Those who love Will Ferrell movies set in the 1970s and tennis are in for a treat: the comedian’s latest project is a combination of both.
Ferrell, who played news anchor Ron Burgundy in the Anchorman films and disco star turned ABA player in Semi-Pro, will channel real-life tennis pro Bobby Riggs in his upcoming movie, Match Maker.
The film is reportedly based on an ESPN The Magazine story, “The Match Maker: Bobby Riggs, the Mafia and the Battle of the Sexes,” which alleged that the late ex-champion threw his 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” match against Billie Jean King to settle gambling debts with a variety of mob bosses.
For those who are unfamiliar, the match was a big deal: it was watched by 50 million Americans, all of whom were keen to see whether the then 29-year-old female King could beat retired 55-year-old champion Riggs.
“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” scribe Steve Conrad is writing the script, while Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping will produce via their Chernin Entertainment alongside Ferrell and Adam McKay through their Gary Sanchez Productions.
Ferrell, 46, was reportedly pursued for the role by Chernin, who was well aware of the comedian’s love of tennis. Most recently, he hosted the Desert Smash charity tennis match in the Palm Desert, which raised funds for his Cancer for College charity.
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