Sydney Sweeney’s film Christy Martin begins filming and rounds out the cast

Ben Foster, Merritt Wever, Katy O’Brian, Ethan Embry, Jess Gabor and Chad L. Coleman have joined Sydney Sweeney in director David Michôd’s untitled feature film about boxer Christy Martin.

The script for the film was written by Mirrah Foulkes and Michôd. Production began Monday in North Carolina, Black Bear announced as he unveiled the full cast.

The film’s official description reads: “The film tells the incredible true story of the formidable Christy Martin, who rose to fame in the 1990s as America’s most successful female boxer. A naturally gifted fighter, Christy’s life changed in 1989 when she met her manager and later husband Jim Martin. She broke boundaries to become the first woman signed with iconic promoter Don King, and the only female boxer to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Christy’s charisma, good looks and unwavering resilience in the ring earned her a wide fan base and propelled her to become a welterweight champion. Behind this well-developed public persona, Christy has dealt with personal demons, toxic relationships and an attempt on her life, proving that a fighter’s toughest victories don’t always happen in the ring.

The untitled project is produced by Kerry Kohansky-Roberts for Anonymous Content, David Michôd for Yoki, Inc., Justin Lothrop and Brent Stiefel for Votiv, Sweeney for Fifty-Fifty Films and Teddy Schwarzman for Black Bear, who also provided full financing for takes into account. Executive producers include Michael Heimler and John Friedberg for Black Bear, Foulkes, Brad Zimmerman for Yoki, Inc., David Levine, Ryan Schwartz and Nick Shumaker for Anonymous Content, and Harrison Huffman.

Black Bear handles international rights, while UTA Independent Film Group, AC Independent (the sales and finance division of Anonymous Content) and Black Bear co-own U.S. rights. This photo marks the second collaboration between Sweeney and Black Bear, following this year’s ‘Immaculate’.

Foster is represented by Range Media Partners and Felker Toczek Suddleson McGinnis Ryan LLP. Wever is represented by Innovative Artists, Viking Entertainment and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein. O’Brian is repped by Gersh Agency, Luber Roklin Entertainment, RCM Talent & Management, and Yorn, Levine, Barnes, Krintzman, Rubenstein, Kohner, Endlich, Goodell & Gellman. Embry is represented by Independent Artist Group, Mosaic and Mark Wetzstein. Gabor van Buchwald. Coleman is represented by TalentWorks and Vanguard Management Group.