Another trailblazing female tennis player is having her story told on the big screen. Following in the footsteps of 2017 Billie Jean King biopic “Battle of the Sexes” is a doc about tennis superstar and LGBTQ activist Martina Navratilova. Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine is joining forces with producer Suzanne Gilbert (“The Untold History of the U.S.”) and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald on the project, Deadline reports.
Currently untitled, the feature-length doc “will spotlight Navratilova’s social and political activism for women and the LGBT community, told through Greenwald’s personal lens — a gay child growing up in the Reagan-era Florida.”
Widely considered one of the best tennis players of all-time, Navratilova first began playing at the age of four. She’s won over 59 Grand Slam crowns and nine Wimbledon singles champions.
Navratilova came out as bisexual in 1981. She later identified as lesbian. In 1985 she released her autobiography, “Martina.”
“The issues raised by Martina’s legacy resonate now more than ever, which is why it’s so important to tell her story to new generations of engaged young people who may not be aware of the vital role she played in shaping expectations around female identity and LGBT equality,” said Charlotte Koh, Head of Digital Media & Programming for Hello Sunshine. “Having producers Glenn and Suzanne reframe Martina’s impact on society through the lens of Glenn’s personal coming-of-age journey creates a fresh, intimate, and relatable film for a wide audience.”
Greenwald added, “As monumental as Martina’s on-court achievements were, they pale in comparison to her role as a pioneer and trailblazer on questions of feminism, women’s athletics, equality for gay and lesbians across the planet, transgender visibility, immigrant rights, and the right of political dissent.” He continued, “I’m excited to be partnering with Reese and Hello Sunshine to explore her truly enduring legacy — her remarkable courage — directly or indirectly inspiring millions of people who lacked any other role models.”
The doc will “feature materials and memories shared by fans all across the world that demonstrate her profound impact on various social and political initiatives,” according to the source.
