Australian actress Margot Robbie (‘Focus,’ ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’) has signed on to produce and star in ‘I, Tonya,’ a biopic of disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding.
Per Deadline, the Steven Rogers-scripted film sees Robbie playing Harding, who emerged from a poor upbringing and rough childhood in Portland, Oregon to rise to the top of her sport. Harding was set to go head-to-head against her team rival Nancy Kerrigan at the 1994 US Figure Skating Championships in Detroit, but unidentified assailants attacked Kerrigan after a practice session. The incident, known as “The Whack Heard Round the World,” caused a bruised leg and forced Kerrigan to withdraw from the competition, leaving Harding to win the event.
It was later discovered that the attack was planned by Harding’s ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, and her bodyguard Shawn Eckhardt. News of Harding’s alleged involvement led to a media frenzy. The skater ended up pleading guilty to conspiring to hinder prosecution and was stripped her of her 1994 U.S. Championships title and banned from the U.S. Figure Skating Association for life.
Bryan Unkeless of Clubhouse Pictures is on board to produce, with Robbie producing through her LuckyChap Entertainment banner.
Robbie will next be seen starring alongside Tina Fey in ‘Whiskey Tango Foxtrot’ when it is released in Irish cinemas April 22nd, followed by ‘The Legend of Tarzan’ July 8th, and the eagerly awaited ‘Suicide Squad’ on August 5th.