Following the success of “The Curse”, Emma Stone and Nathan Fielder are reteaming with A24 for chess drama titled “Checkmate”. It will be based on a book proposal by Ben Mezrich. Oscar winner Emma Stone will star in the film while Fielder will direct. Stone will also produce the film with her husband and partner Dave McCary under their Fruit Tree banner. A24 will distribute.

Emma Stone is coming off of her second Oscar win for Best Actress with “Poor Things”. She also recently starred with Fielder and Benny Safdie on Showtimes’ “The Curse”. as of now only Emma is attached to star in the film, additional casting news will come soon once the studios hammer out the deal with talents.

Premise: The story centers on what has been described as the “biggest scandal in the history of chess”, following the controversial 2022 head-to-head match between Grandmasters Magnus Carlsen — then world champion, and Hans Neimann, during which Magnus accused Neimann of cheating following his defeat.

The studio won the rights to the hot feature package “Checkmate” in a seven-figure deal, based on a 12 page book proposal by author Ben Mezrich, whose previous works were adapted into “The Social Network” and “Dumb Money”.

The studio nabbed the rights to the unpublished book in a competitive situation. A24, operating on it’s new mandate to act aggressively in the pursuit of projects, just outplayed major Hollywood studios and streamers in order to pick up “Checkmate”.

In true Mezrich fashion, Checkmate sees the author tackling and esoteric and true life whose story may still be developing. Per the package, the story is not only about the rivalry and the scandal, but the macro backdrop is the rise of a billion-dollar chess industry.

The sale of Checkmate had a unique approach compared to spec or packages that came before. The book proposal, all 12-pages of it, attached a different talent and producers that was then sent out to different studios and streamers. “territories” as it were.

Ron Howard was attached to direct and “Air” scribe Alex Convery headlined a package that was sent to Amazon. for example, Netflix and Apple had one with Welsh actor Taron Egerton (The Kingsmen) attached to star. “Harry Potter” producer David Heyman was involved in a package that went to Warner Bros.

Offers were in the process of being made by the streamers and a studio when A24 dove in with what sources say was an offer that guaranteed seven figures, and came in with a 30 minutes timer. It was an offer that was swiftly accepted.

According to a THR insider; who said the deal left executives and agents’ head spinning. “I’ve never seen A24 do that before”.

The new movie builds on Stone, Fielder and A24’s successful collaboration on the Showtime series “The Curse”, a dark dramedy which was so wildly audacious, it had to be seen to be believed. The series was a major contender at the Emmys this year. Even Christopher Nolan stated he was a fanboy of the unpredictable and unique series.

“Checkmate” is in development and no release date has been set by A24 yet.

‘Checkmate’ By Nathan Fielder.

‘The Beatles*’ By Sam Mendes.

‘The Roses’ By Jay Roach.