Battle of the Sexes (2017) - Top 5 Facts!
Based on true events, this movie is getting a lot of publicity because of several reasons! Starring Emma Stone, Battle of the Sexes is based on the life of Billie Jean King, the female tennis player who defied stereotypes when it comes to professional sports, it's getting mixed reviews but with Emma Stone and Steve Carrell in the starring roles, you bet it's worth checking out!
#5: Emma Stone Sucks at Tennis
For those who don’t know, “Battle of the Sexes” is about tennis. More than that, it is about one of the greatest female tennis players to ever swing a racket: Billie Jean King. Academy Award-winning actress Emma Stone was tasked with bringing her to life on the big screen, something that required her to play a whole lot of the sport. One would assume that because she was pretending to be a former tennis star, Stone would have some skills on the court. Ironically, tennis isn’t really her thing. In fact, the actress admitted that she isn’t very good at all. Of course, that’s nothing a little postproduction editing can’t fix!
#4: Brie Larson Was at One Point Attached to Star
A classic example of the uncertainty of the Hollywood casting process, this film had some ups and downs trying to figure out who would play Billie Jean King. While Emma Stone was initially cast, she was forced to drop out due to a scheduling conflict. The producers decided to replace her with another Academy Award winner, Brie Larson. Everything was hunky-dory until Larson decided to drop out after only a couple of months. Thankfully, Stone had since completed her other project and was thus able to take back the role she was originally cast in.
#3: The Cast & Crew Know Each Other Well
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Hollywood is a small town, and many of its residents have worked together at various points in their respective careers. Take Emma Stone and Steve Carell, who shared the screen in “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” Stone and Andrea Riseborough also worked together in 2014’s “Birdman.” Stone even crossed paths with Martha MacIsaac in the 2007 comedy, “Superbad.” Still not convinced? How about the fact that Carell previously worked with “Battle of the Sexes” directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris on “Little Miss Sunshine”? Oh, and don’t forget the time Alan Cumming and Emma Stone worked together during the Broadway production of “Cabaret.” It’s clear that the cast and crew of this film are far from strangers.
#2: The Song from the Trailer Is Uniquely Connected to the Story
The song playing in the “Battle of the Sexes” trailer is “Funeral for a Friend/ Love Lies Bleeding” by Elton John. Why is this relevant? Well, ever since their first meeting in 1973, Elton John and Billie Jean King have been very close friends. In fact, the two joined forces many years ago to raise money and awareness for causes such as equal rights and HIV/AIDS. Elton John went so far as to honor Billie Jean King with a song called “Philadelphia Freedom,” which was released in 1975, and the two continue to remain close to this very day!
#1: Billie Jean King Fought for Gender Equality
As one of the most highly decorated female athletes of all time, King has used her considerable influence to enact positive change around the world. During the 70s, she was a pioneer for women’s rights and in 1973 founded the Women’s Tennis Association. Around the same time, she also threatened to boycott a major tournament unless equal prize money was given to both men and women. This would not be fully achieved for another 34 years. Far from just another comedy, “Battle of the Sexes” draws many parallels with today’s society and the ongoing fight for equal rights and equal pay for women the world over.
