“The Queen’s Gambit”, the story of a chess prodigy that was a streaming success for Netflix, could become a musical. Level Forward acquired the stage rights to Walter Tevis’ novel, “The Queen’s Gambit”, which served as the basis for the miniseries. Tevis also wrote “The Hustler” and “The Man Who Fell to Earth”, both of which became films and, in the case of “The Man Who Fell to Earth”, a theatrical show.
“The Queen’s Gambit” is centered on Beth Harmon, an orphan who discovers that she has a supernatural ability to move the pieces on a chess board and dominate the competition. The novel, published in 1983, follows her journey from Kentucky to Paris and Moscow, as she struggles with the addiction and prejudices of a man-centered world. Now, this journey will involve music, dance and singing, as well as pedestrians and towers.
The Netflix miniseries recently won the Golden Globe for Best Limited Television Series, Anthology Series or Film Made for Television, and for the main role of Anya Taylor-Joy. “The Queen’s Gambit” became Netflix’s most watched scripted miniseries, with over 62 million viewers in the first month.
“It is a privilege for Level Forward to take the lead in bringing ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ to the stage through the beloved and enduring art of musical theater,” said Level Forward CEO Adrienne Becker and producer Julia Dunetz. “Told through a bold and new point of view, the audience is already sharing the friendship and strength of the women who inspire history who energize and sustain Beth Harmon’s journey and her final triumph. The story is a siren song in the midst of our contemporary struggles for gender and race equality, and we look forward to moving the project forward. “
The deal was brokered on behalf of the Tevis Family Trust by Susan Schulman of the Susan Schulman Literary Agency in New York and Rachel Gould on behalf of Level Forward.
Level Forward was founded in 2018 and has produced and funded films such as “The Assistant” and the documentary “On The Record”. His stage credits include “Oklahoma!”, “What The Constitution Seans To Me” and “Slave Play”. Abigail Disney, Walt Disney’s great-niece, is one of the company’s founders.
Level Forward did not announce any major creative talent associated with the planned musical for “The Queen’s Gambit”.