Battle of the Sexes: Brie Larson in talks to face Steve Carell in tennis movie

Brie Larson is stepping up to the service line for Battle of the Sexes.

The actress is in talks to play tennis champion and feminist icon Billie Jean King in the Fox Searchlight comedy-drama, EW has confirmed. Variety first reported the news.

Larson would star opposite Steve Carell as King’s nemesis Bobby Riggs in the fact-based film, which takes its title from the pair’s infamous 1973 tennis match. King, then 29 years old and the No. 2 ranked female player, handily defeated trash-talking Riggs, a former champ himself but 26 years her senior. King also took home a $100,000 check for the nationally televised event.

Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (Litte Miss Sunshine) are directing Battle from a script by Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire, Everest). Emma Stone was previously attached to play King but exited due to scheduling conflicts.

Since breaking out in the indie drama Short Term 12, Larson has become a rising star. Her recent and upcoming films include Trainwreck, the Toronto hit Room, and Kong: Skull Island.

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You can see Larson in the trailer for Room in the video above.