Sydney Sweeney Offers an Intimate First Look as Boxing Legend Christy Martin
Sydney Sweeneyis trading in the glam for gloves in her most transformative role yet — stepping into the shoes and ring of legendary boxerChristy Martinin the upcoming biopicChristy. The film, directed by David Michôd, is already stirring serious awards buzz ahead of itsTIFF 2025world premiere, not just for the intensity of Martin's real-life story, but for Sweeney's full-bodied physical and emotional transformation.
Once dubbed 'The Coal Miner's Daughter,' Martin became one of the first women to gain mainstream recognition in a sport long dominated by men. Her 1996 undercard fight on a Mike Tyson bill became a flashpoint moment for women's boxing, leading to mainstream visibility and a 49-7-3 career record, with 31 knockouts. But her story wasn't confined to the ring. After surviving a brutal assassination attempt by her abusive husband and former trainer Jim Martin — who was later sentenced to 25 years in prison — Christy became a vocal advocate for domestic violence survivors and founded Christy's Champs, a nonprofit supporting victims.
The film doesn't shy away from the weight of her story. It dives deep into the highs and lows: from magazine covers and championship belts to addiction battles, closeted identity, and near-death recovery. At its core, Christy is about power — lost, reclaimed, and redefined.
Sweeney reportedly trained for months to inhabit Martin's frame, building muscle and reshaping her body to match the boxer's strength and grit.
She shared viaWMagazine,
'I didn't fit in any of my clothes. I'm usually a size 23 in jeans, and I was wearing a size 27. My boobs got bigger. And my butt got huge. It was crazy! I was like, Oh my god.' Sweeney laughed. 'But it was amazing: I was so strong, like crazy strong.'
The script, penned by Michôd and Mirrah Foulkes, is said to balance raw personal trauma with sports-world spectacle — anchoring the narrative in Martin's unwavering will to survive. With Martin herself involved in the filmmaking process and Sweeney co-producing through her Fifty-Fifty Films banner,Christyis shaping up to be both a portrait of a fighter and a gut-punch of a biopic. The film is set to premiere in September 2025 at the Toronto International Film Festival, with a global release date still yet to be announced.
Take a first look of Sydney Sweeney playing as Christy Martin below.
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Fox News
2 hours ago
- Fox News
Sydney Sweeney's Dolly Parton-inspired Western will benefit from ad backlash: expert
Sydney Sweeney is channeling Dolly Parton in her new Western heist movie "Americana," set to be released on the heels of the actress's American Eagle "Good Jeans" ad. In the film, debuting in theaters Aug. 15, Sweeney, 27, stars as Penny Jo Poplin, a small-town diner waitress who is obsessed with the country icon and dreams of following in her footsteps. "Dolly is definitely her biggest aspirational role model," Sweeney said of her character during a June interview with Entertainment Weekly. She continued, "Dolly is almost like a godlike figure to Penny Jo, and I really wanted to make sure that we had the aspirations of being Dolly, but then, she doesn't have the resources." "It's trying to find that in-between place of who Penny is and what she has," Sweeney added. "But then also who she wants to be. Penny Jo dreams of being able to have Dolly's outlook on life because her world feels so gray, dark, and trapped. [Dolly has] this beautiful big personality and energy that makes everything have color again, and that's what she wants." In "Americana," Penny Jo, who is also an aspiring country music singer-songwriter, joins forces with lovelorn military veteran and ranch-hand Lefty Ledbetter (Paul Walter Hauser) to procure a rare Native American artifact — a Lakota Ghost Shirt — after it lands on the black market in their South Dakota town. However, Penny Jo and Lefty's pursuit of the valuable artifact "puts them in the crosshairs of a ruthless criminal working for a Western antiquities dealer, and soon, others, including the leader of an Indigenous group and a woman fleeing a mysterious past, join the battle for the Ghost Shirt," according to a plot synopsis for the movie. "She finally sees something that can be her ticket to Nashville," Sweeney told Entertainment Weekly. "It's her ticket to be able to go and chase her dreams. And she's past the point of waiting for it to happen." "Americana" marks the directorial debut of screenwriter Tony Tost, who also wrote the screenplay. The movie also stars pop singer Halsey, Eric Dane, Zahn McClarnon and Simon Rex. Though "Americana" originally premiered at the 2023 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival, the movie's worldwide release date comes as drama continues to swirl over Sweeney's July American Eagle ad campaign. However, PR expert Eric Schiffer shared his view that Sweeney's character will be a big draw for audiences, and the timing of the release will prove to be serendipitous for the production. "She plays Penny Jo, a waitress who worships Dolly; that