1Community, Access Entertainment and Four Daughters are teaming on an adaptation of The Match: Althea Gibson & Angela Buxton: How Two Outsiders – One Black, the Other Jewish – Forged a Friendship and Made Sports History. The 2004 non-fiction tome was written by Bruce Schoenfeld.
Liz Maccie is set to pen the script, reuniting with 1Community following their work on the recently released Netflix pic Nonnas, directed by Stephen Chbosky and starring Vince Vaughn. The project originated with the Four Daughters duo, Richard Stern and Navid McIlhargey, who will produce alongside Julie R. Snyder, as well as Emily Blavatnik and Danny Cohen for Access Entertainment, which developed and co-financed recent Oscar winner Conclave. Scott Budnick and Ameet Shukla will produce for 1Community, with Saúl Delcompare overseeing the project.
The Match tells the true story of how, in the face of discrimination and exclusion, British-Jewish rising tennis star Angela Buxton and African American athletic virtuoso Althea Gibson formed an unlikely pair that took Wimbledon by storm and forged a lifelong friendship.
In addition to Maccie, Isha Price, Venus Williams and Serena Williams are newly aboard the project as EPs, with Caroline Currier to oversee for Serena Williams’ Nine Two Six Productions.
In a statement on the new project, 1Community CEO Scott Budnick said, “Working with Liz on ‘Nonnas’ was a true privilege, and we’re thrilled to continue our tremendous relationship with someone whose commitment to her craft is matched only by her dedication to perfecting it to tell vital, urgent, and culture-shifting stories, which aligns directly with our broader vision in storytelling.”
Blavatnik and Cohen of Access Entertainment commented, “We are thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking project that not only celebrates the remarkable friendship between Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton but also highlights the profound impact of diversity in sports. This story is a testament to resilience and unity, and we know it will resonate strongly with audiences everywhere.”
Added Four Daughters CEOs Stern and McIlhargey, “At Four Daughters, our passion lies in bringing unique and inspiring stories to life. ‘The Match’ is a powerful narrative that transcends race and religion and is about the human element that comes alive in sports, and we are honored to tell the story of these two extraordinary women who changed the landscape of their sport.”
In addition to Nonnas, Maccie is known for her work on the series Siren for Freeform and the upcoming adaptation of Tillie Cole’s bestseller A Thousand Boy Kisses, which Chbosky will helm for Netflix, as we first reported. She is repped by Gersh, Kaplan/Perrone and attorney Jason Hendler.
Four Daughters is repped by Tifanie Acosta at Entertainment Law Partners; Snyder by attorney Jennifer Gray at Hansen Jacobson.
