Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon will be paid a career-best $8 million to star in an Intermedia drama set in the world of professional women's tennis. While the film doesn't yet have a title or director, Intermedia is gunning to start production by early May.
Penned by Bruce Miller, pic stars Witherspoon as a former phenom whose intensity led her to lose her composure at the U.S. Open. At age 24 she is considered washed up, and is working as the resident pro at a tennis club teaching rich people to swing a racket. She then becomes aligned with an Anna Kournikova-type athlete who has beauty and endorsements, but doesn't have the intensity to win major tournaments.
The film will be produced by TEG and Type A Prods., with Witherspoon, Evelyn O'Neill and Cheryl Stanley producing. Witherspoon's ascension in the salary ranks has been swift since she starred in the summer hit "Legally Blonde," and moved from $1 million per film to a $5 million payday for "Sweet Home Alabama," the Andy Tennant-directed Touchstone film that Witherspoon wrapped this week.
Witherspoon is also producing with Marc Platt the sequel to "Legally Blonde," though she hasn't yet committed to reprising her role. Eve Ahlert and Dennis Drake are scripting the sequel. Her WMA reps are close to locking her into the $8 million pact.
Witherspoon and husband Ryan Phillippe are also set to star and produce "The Flying Smiths," a script by George Wing that took root at Working Title. Both that film and the tennis drama are out to directors, and the fastest one to come together is the one Witherspoon will do first.
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