New York production company Level Forward has acquired the rights to turn Walter Tevis’ novel The Queen’s Gambit into a stage musical.
The novel, released in 1983, centres on one young girl’s rise to chess stardom overcoming gender bias within the board game community.
The Netflix adaptation starring Anya Taylor-Joy as the young chess prodigy became a surprise hit, becoming the most-watched limited series in the platform’s history. It has won praise from critics and viewers alike, with the show winning a number of Golden Globe and Critics Choice awards.
The new musical will be entirely based on the original book as opposed to the television series, and is still in the very early stages of development. There is currently no release date or confirmed creative team for the production.
Level Forward CEO Adrienne Becker and producer Julia Dunetz have explained how their planned adaptation will be told through a brave and fresh perspective, saying “it is a privilege for Level Forward to lead the charge of bringing The Queen’s Gambit to the stage through the beloved and enduring craft of musical theater.
“Told through a brave and fresh point of view, audiences are already sharing in the friendship and fortitude of the story’s inspiring women who energize and sustain Beth Harmon’s journey and ultimate triumph. The story is a siren call amidst our contemporary struggles for gender and racial equity, and we’re looking forward to moving the project forward.”
Words by Kara McKune.
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Image: © Netflix