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Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit could have been a Heath Ledger-directed movie – 10 behind the scenes facts about the series that saw Anya Taylor-Joy make chess cool

Netflix smash The Queen’s Gambit performed the unlikely trick of making chess cool – but how did it play out behind the scenes? Photo: Bang Showbiz
Netflix smash The Queen’s Gambit performed the unlikely trick of making chess cool – but how did it play out behind the scenes? Photo: Bang Showbiz
Netflix

Games of Thrones’ Thomas Brodie-Sangster came out of hiatus to star in the smash series, which pairs meticulously recreated chess moves – devised by long-time world No 1 Garry Kasparov – alongside Anya Taylor-Joy’s sumptuous 60s styles, inspired by chequered chessboards and actress Natalie Wood’s hair

Unless you’re living under a rock, you will have noticed that The Queen’s Gambit is currently one of the most popular shows on Netflix and has everyone and their mum poring over chessboards.

The drama is based on the 1983 Walter Tevis novel of the same name and follows troubled, brilliant chess prodigy Beth Harmon. Whether curious or convert, here are 10 behind the scenes secrets you probably didn’t know.

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Anya Taylor-Joy joined the project before there was a script

Actress Anya Taylor-Joy joined the project before there was a script.
Actress Anya Taylor-Joy joined the project before there was a script.

Anya Taylor-Joy, who plays chess genius Harmon in the miniseries, agreed to take part in co-creator Scott Frank’s project before there was even a script. As soon as he sent her a copy of Tevis’ book she was sold. She said: “I’m not a runner, but I ran to meet Scott. I was at the end of Hyde Park and I ran to meet him in Mayfair. I thought I was going to walk so I could show up and be cool, but I got too excited. I was so passionate about the character and story.”

The Queen’s Gambit was originally going to be a movie

The Queen’s Gambit was originally going to be a movie – directed by Heath Ledger.
The Queen’s Gambit was originally going to be a movie – directed by Heath Ledger.

Heath Ledger, of Brokeback Mountain and The Dark Knight fame, planned to act in and direct a film adaptation of Tevis’ book. He even contacted screenwriter Allan Scott to express his interest in making what would have been his directorial debut, before he died of an accidental overdose in January 2008.

Allan said: “‘Heath was full of ideas for the other cast, mainly from his list of acting friends. We were planning to make a movie at the end of 2008.”

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