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Zoey Deutch to Lead Netflix's 'The 99'ers' About 1999 Women's World Cup

Zoey Deutch has been cast to star in the Netflix sports drama 'The 99'ers,' where she will play U.S. soccer executive Marla Messing. The film chronicles the organization and impact of the historic 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. The project is directed by Nicole Kassell and features Emily Bader as soccer icon Mia Hamm. Production is set to begin in February, adapting Jere Longman's book about the tournament.

Key Points: Zoey Deutch Stars in Netflix's 'The 99'ers' Soccer Drama

  • Zoey Deutch cast as lead
  • True story of 1999 Women's World Cup
  • Directed by Nicole Kassell
  • Emily Bader to play Mia Hamm
2 min read

Zoey Deutch to star in sports drama 'The 99'ers'

Zoey Deutch will portray executive Marla Messing in Netflix's 'The 99'ers,' a film about the landmark 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.

"The monumental win captivated millions worldwide and forever altered the course of women's sports - The Hollywood Reporter"

Washington DC, January 28

Actor and producer Zoey Deutch has been roped in to play the lead role in 'The 99'ers', a true-life sports drama being developed by Netflix, the streaming platform announced. The film will be directed by Nicole Kassell, best known for her award-winning work on HBO's Watchmen, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Deutch will portray Marla Messing, a pioneering executive of U.S. women's soccer who played a key role in organising and overseeing the landmark 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. The tournament went on to set new benchmarks for attendance and television viewership and is widely regarded as a turning point for women's sports globally.

'The 99'ers' is adapted from journalist Jere Longman's book The Girls of Summer: The US Women's Soccer Team and How It Changed the World.

According to Netflix, The 99'ers follows the 1990s US Women's National Soccer Team who, in 1999, under the scorching summer sun and in a stadium filled with 93,000 fans, defied the odds to emerge victorious in a dramatic penalty kick shootout against China in the World Cup final. The monumental win captivated millions worldwide and forever altered the course of women's sports, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The project is being produced by Liza Chasin under her 3Dot Productions banner, along with Hayley Stool and Ross Greenburg. Messing has also joined the film as an executive producer, alongside Jill Mazursky and Krista Smith.

Actor Emily Bader, known for People We Meet on Vacation, is already on board to play football legend Mia Hamm. Shooting for the Netflix feature is scheduled to begin in February in New Jersey, as per the outlet.

The screenplay has been written by Katie Lovejoy, Dana Stevens and Peter Hedges. Deutch, meanwhile, is enjoying a strong run with her recent Sundance Film Festival outing Celebrity Sex Pass and is also set to appear in Netflix's romantic drama Voicemails for Isabelle, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Interesting choice for the lead. Zoey Deutch is talented, but I wonder if they considered an actress with more of a sports background? The story itself is powerful enough to carry the film. Looking forward to seeing how they portray the tournament's pressure.
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Aditya G
Netflix is really investing in sports dramas. Hope they do something similar for Indian sports legends one day – a film on the 1983 Cricket World Cup win or Mary Kom's journey would be fantastic. This is a step in the right direction for representation.
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Sarah B
As a football fan, I remember watching that final! The penalty shootout was nerve-wracking. It's amazing how that one event changed the game for women athletes everywhere. Can't wait to see Mia Hamm on screen.
K
Kavya N
More power to women-centric stories! 👏 We need more films that highlight the executives and organizers behind the scenes, not just the athletes. Marla Messing's role sounds crucial. Hope the screenplay does justice to the real-life drama.
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Vikram M
The director of Watchmen is involved? That's promising for the production quality. While I'm excited, I hope the film focuses on the sport and the team's struggle rather than turning into a typical Hollywood melodrama. The facts are dramatic enough.

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