The first look at Sydney Sweeney’s incredible transformation in Christy has been revealed. Directed by David Michôd, who co-wrote the script with Mirrah Foulkes, the upcoming sports biopic stars Sydney Sweeney as the titular Christy Martin, following the former professional boxer’s rise to becoming the most famous female fighter in America during the 1990s, to her attempted murder by her husband in 2010. In addition to Sydney Sweeney as Christy Martin, the cast also includes Emmy nominee Ben Foster as her husband James V. Martin alongside two-time Emmy winner Merritt Wever, Katy O’Brian (Love Lies Bleeding), Ethan Embry, Jess Gabor, Chad L. Coleman, and Tony Cavalero. Filming started in September 2024 and finished the following November, and now, the first look has been revealed. Via Vanity Fair, the first look at Sydney Sweeney’s incredible transformation in Christy has been revealed. There are a total of three images, showing Sweeney’s Christy Martin being hoisted up in the ring, sitting alongside her husband, and a behind-the-scenes photo of Sweeney and director David Michôd. See the images in the slideshow below:

Talking to the magazine, Sweeney revealed that since she wanted the fight scenes to look as authentic as possible, she and the other actors actually hit each other, leaving her with bruises and even concussions:
Every single fight you see, we are actually punching each other. We are going full force. I always believed that you would not be able to make it feel real if it’s a stunt double or if it’s faking the hits.
Foster immersed himself just as fully to portray Jim Martin, Christy’s controlling husband, whose violent outburst nearly kills her. His performance felt so disturbingly authentic that when the real Christy Martin and her partner Lisa Holewyne visited the set, they chose to keep their distance from him. Michôd says:
He is being asked to not just play, but understand and inhabit a kind of an unsavory guy. And many movie stars don’t want to do that. It can be tough.
Martin did spend time with Sweeney when she stopped by the set, an experience that the actress initially described as nerve-racking, though her nerves were eased once she saw her perform the fight scenes:
She’s cheering you on and she’s yelling, “Hit him with the hook!” as if she’s actually watching a fight. And I’m like, “Christy, you know what’s going to happen.” And she goes, “Yeah, but I’m still invested in this!” It was such a fun experience.

What This Means For Christy

Sydney Sweeney as Christy Martin

The first-look images reveal how Sydney Sweeney underwent an incredible physical transformation to play Christy Martin. For the role, Sweeney trained for three months, boxing and weightlifting for several hours a day, while also working with a nutritionist, and putting on around 30–35 pounds. While filming, Sweeney also suffered several concussions while performing the fight scenes.
Our Take On The Christy Images

Sydney Sweeney on the red carpet.
Instar

While Sydney Sweeney has received two Emmy nominations for her performances in Euphoria and The White Lotus season 1, she has yet to receive her first Oscar nomination, and Christy could be her best chance yet. She underwent an incredible physical transformation, which is generally a surefire way to garner Oscar buzz. On top of that, boxing movies have historically been great vehicles for Oscar nominations, including Sylvester Stallone for Rocky (1976), Robert De Niro for Raging Bull (1980), Will Smith for Ali (2001), Hilary Swank for Million Dollar Baby (2004), and Christian Bale for The Fighter (2010). Christy may finally be the film that secures Sweeney her first Oscar nod.

Christy

Release Date

September 5, 2025

Runtime

135 minutes

Director

David Michôd

Writers

Mirrah Foulkes

Producers

Brent Stiefel, Kerry Kohansky-Roberts, Sydney Sweeney, Teddy Schwarzman, John Friedberg, Michael Heimler, Justin Lothrop, Brad Zimmerman, David Levine