Following some impressive turns in “Anyone But You,” “The White Lotus,” and “Immaculate,” actress Sydney Sweeney has bagged an impressive new dramatic role. The “Euphoria,” also known for her part in “Madame Web,” Sweeney will star in Australian director David Michôd’s (“The King”) new film about trailblazing female boxer Christy Martin. The untitled movie from Black Bear will head to the Cannes Film Market, where various film projects hope to find financial and distribution partners. Filming is said to begin this fall in the U.S., and Black Bear will seek international partners at Cannes as they’ll oversee domestic rights alongside UTA Independent Film Group and AC Independent.
BlackBear announcement adds a statement from Sweeney where she stresses she has the physical chops, having dabbled in similar sports growing up. “I grappled and did kickboxing from 12-19 years old,” Sweeney said. “I’ve been itching to get back into the ring, train, and transform my body. Christy’s story isn’t a light one; it’s physically and emotionally demanding, and there’s a lot of weight to carry. But I love challenging myself.”
A detailed logline for the untitled pic reads as follows:
“Project will chart the true story of Martin’s rise to become America’s most well-known female boxer in the 1990s — the “female Rocky” in the words of the film’s producers. A naturally gifted fighter, her life transformed in 1989 when she met her manager and later husband, Jim Martin. Breaking boundaries, she became the first woman to sign with iconic promoter Don King and the only female boxer to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Her charisma, good looks, and resilience in the ring won her an avid fanbase and propelled her to become a welterweight champion. But behind the well-honed public persona, she tackled personal demons, toxic relationships, and a brutal attempt on her life.”
Michôd’s previous works include “The King,” “War Machine,” “The Rover,” and the Aussie crime family thriller “Animal Kingdom,” which was reworked into an American-set series at TNT.
Sweeney cutting her teeth on the boxing drama could help give the actress some extra confidence before she leads Sony’s remake of Jane Fonda’s sexy sci-fi comic book movie “Barbarella,” based on the French comics from Jean-Claude Forest. We’re still waiting on a director announcement on a project that is expected to lean more into the action exploits of the titular cosmic agent.