A24, working on its new mandate to behave aggressively within the pursuit of tasks, simply outplayed the Hollywood studios and streamers with a view to decide up Checkmate, a sizzling characteristic bundle centered on a e-book proposal by Ben Mezrich, the creator whose books had been tailored into movies such The Social Community and Dumb Cash.
If offers shut, Checkmate will reteam Emma Stone with Nathan Fielder, who each adorned the newest version of The Hollywood Reporter journal and the celebrities of the Showtime collection The Curse. Fielder is hooked up to direct, whereas Stone will produce alongside together with her husband and companion Dave McCary through the duo’s Fruit Tree banner. It additionally reunites the pair with A24, which backed The Curse. Sources say the e-book deal is closing or has closed whereas the expertise offers are nonetheless being hammered out.
In true Mezrich vogue, Checkmate sees the creator tackling an esoteric and true life whose story should be growing. Per the proposal that was being circulated, the e-book will highlight the largest scandal within the historical past of chess, specializing in the generational battle between Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen and the younger dangerous boy of chess, Hans Niemann. The latter was accused of dishonest in one of many pair’s head-to-head matches, which grew to become an all-consuming scandal on the earth of chess and past. Per the bundle, the story isn’t solely concerning the rivalry and the scandal, however the macro backdrop is the rise of a billion greenback chess trade and so-called “collision of custom and innovation” within the recreation.
Hans Niemann (left) and Magnus Carlsen (proper) had been caught up in a dishonest scandal in 2022 that shocked the world of chess.
OLAF KRAAK/ANP/AFP through Getty Pictures; Marcus Brandt/image alliance through Getty Pictures
The sale of Checkmate had a seemingly antiquated Queen’s Gambit, with an outreach that hearkened to spec or bundle gross sales of yore. The e-book proposal, all 12-pages of it, hooked up totally different expertise and producers that was then despatched out to totally different studios and streamers, “territories,” because it had been.
Ron Howard was hooked up to direct and Air scribe Alex Convery headlined a bundle that went into Amazon, for instance. Netflix and Apple had one with Welsh actor Taron Egerton hooked up to star. Harry Potter producer David Heyman was concerned in a bundle that went to Warner Bros. A complete of six producers had been concerned, in response to one supply.
Gives had been within the strategy of being made by the streamers and a studio when A24 dove in with what sources say was a proposal that assured seven figures, and got here in with a half-hour timer. It was a proposal that was swiftly accepted.
“I’ve by no means seen A24 try this earlier than,” stated one insider, who stated the deal left executives and brokers’ head spinning.
“I assume A24 is competing now,” stated one other supply.
A24 has been the buzzy darling of the movie scene, making edgy horrors, dramas and documentaries all on modest budgets and attracting the good filmmakers. However the firm in latest months introduced plans to scale up, with its most up-to-date film, Civil Battle, Alex Garland’s thriller that price $55 million, a prototype of the size of film to which it desires to degree up. However it hasn’t been straightforward — one mission the corporate wished to amass was Danny Boyle’s return to the zombie style, 28 Years Later, however it was outbid. A24 was decided to flex its may on the subsequent one, if the suitable mission match their plans. Checkmate, certainly.
Mezrich is repped by CAA. Stone and Fruit Tree are repped by WME and Nameless Content material. Fielder is repped by UTA and Rise Administration.