Battle Of The Sexes directed by Danny Boyle

Sarah Silverman has joined Steve Carell in the cast of Danny Boyle’s new tennis film.

Battle Of The Sexes tells of the high-profile 1973 match - the most-watched in the sport’s history –  in which Billie Jean King defeated senior male player Bobby Riggs.

As well as being a media event in itself, the clash has long been the source of speculation that Riggs threw the match, either for publicity or because he bet against himself. However King was also more determined to win, as she said losing would set back women’s equality and ‘affect all women’s self-esteem’.

Carell is to play Riggs with Emma Stone as King. Silverman will play Gladys Heldman, a tennis journalist and prominent supporter of King, who  did a lot to promote the women’s game.

The script is being written by Simon Beaufoy, who also worked with Boyle on Slumdog Millionaire and 127 hours, as well as writing The Full Monty and Everest.

Other stars signed up for Battle Of The Sexes include Andrea Riseborough, Elizabeth Shue and Austin Stowall, Hollywood website Deadline reports.

Published: 24 Mar 2016