Sports enthusiast Will Ferrell has starred in several fictional sports movies including Talledega Nights and Semi-Pro. Now he’s being cast in a movie based on a real-life sporting event. Ferrell is set to play Bobby Riggs in an upcoming film depicting the Battle of the Sexes tennis match between Riggs and Billie Jean King.
From Variety:
Ferrell is attached to star in ”The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” scribe Steve Conrad’s “Match Maker,” which is about tennis’ legendary battle of the sexes match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.
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Based on Don Van Natta Jr.’s ESPN.com article, “The Match Maker: Bobby Riggs, the Mafia and the Battle of the Sexes,” the story follows the high profile rivalry between the two tennis pros and their iconic 1973 tennis match. The match was watched by 50 million Americans, who tuned in to see whether a 29-year-old female King could beat the retired 55-year-old Riggs.
If you’re curious or were not born in 1973, King pasted the floor with Riggs, defeating him in straight sets in a match that was played in the Houston Astrodome. Even though it was an exhibition, it’s one of the most famous and impactful sporting events of the 21st century.
Ferrell should be the perfect fit for this role of the main antagonist. It will be interesting to see who is cast to play King. Hopefully not Kirsten Dunst. One tennis movie was enough for her.
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About Reva Friedel
Reva is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and the AP Party. She lives in Orange County and roots for zero California teams.