Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey is set to adapt her life story into a screenplay for a Netflix biopic, after learning screenwriting techniques and impressing agents with a script she wrote in seven days.
Ronda Rousey’s got a new title to add to her impressive list. She’s an Olympic bronze medalist, a UFC champ, and a WWE superstar. Now, she’s about to be a screenwriter.
She’s fresh off the release of her second autobiography, “Our Fight.” At 37, the retired fighter’s got plans to turn her life story into a screenplay. It’s for a Netflix biopic that’s currently in the works.
Originally, Paramount had the film rights to her story. But, a change in management at the studio caused the deal to fall through. Now, Rousey’s taking her story to Netflix.
Michelle Evans, a manager for original studio films at Netflix, is a big fan of Rousey. She championed the project. The original deal was made after Rousey’s first autobiography. Since then, she’s written a second book with her sister, Maria Burns Ortiz. It covers her UFC downfall, her history with concussions, and her time in WWE.
Deadline broke the news. Chernin Entertainment is expected to produce the project. They’re known for films like “Ford vs. Ferrari” and the upcoming “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.”
Rousey fought to write the script for her own biopic. Mark Bomback was initially hired to adapt the story into a screenplay. But Rousey wanted to do it herself.
She started working with an executive from William Morris Endeavor. They’re the same company that now owns the majority of UFC. Rousey began learning how to become a screenwriter. Over time, she got the hang of it.
She wrote the script about her life in just seven days. Her agents at WME were impressed. They tore the front page off her script before presenting it to Netflix executives. They wanted it to be a surprise who wrote it.
Netflix loved the script. They reached out to find out who the writer was. When they found out it was Rousey, they inked a deal almost immediately for the rights to the biopic.
Rousey is now the writer and producer on her own biopic. She was initially going to star in the lead role. That was the plan when she sold the rights to her story to Paramount. But, that’s changed. Rousey and the other producers are now meeting with potential candidates to play her. They’re getting closer to production.