disarming sweetness offsets the AE edge and broadens demo reach," the Reputation Management Consultants CEO told Fox News Digital. He continued, "Country-curious teens and red-state moms will test-drive the movie; coastal critics bring pitiless scrutiny — perfect storm for sales." Last month, the clothing retailer debuted their ad campaign titled "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans," which received a mixed response on social media. Some dubbed the campaign as "tone-deaf" due to the alleged racial undertones, others have praised Sweeney for killing "woke" advertising. In a promo video posted to the brand's Instagram, Sweeney was seen walking toward an AE billboard featuring her and the tagline "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Genes." Sweeney crossed out "Genes" and replaced it with "Jeans" before walking away. In a second ad, Sweeney was seen laying down and fastening her jeans while saying, "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color." The camera then panned up to her blue eyes. "My jeans are blue." The ad's detractors have suggested that it has shades of "eugenics" and "White supremacy." According to Salon, the term "great genes" was historically used to "celebrate whiteness, thinness and attractiveness." American Eagle released a statement on its social media on Aug. 1, which read, "'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans' is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone." Sweeney has yet to publicly comment on the ad or its reception. While speaking with Fox News Digital, Schiffer explained how controversy could potentially turbocharge the actress's career along with her net worth. "The AE firestorm shoved Sweeney into toxic culture-war crosshairs — exactly where attention monetizes fastest," he said. "Backlash may spook a few 'safe' brands, but risk-tolerant studios will ruthlessly overpay for her heat. "American Eagle's denim blitz could jam an outrage cocktail of $5 million more in Sweeney's wallet before Labor Day," Schiffer added. "The viral jeans spot is a ruthless napalm-grade cash cannon — every click fires fresh royalty checks at her $40 million pile. Critics rant, but controversy drives denim sales — she's riding a volatile tornado straight to the bank." Schiffer also explained that the backlash the actress has received could lead to an influx of career opportunities for her. "Outrage addicts labeled the ad 'eugenics' but Hollywood execs smell radioactive buzz and cast her faster," he said. "Hollywood forgives denim puns; it rewards controversial cash." Schiffer continued, "She proved she can take heat and directors love an actress with fierce armor. Her blend of bombshell and backlash is near lethal catnip for producers. Hollywood loves a polarizing star with a merciless marketing punch that sells." However, PR expert Steve Honig voiced his opinion that the backlash was unlikely to affect Sweeney's career. "Regardless of which side you are on, the ads have undeniably gotten the actress, and the company, more attention and publicity than they have ever had. Judging by the public's split opinion, I don't think this will have much, if any, impact on Sweeney's career or upcoming projects," he said. "She is a popular, up-and-coming talent with a bright future ahead of her." Honig went on to cite other ad campaigns that saw great success by courting controversy. "Historically, ads for jeans have been provocative," he noted. "Look back to Calvin Klein's advertising campaign in the early 1980s featuring Brooke Shields; there was a lot of criticism about how a 15-year-old girl was being portrayed. The ads turned out to have a positive result for both Klein and Shields, and in many ways put the actress/model on the map." Honig continued, "As far as the Sweeney ads being too sexual or aimed at 'male gazing,' I would point to the highly successful Pepsi ad campaign with Cindy Crawford, which was recently rebooted. Gloria Vanderbilt's advertising campaign was all about her name being on a woman's backside." "The bottom line here is that American Eagle decided to push the envelope in much the same way Klein and Vanderbilt did," he added. "Like it or not, the campaign is sparking discussion and getting a lot of notice, which is likely what they set out to do." In addition to "Americana," Sweeney also has several other projects in the works. The actress is set to return for the third season of the hit HBO series "Euphoria," which is aiming for a 2026 release, according to Deadline. Sweeney is also starring as real-life former professional boxer Christy Martin in the upcoming biographical sports drama "Christy." The Washington native produced the film through her company, Fifty-Fifty Films, along with several other production companies, including Anonymous Content, Yoki, Inc., Votiv and Black Bear Pictures. The actress will next be seen starring alongside Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, and Michele Morrone in Paul Feig's upcoming film "The Housemaid," which is based on Freida McFadden's 2022 novel. "The Housemaid" will be released in theaters on Dec. 25.
