First Look: Battle of the Sexes
Thursday, April 14, 2016 at 10:02AM Murtada here. So you have a new movie about a very popular internationally recognizable person, what to do to announce that your film has started shooting? Why get Billie Jean King herself to tweet a photo of your two stars, right next to the two real life people they are playing. Get everyone talking about the uncanny likeness. Easy peasy, the internet ate it up!
THEN & NOW: #BobbyRiggs & me at #BattleOfTheSexes presser in 1973; @stevecarell and #EmmaStone as us, filming now!🎾 pic.twitter.com/5jTCsyoXAE
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) April 13, 2016
Battle of the Sexes is about the 1973 tennis match between King and Bobby Riggs that made headlines worldwide and still stands in the culture as encapsulation of 1970s changing social attitudes about sport and feminism. Emma Stone is King and Steve Carrell is Riggs and boy do they look the part. Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (Little Miss Sunshine) are directing, the supporting cast includes Sarah Silverman, Alan Cumming, Elisabeth Shue and in a Birdman reunion Andrea Riseborough as Marilyn Barnett, King’s girlfriend at the time. It was surprising to see Danny Boyle's name as a producer, although not so much when seeing his Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours partner Simon Beaufoy as the screenwriter.
Barnett during the alimony trial.
Riseborough’s casting hopefully means that the movie will explore the tumultuous relationship between King and Barnett. Their relationship became public in 1980 when Barnett sued for alimony, outing King and putting her in the path of LGBT rights advocacy. That was 7 years after the battle of the sexes, so we are keeping hopes tempered.
The film just started shooting, so we have a long wait before we can see it, perhaps in the second half of 2017. However since this is an awards site, it’s never too early to speculate. We know that playing a real life person - with that person making the campaign rounds alongside the actor - is a surefire way to win an Oscar. The movie has to be good of course, this one at least has the pedigree. Will this be Emma’s moment?
Reader Comments (16)
I don't think that is Barnett in the pic, looks like her longtime partner Ilana Kloss. I don't think she would be so chummy with Marilyn now!
Ryan - you are right. The image was mis-labeled by Zimio. I'll adjust, thanks!
Thought maybe they kissed and made up!
If Emma can pull it off, it could be her moment. She seems too cutesy to be able to credibly play Billie Jean, though. On the other hand, Bobby Riggs was a real character, and Steve Carell cannot possibly go over the top in playing him, so that casting is perfect.
This is a great story, so I'm looking forward to seeing the film regardless.
Professional tennis is a passion of mine (my favorite sport by far) and most of the actors involved are exciting, but can we stop remaking the same movies that have already been made? Holly Hunter already did this and got an Emmy nomination. Aren't there enough famous people that we don't need to continually remake stories of the same one.
That being said, of course I'll see this, so I'm clearly part of the problem on this one.
I'll just co-sign what @Suzanne said - I'm really looking forward to this.
As for Oscar chances - Mary Poppins sequel may be out in 17 - heavy competition.
I never saw the Holly Hunter version... and this looks like a well made production so I'm ok with a second take.
I didn't even know there was a Holly Hunter version. It was a TV movie, so I don't really see a problem with a theatrical film. I'm mostly worried Carrel is going to go over the top in this, regardless of how the real Riggs was.
Wow on the casting and styling. Just wow.
THE RETURN OF ELISABETH SHUE HOPEFULLY WINNING THAT OSCAR SUSAN STOLE IN 95.
Second what Cash said! Love Emma and excited for both this and La La Land. Maybe she will get 2nd nom this year for La La and win on her 3rd with this one.
I've gotta say, calling the likeness "uncanny" is a little exaggerated, since I just see Steve Carrell and Emma Stone in good hair, makeup and costume. But I'm curious to see if Stone can nail this.
It will certainly be on my must see list ....
Love Miss Emma
This one looks super fun--and I am wanting Carell to really score in this one.
On other note, Linda Cardellini and Rob Riggle might look the parts even more.
As a fan of the actors involved and as a HUGE FAN of tennis, I'm ALL IN. We need more tennis TV shows and movies, please.
BeInAMovie.com just sent me an email about this. I think they're filming May 3. Hmm...