Roger Federer called it Hollywood gold and if a young screenwriter has his way, the Marcus Willis story might just be hitting our cinema screens before long.
The run of the 25-year-old Briton, a part-time coach ranked No.772 who was convinced to carry on playing the game by his girlfriend, captured the imagination in week one at Wimbledon.
Having won through six qualifying rounds to make the main draw, he beat world No.54 Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania before enjoying the big stage against the seven-times champion Federer in round two.
And it seems his story has captured attention everywhere, with Andy James, a promising young Australian screen-writer and film-maker, now headed to California to pitch the story as a film to executives in Hollywood.
“I read a story about him qualifying for Wimbledon and getting through to the first round,” James told Wimbledon.com. “Then when I read about his girlfriend giving him the talk (about not giving it all up), then I was really hoping he’d win his first round and he did. Then I knew it had to be a film.”
Willis was considering moving to Philadelphia to be a coach until he met Jennifer Bate, a dentist, who convinced him to give tennis another go.
James has made a video pitch on YouTube called "Break Point" and hopes to have it made in time for next year’s Wimbledon.
What a fun match to be part of. Thanks @Willbomb90 for the moments. Energy on center court was #willbombisonfire
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) June 30, 2016
“Tennis is a hard sport to (make on film) but the characters are so good and the love story is so strong,” he said. “I’m a big Rocky fan and for me this is a little like Rocky. For him to get through and then play Roger Federer, it was like manna from heaven.
“My gut feeling is that Federer would be happy to be in it, perhaps to shoot some scenes and make sure the tennis looked good.”
The Willis story has been likened to the film, Wimbledon, with Paul Bettany and Kirsten Dunst, but James said it is different.
“I think it’s such an incredible story,” he said. “I think it’s different because that’s about someone who had it all and then lost it, and got it back. Marcus’s story is one we can all identify with more.
“It’s a bit like Goodwill Hunting. Swap mathematics for tennis and you have a tennis Goodwill Hunting.”
Federer told Wimbledon.com’s “If” series of videos that he would like Matt Damon to play him if ever there was a film made of his life.
James said he would like the role of Willis to be played by a little-known actor, “so this can be their moment”.
A leading London casting director told Wimbledon.com that someone like Rafe Spall, Dan Stevens or even James Corden could fit the bill to play the left-hander, who says he has lost 25kgs in recent years.
If it’s an unknown, then Craig Roberts, who plays a tennis coach in the TV series “Red Oaks” or Will Poulter, might be names to look out for. James said there was room for a role for Willis himself.
“I would love a cameo from Marcus,” he said. “I’m still waiting to hear back from him on Facebook so hopefully he will do it.”
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