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Borg vs. McEnroe

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Directed by
  
Janus Metz Pedersen

Release date
  
2017 (2017)

Initial release
  
15 September 2017

Production company
  
Tre Vänner

Production company
  
Tre Vänner

Country
  
Sweden

Director
  
Janus Metz Pedersen

Written by
  
Ronnie Sandahl

Borg vs. McEnroe httpsgfxaftonbladetcdnseimage23649392928

Produced by
  
Jon Nohrstedt Fredrik Wikström Nicastro

Starring
  
Sverrir Gudnason Shia LaBeouf Stellan Skarsgård Tuva Novotny Robert Emms

Distributed by
  
Nordisk Film (Scandinavia), AB Svensk Filmindustri (International)

Cast
  
Shia LaBeouf, Sverrir Gudnason, Stellan Skarsgård, Tuva Novotny, Robert Emms

Similar
  
Wimbledon 1980 Final: Borg vs, Armadillo, Ayiti Mon Amour, Blur: New World Towers, Handsome Devil

Borg vs mcenroe clash of the titans by bbc


Borg vs. McEnroe is an upcoming Swedish biographical film focusing on the famous rivalry between famous tennis players Björn Borg and John McEnroe at the 1980 Wimbledon Championships. The film is directed by Janus Metz Pedersen, from a screenplay written by Ronnie Sandahl, and stars Sverrir Gudnason, Shia LaBeouf, Stellan Skarsgård, Tuva Novotny, and Robert Emms.

Contents

Cast

  • Sverrir Gudnason as Björn Borg:

  • Borg vs. McEnroe John McEnroe skeptical about the new Borg vs McEnroe flick
    A legendary Swedish tennis player and former world No. 1 tennis player. Screenwriter Ronnie Sandahl, stated in interviews with Swedish newspapers Expressen and Sydsvenskan, that "he [Sverrir] looks very much like the Swedish tennis star". In a interview, Gudnason talked about his preperation for the part, and stated that "I [he] spent six months in which he trained 15 hours a week, with two hours of tennis and four workouts with a personal trainer." He also revealed that he had not met Borg, stating "not yet, but I will meet him, sometime after the shooting of the film."
  • Shia LaBeouf as John McEnroe:

  • Borg vs. McEnroe Shia LaBeouf as John McEnroe on set of Borg vs McEnroe movie
    An American former World No. 1 professional tennis player and Borgs rival. Sandahl stated in an interview, that it was Shia that made contact with the production, when he heard about the script, because "he [Shia] identify strongly with the character of McEnroe, and felt that he is a misunderstood person." In a interview with Variety, Shia praised the script and called it "brilliant", and said that he "cried when reading it for the first time." He also revealed that he has not met with McEnroe about the role, stating "haven’t met him yet, but I’m eager to meet him before we shoot. I got nothing but love and respect for him."
  • Stellan Skarsgård as Lennart Bergelin:

  • Borg vs. McEnroe Shia LaBeouf is the spitting image of John McEnroe as he begins
    A Swedish tennis player and Björn Borg's coach. This is his first role in a Swedish film since he starred in the films Arn – The Knight Templar and Arn – The Kingdom at Road's End. Skarsgård described and compared the relationship between Bergelin and Borg, to the rivaly between Mozart and Salieri in the 1984 film Amadeus, "people think that Salieri was jealous of Mozart, but I do not think that's the right word. I think it's more an utter fascination and love of the genius. And the sorrow of that you are not capable."
  • Tuva Novotny as Mariana Simionescu:
  • A Romanian tennis player and Borg's fiancée.
  • Robert Emms as Vitas Gerulaitis:
  • An American playboy and professional tennis player.

    Development

    In May, 2016, it was announced that a film about tennis rivals Björn Borg and John McEnroe was in development. It was also revealed that Danish director Janus Metz Pedersen will direct the film, from a screenplay written by Swedish writer Ronnie Sandahl. He is most known for directing the 2010 documentary film Armadillo and one episode of the HBO drama True Detective. The film will be produced by Jon Nohrstedt, who produced the Swedish animated film Bamse and the Thief City, and Fredrik Wikström Nicastro, who is most known for producing the 2010 film Easy Money. The film will be distributed by Nordisk Film in Scandinavia, and international by SF Studios.

    Casting

    Borg vs. McEnroe Game Set And Match For Janus Metz Pederson39s Borg Vs McEnroe

    In May 2016, it was announced that Sverrir Gudnason, and Shia LaBeouf were cast as Björn Borg and John McEnroe respectively. In a interview with Variety at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, LaBeouf was excited about the project and also about working with Scandinavian directors, stating the following: "yes, they make better movies. Scandinavian filmmaking is different. It’s a different pace, a different relationship between the crew — the bonds are different". In the same article, it was revealed that Stellan Skarsgård has been cast as Borg's coach Lennart Bergelin, which is his first role in a Swedish film in several years. On August 16, it was announced that Tuva Novotny and Robert Emms had joined the cast as Mariana Simionescu and Vitas Gerulaitis, respectively.

    Filming

    The filming began in August 2016, and will take place in Gothenburg, Prague, London, and Monaco. Filming took also place in Borg's hometown of Södertälje, where he grew up, and started playing tennis as a child. The production has recreated the Broadway theatre Studio 54, at a studio in Gothenburg. The tennis arena Štvanice in Prague, stands in for the Centre Court arena in Wimbledon, London, where they shot the finals of the 1980 Wimbledon Championships. Gudnason described that he felt "a huge sense of authenticity, when I [he] and Shia walked from the changing room to what supposed to look like the Centre Court arena, before hundreds of extras."

    In October, the first set photos of Sverrir Gudnason, and Shia LaBeouf as Björn Borg and John McEnroe respectively, were released.

    Release

    Borg vs. McEnroe is planned to be released in fall 2017.

    References

    Borg vs. McEnroe Wikipedia