Plans for Fox Searchlight Pictures‘ true tennis tale are moving forward as Deadline reports that Sarah Silverman has joined the Battle of the Sexes cast. Emma Stone is attached to headline the film as Billie Jean King, starring opposite Steve Carell as rival Bobby Riggs. Silverman will play Gladys Heldman, the founder of World Tennis Magazine.
Battle of the Sexes is one of three big screen takes currently in development focusing on the highly-publicized 1973 tennis match dubbed “The Battle of the Sexes.” In real life, Bobby Riggs was an aging tennis pro whose match against the significantly younger Billie Jean King became a broadcast sensation with a lot more going on behind the scenes than most viewers of the day were aware.
Also in development is a Gary Sanchez Productions and Chernin Entertainment project Match Maker, set to star Will Ferrell as Riggs, and a Playtone version, Proof, that is planned to be headlined by Paul Giamatti as Riggs and Elizabeth Banks as King.
The Little Miss Sunshine and Ruby Sparks pair of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris will direct Battle of the Sexes 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.
Silverman, who recently starred in the drama I Smile Back, will soon be seen as part of the ensemble cast of Colin Trevorrow’s The Book of Henry. The Focus Features release is Trevorrow’s follow-up to last summer’s massively successful Jurassic World and is set to star Naomi Watts, Dean Norris, Lee Pace, Jaeden Lieberher and Jacob Tremblay.
