For those of you who aren’t familiar, Bobby Riggs is a tennis player from the 40’s that was famous as much for his successful pro-career as he was for his infamous Battle Of the Sexes match against Billie Jean King.
Variety reports the oft described brash, chauvinistic Riggs, also infamous for his terrible gambling problem, will be played in an upcoming moving by Will Ferrell.
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.
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.
I think this is perfect. Ferrell plays 70’s sports characters so well.