Joey King Eyed for Lead Role in Natasha Lyonne's Upcoming Film 'Bambo'

EXCLUSIVE: Emmy, SAG and Golden Globe nominee Joey King is in talks to star in Bambo, the upcoming film written and to be directed by Natasha Lyonne, sources tell Deadline. Reps for King and Lyonne couldn’t be reached for comment. Should the deal make, King would play the title role of Sophie “Bambo” Braverman. The story is set in the ’80s and follows a Brooklyn-born boxing-promoter father as he tries and fails to become the next Don King and takes his kid daughter along for the hurly burly ride of tax evasion, cocaine, race cars, lost dreams, and heartbreak. More from Deadline How To Watch The SAG Awards Nominations Wednesday; Joey King And Cooper Koch To Present Annette Bening, Kerry Washington, Kate Winslet Among Recipients Of 2024 WIF Honors 'Uglies' Star And Producer Joey King Calls Film A 'Nod To My Younger Self' Short for Baby Rambo, “Bambo” is the nickname given to Sophie by her boxing promoter father, Gideon. Production on Bambo is set to begin this summer, with Lyonne producing through her Animal Pictures banner with Max Ferguson alongside Craig Mazin for Word Games, Jason Weinberg and Sarah Sarandos. King earned Emmy, SAG, Golden Globe, and Critics Choice nominations for her portrayal of Gypsy Rose Blanchard in Hulu’s true-crime series The Act. Also known for her work in projects like Hulu’s We Were the Lucky Ones and A Family Affair at Netflix, she’ll next be seen starring opposite Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock in Practical Magic 2. She is repped by WME and Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Recently nominated for both a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award for Peacock’s Poker Face, Lyonne announced Bambo a month ago. Upcoming, she’s also co-creating and co-starring in Sky’s retro comedy Force & Majeure alongside Matt Berry. She’s additionally set to direct the film Uncanny Valley produced by Asteria Film Co., the hybrid AI studio Lyonne co-founded earlier this year, and will next appear in the third and final season of HBO’s Euphoria, as well as Taika Waititi’s Klara and the Sun. She is repped by Ocean Avenue and CAA, as well as attorneys James Adams and Scott Winston. Best of Deadline 2026 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Oscars, Guilds, Grammys, Tonys & More Men of Steel: Every Actor Who Has Played Superman - Photo Gallery 'Michael' Cast: Who's Who In The Michael Jackson Biopic