Sydney Sweeney To Play Boxing Legend Christy Martin In Biopic Drama

Sydney Sweeney has taken a detour from playing rom-coms and horror flicks. Shifting gears, she has signed up for a new biographical film. Based upon the former professional boxer Christy Martin, the untitled project is helmed by David Michod. According to reports, the biopic would shed light on Christy Martin’s personal life and her rise to stardom as America’s prominent female boxer in the 1990s. Sydney Sweeney who will be slipping into the shoes of the titular character revealed in an interview that she learned kickboxing during her younger days. However, the actress looks forward to essaying the “challenging” role.

In an interaction with Deadline, Sydney Sweeney shared, “I grappled and did kickboxing from 12-19 years old. I’ve been itching to get back into the ring, train, and transform my body.” Calling the role “physically and emotionally demanding”, the actress acknowledged that although she had a “lot of weight to carry”, she loved to challenge herself.

Speaking about Christy Martin, Sydney Sweeney heaped praises on the retired boxer for legitimising female boxing, overcoming gender stereotypes, and fighting through “emotional, physical, and financial abuse.” Admiring Martin’s inspiring, “powerful and emotional” journey, the Euphoria star added, “I’m passionate about the fighting world, Christy’s story shines a light on her incredible rise to the top while showing the struggles of fame behind the curtains. I feel compelled to tell a story about a woman who faced so much adversity and didn’t allow it to defeat her.”

David Michod, who was also present in the conversation disclosed that he had a “history of making movies about damaged men”. But with the untitled biopic, the filmmaker wanted to direct a story about a “woman with a ferocious energy inside her”. Spilling the beans on how he came across the idea of making a Christy Martin movie, Michod said, “When I came across the story two years ago I knew I’d found it. Her ferocity is intelligible and justifiable and audiences will crave it because of the circumstances she was forced to endure.”

Sydney Sweeney known for her complex characters might be a fitting choice for the biopic. In recent cinematic ventures, she proved her mettle in Anyone But You and Immaculate. As for Christy Martin, the now 55-year-old was the first female boxer to front the Sports Illustrated magazine cover. The welterweight champion also dealt with several personal problems and abusive relationships.