Black America Web
17 hours ago
- Black America Web
Ari Lennox Sparks Debate Over Comments on Martin and Pam
Source: ione nicole thomas / IONE, VIA NICOLE THOMAS Ari Lennox found herself at the center of online controversy after commenting on the popular '90s sitcom Martin . During a recent discussion, Lennox expressed discomfort with how Martin's character treated Pam, often criticizing her appearance and hair. She suggested these remarks had undertones of colorism, sparking heated debates online. Fans of the show were quick to challenge Lennox's perspective. Many argued Pam was more than capable of holding her own in the comedic banter, noting that she frequently outwitted Martin. One fan remarked, 'Pam was always chewing Martin up, and it never seemed like she was losing.' Amid the backlash, the singer took to social media to clarify her position. Lennox stated, 'If I had ill intent, I would have come with a whole PowerPoint presentation to back my claims. I meant no harm.' She emphasized her respect for the cast, calling them 'legends' while insisting that she wasn't attempting to rewrite history. Concluding her statement, Lennox reassured fans that she didn't need an army in her defense. Interestingly, the debate opened a broader conversation about representation and the portrayal of Black women in media. Many users sided with Lennox, acknowledging the impact such jokes can have, while others firmly defended the show's legacy. Whatever side fans take, Lennox's remarks undoubtedly reignited discussions about how beloved media age with shifting societal lenses. Stay tuned to see if the Martin legacy continues to draw reflections or, as Ari noted, sparks no harm at all. SEE ALSO
New York Post
19 hours ago
- New York Post
‘Americana' review: Sydney Sweeney's real controversy is her terrible new movie
movie review AMERICANA Running time: 110 minutes. Rated R (violence, language throughout and some sexual references). In theaters. Who cares about a jeans ad? Sydney Sweeney's real controversy is the bell-bottom-of-the-barrel quality of her new movie, 'Americana.' Newish, that is. The wannabe Western crime drama premiered at South By Southwest back in March 2023 and is only now skulking into some theaters. It's a violently annoying and annoyingly violent ensemble piece speckled with 'look how wacky we are!' characters that are impossible to put up with; a copycat Coen Brothers yarn with the depth of a tortilla. The cast breakdown reads like a parody. Sweeney plays Penny Jo, a shy South Dakota waitress who dreams of becoming a country singer but has a stammer. We are supposed to accept that the constantly photographed Sweeney is a wallflower nobody pays any attention to. The actress' fake speech impediment, meanwhile, comes off both rehearsed and not nearly rehearsed enough. 4 Sydney Sweeney stars in 'Americana.' Ursula Coyote Penny Jo finally gets some human face time with a creepy loser. That's Lefty (Paul Walter Hauser), a breathy schlub who has proposed to four women this year alone. Despite his name, he's right-handed and tells everybody that. There's a little boy named Cal (Gavin Maddox Bergman), who insists he's the reincarnation of Sitting Bull, and shoots his mom's abusive boyfriend, Dillon (Eric Dane), with an arrow. He links up with Native American Ghost Eye (Zahn McClarnon), the leader of a gun-totin' group that protects their tribal legacy with rifles. He says he took his moniker from the Forest Whitaker indie 'Ghost Dog.' 4 Lefty (Paul Walter Hauser) falls for Penny Jo (Sydney Sweeney.) Ursula Coyote And spitfire Mandy (Halsey) has escaped from her father's Warren Jeffs-type sex cult. And on and on. I was fed up with 'Americana' by minute 10, and the succeeding 100 did nothing to change my mind. Everybody in this quirk brigade is trying to get their hands on a rare Native American ghost shirt that's worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Ghost Eye wants the garment for its historic significance. The rest are hungry for the cash. At one point, a group of pretentious rich snobs displays it in their living room. The points writer-director Tony Tost makes are painfully obvious. 4 Eric Dane's Dillon wants to get his hands on a rare Native American ghost shirt. Ursula Coyote Based on her prominence on the poster, you'd think so-so Sweeney is the lead. But the roles are equal in size — and irritation — and if there is any focal point, it's Halsey's Mandy, who has a meatier arc. Though, spoiler alert, Penny Jo finds her voice at the end, as our eyes remain desert dry. Tost bets that eccentricities will distract from his meandering, repetitive story that amounts to an object changing hands a few times. Under more assured direction, the shoddy script could have amounted to something mediocre at least. When the Coens or Quentin Tarantino amp up the weird in their dark depictions of a dusty America, they do so with unsettling style and an enticingly skewed vision of reality to match. 4 An unlikely pair is Cal and Ghost Eye (Zahn McClarnon). Ursula Coyote Of course, they, unlike Tost, also write strong screenplays. His 'Americana' is lifelessly visualized. Eye candy? Eye toothpaste. Pair pat-on-the-back lofty themes with bland imagery and artificially kooky characters speaking hokey, unconvincing dialogue, and you get a great big bore. 'Americana' ends on a bloody standoff, an emotional death and a heartfelt reunion. And it's all as engrossing and moving as a tumbleweed.
