With Sydney Sweeney as the main character, Christie is a biographical sports drama film directed by David Michôd, scheduled for release on November 7, 2025. The film is based on the life of a former American professional boxer, Christy Martin, who won the WBC women’s super welterweight title in 2009.
The narrative follows Christy’s rise to fame in the 1990s as “the coal miner’s daughter,” while exploring her personal struggles with a controlling and abusive relationship with her manager-turned-husband and her struggle to accept her identity.
Ben Foster plays her abusive manager and husband, James V. Martin. Merritt Wever and Katy O’Brian appear in supporting roles, alongside other actors in the film.
Sydney Sweeney plays Christy in David Michôd’s upcoming sports drama
The White Lotus star Sydney Sweeney plays Christy Martin in the film. To play the boxer, Sweeney underwent a rigorous daily physical regimen for approximately three and a half months.
His workout included strength training in the morning for an hour, followed by two to three hours of kickboxing or boxing at midday, and a final hour of strength training in the evening. She also gained 30 to 35 pounds to play this role. In an interview with Vanity Fair, the Euphoria the star said:
“I felt very strong and powerful. I loved it. Being able to lose myself to become a vessel for someone else is my dream.” She added, “Every fight you see, we’re punching each other. We’re going all out. I always thought you wouldn’t be able to make it look real if it was a one-two punch or if he was simulating the punches.”
While the film is scheduled to hit theaters on November 7, 2025, Sweeney will also be seen in Paul Feig’s upcoming psychological thriller. The cleaning ladywhich is scheduled for release in December 2025. The American actress will also star in David Frankel’s film The devil wears Prada 2released in May 2026.
A look back at the life of Christy Martin, whose story inspired David Michôd’s next sports drama
Christy Martin was born in Mullens, West Virginia. She began her professional boxing career in 1989 and rose to fame in the mid-1990s when she was promoted by Don King. Martin achieved her career breakthrough in 1996 in a highly publicized fight against Deirdre Gogarty, which thrust her into the mainstream boxing spotlight.
Throughout his career, Martin won several major titles, including the WBC super middleweight championship. Her accomplishments led to her historic induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2020, in the first class to include women.
However, she struggled deeply in her personal life, a phase of her life that is detailed in the upcoming film. She faced financial hardship, addiction, and endured years of domestic violence in her relationship with her coach and husband, Jim Martin. She was almost killed when he shot and stabbed her.
After surviving the incident, she became a fierce advocate for survivors of domestic violence, turning her internal struggles into a powerful platform for resilience.
Stay tuned for more updates.
Edited by Suchita Patnaha
