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Brie Larson in talks to play Billie Jean King in tennis-drama

Variety reports that Larson has replaced Emma Stone on “Battles Of The Sexes“, with the latter bowing out due to scheduling issues.

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Brie Larson (Trainwreck) is in talks to star as tennis legend Billie Jean King in Fox Searchlight biopic Battle of the Sexes, writes The Hollywood Reporter. Little Miss Sunshine filmmakers Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris will direct from a script written by Simon Beaufoy.

Following a breakout performance in Room at this year’s Telluride Film Festival, Brie Larson has booked another plum lead.

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The film will be set in the early 70s, when former male World Number 1 tennis played and self-proclaimed chauvinist Bobby Riggs’ declared that the female game was inferior and that a top woman player couldn’t beat him even at the age of 55. Battle of the Sexes will be produced by Danny Boyle and Christian Colson. Excitement has been building for her casting in KONG: SKULL ISLAND, and now she appears primed to add another major role to her resume that her track record says she will absolutely own. HBO and Playtone are planning Proof with Elizabeth Banks and Paul Giamatti, and Chernin Entertainment and Gary Sanchez are developing Match Maker with Will Ferrell set to star.

Brie Larson in talks to play Billie Jean King opposite Steve Carell in Battle