Sebastian Stan is set to star in the forthcoming ‘I, Tonya’ biopic.
The ‘Captain America: Civil War’ actor has agreed to play Jeff Gillooly – the ex-husband of the titular character – opposite Margot Robbie, who will portray the lead, in the blockbuster based on figure skater Tonya Harding, according to Variety.com.
‘I, Tonya’ will document one of the most infamous scandals in sporting history as it follows the true story of Tonya and her husband when they plotted to attack her rival Nancy Kerrigan before the US Figure Skating Championships in 1994.
The conniving couple secretly hired a thug to break Nancy’s leg so that she had no choice but to pull out of the then-upcoming Winter Olympics but, despite her injuries, the pair went on to compete against one another in highly publicised sporting event.
Nancy remarkably won the silver medal in the Games and, after details of the crime – known as The Whack Heard Round the World due to the fact she was clubbed around the knee with a baton – came to light, Tonya was dished out a sporting lifetime ban.
Her husband Jeff, on the other hand, was handed a two-year prison sentence.
As well as her lead role in the blockbuster, Robbie will help produce the film alongside her boyfriend Tom Ackerley, while Craig Gillespie will direct based on a screenplay penned by Steven Rogers.
Filming for ‘I, Tonya’ is expected to kick off in January.
Sebastian Stan to star in I, Tonya
