11-5-2009

Reese Witherspoon will represent USA Softball

Softball fans have been hearing the buzz and rumors of a Hollywood movie starring Reese Witherspoon for several months now.  Movie producers have not released many details about the film to the public yet, however, shooting for the film finished up yesterday in Los Angeles after completing the final softball scene.  Witherspoon's publicists have released only a few photos to the public as a bit of a teaser.

The romantic comedy is being directed by James L. Brooks, and features Owen Wilson, a MLB player with the Washington Nationals, and Reese Witherspoon, a Team USA Olympic softball player.  In addition to Witherspoon and Wilson, Paul Rudd and Jack Nicholson are a part of the star-filled cast.

UCLA's legendary former Head Softball Coach, Sue Enquist, has been involved from the beginning and was hired by the production company to serve as the softball consultant.  Part of Coach Enquist's challenge from the beginning, was to surround Reese Witherspoon's character with legitimate teammates and fill the cast of Team USA's opponents.  Enquist also played a role in determining the choreography of the softball scenes.  Her goal was to portray the highest level of play possible for softball's appearance on the big screen, all while meeting the unique requests of Hollywood directors.

About 30 softball players are part of the cast in various scenes.  Players from the National Pro Fastpitch league, the PFX Tour, and local college softball graduates will be featured throughout the scenes.  Many are members of the opposing teams in the movie, however, Team USA will be represented with several, actual Olympians.  At the request of the producers, we have agreed to not release the full list of the softball cast yet.  We will provide more information as we are given permission.

There is high excitement in the softball world about the movie, which is still untitled, but we will have to be patient as the movie is not due out until late 2010.

Credit: Splash News Online Photo from www.People.com