Margot Robbie Is Making Her Awards Push With Tonya Harding Biopic
‘Suicide Squad’ star Margot Robbie has just inked a deal to play infamous figure skater Tonya Harding in an upcoming biopic.
On Monday, Deadline revealed that Margot Robbie has set her sights on the story of controversial figure skater Tonya Harding. It seems as though the up-and-coming actress — who will next appear as the Joker’s number one gal, Harley Quinn, in this August’s Suicide Squad — has her sights set on a little bit of gold in the story of the fallen skater.
The story is absolutely a perfect little bit of awards bait. Harding rose from an unforgiving childhood in Portland, Oregon to the very heights of fame (well, as famous as you could be while also figure skating). Considered a unique talent in the field, her career crashed and burned after an infamous scandal involving an attack on fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan.
Working from a script by veteran screenwriter Steven Rogers, the film, titled I, Tonya, is still in its infancy. Though Hunger Games producer Brian Unkeless has signed on to guide the project, the film is still without a director or even real financing. In other words, there’s no clear date as to when we may get to see Robbie take to the ice as one of the fiercest competitors in sport’s history.
Artist’s Rendering of Steven Rogers
That said, Robbie’s definite interest in the project should give the story’s future a big bump into the realm of “very possible.” Rogers’ involvement, too, is a boon for this kind of film. He’s spent his career writing films with strong female leads, penning the screenplays for P.S., I Love You and Stepmom. Also, he did Kate & Leopold … hey, not everything can be a winner.
While some people are already suggesting that other actresses may have been a better choice to play Harding, there’s little doubt that Robbie has the enthusiasm to throw herself into the role with gusto.
