exclusive: Sidney Sweeney, popular in romantic comedies, appears. anyone but you and horror photos spotlessis switching gears again as she is set to play pioneering boxer Christy Martin in a new biopic. This could be a knockout for buyers at the Cannes market, where Black Bear will go on sale.
The director is David Michod, the filmmaker behind “Oz.” animal kingdom and KingThe currently untitled project will tell the true story of how Martin became America's most famous female boxer in the 1990s, or, in the words of the film producer, “the female Rocky.” Although she was naturally gifted as a fighter, her life changed in 1989 when she met her manager and future husband, Jim Martin. Breaking through her boundaries, she became the first woman to sign with iconic promoter Don King and the only female boxer to appear on the cover of a magazine. sports illustrated. Her charisma, good looks, and resilience in the ring earned her a loyal fan base and propelled her to become welterweight champion. But behind her well-honed public persona, she grappled with her personal demons, toxic relationships, and brutal attempts on her own life.
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This is ripe material for Sweeney. euphoria and white lotus Star's passion for boxing and MMA.the actress said deadline: “I did grappling and kickboxing from the ages of 12 to 19. I'm itching to get back in the ring, train, and change my body. Christy's story is not a light one, physically. It's mentally demanding and there's a lot of weight to carry. But I love challenging myself.”
She added: “Christie Martin not only legitimized women's boxing, she also overcame gender stereotypes and fought against mental, physical and financial abuse. I have a passion for the world of martial arts. Christie's story shines a light on her incredible rise to the top, as she struggles to make a name for herself behind the curtain. I feel like I have to tell a story about a woman who didn't let that overcome her. It's powerful and emotional.”
Coach Michaud said: “I have a history of making films about damaged men, and I wanted to make a film about women with fierce inner energy. Two years ago, I came across Christy Martin's story. When I saw her, I knew I had found it. Her ferocity was understandable and justified, and the audience would crave it because of the circumstances she was forced to endure.”
The plan is to shoot in Black Bear, USA this fall. The film recently teamed up with Sweeney. spotless — UTA Independent Film Group, AC Independent and Black Bear will co-represent U.S. rights and introduce the project to international buyers at next week's Cannes market.
This is a promising package, in part because there's a certain amount of discovery in the story. Michod explained the development of the script as follows: “The film is about Christie as a young gay woman living in a small town in Virginia in the 1990s. She comes from a relatively conservative family and is not allowed to be who she is. She used boxing as a way to express herself and her anger. She had to make some dangerous and fundamental compromises in her life, the most important of which was , to marry an incredibly dangerous man.”
Screenplay by Mira Foulkes (judy & punch) and Michod. Producer: Kelly Kohanski Roberts (the erased boy) For anonymous content, Yoki for Michod, Justin Lothrop, Brent Stiefel (you as you are) to Votiv, Sweeney to Fifty-Fifty Films, and Teddy Schwarzman to Black Bear. Martin, the main character of the film, is one of the executive producers and works with the team on the project.
“David [Michôd] And I've always said this is a female Rocky,” said producer Kohansky Roberts (whose father worked at SI all his life). “To make the cover sports illustrated That was tough enough, but for a female boxer to do it was outstanding and she paved the way for many boxers and MMA fighters to come. ”
“Sydney’s performance was reality It knocked my socks off,” Michod added. “She's been an avid sports fan since she was a child, and she has a hobby of fighting games.”
Micheaux's seminal 2010 crime drama animal kingdom One of the great Australian films of recent decades, starring Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce, Ben Mendelsohn and Jacki Weaver. Since then, the filmmaker has continued to work with Robert Pattinson. rover,Brad Pitt war machine And recently, Timothée Chalamet King.He holds the A24 and Plan B posts. Wizards!
Executive producers include Michael Heimler, Jon Friedberg, Folks and Brad Zimmerman of Yoki, Inc., with David Levine, Ryan Schwartz and Nick Shoemaker executive producing on behalf of Anonymous Content. Take command.
Black Bear's Teddy Schwartzman said, “Black Bear is thrilled to be re-teaming with Sidney Sweeney, one of the most exciting and talented actors working today. has wanted to work with David Michod for some time, and this material is the perfect complement to David Michod's incredible skill set, and Christy Martin's story is an epic, and our film is the perfect complement to David Michod's incredible skill set. We are thrilled to be funding the project and producing it with such great partners.”
Sweeney is represented by Paradigm and Stuart Brookman. Michod is represented by his UTA, Alan Wertheimer and Jackoway Austen. Foulkes is repped by UTA, Untitled Entertainment, and Hirsch Wallerstein.
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