-film about the legendary tennis match that pitted Billie Jean King against Wimbledon champ Bobby Riggs. Billie Jean won. At least we think it’s a dramatic role. The film, Battle of the Sexes, has been described as a comedy with dramatic overtones. So, guess that makes it a dramedic.
THR reports that Silverman will play the founder of World Tennis magazine Gladys Heldman who was an advocate and supporter of women’s tennis in the 70’s and King in particular. Silverman, who is known primarily for her stand up, won a Primetime Emmy for her HBO Stand Up Special, We Are Miracles in 2014, but is appearing in more movies of late. In addition to her role in I Smile Back, she also starred in Seth McFarlane’s A Million Ways to Die in the West, and will appear next in the upcoming Lonely Island movie, Popstar: Never Stop Stopping.
Two other sometimes-comedic and sometimes-dramatic actors will play the leads, with Emma Stone starring as King, and Steve Carell playing Riggs. Carell, known mostly for his comedies also received critical acclaim for two dramatic roles– 2014’s Foxcatcher which earned him both an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe nomination, and this year’s The Big Short which earned him another Golden Globe nomination. Stone received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for her role in 2014’s Birdman. Variety reported earlier this week that Elizabeth Shue is also on board.
Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris will joint direct the project written by Simon Beaufoy.
Two other films are in the works that address the infamous 1973 tennis match- one for HBO which stars Elizabeth Banks and Paul Giamatti titled Proof, and Match Maker for Chernin Entertainment that has Will Ferrell playing Riggs.
Battle of the Sexes begins production in April.
