Ed Zwick To Direct Bobby Fischer Chess Flick 'Pawn Sacrifice' Starring Tobey Maguire

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by Kevin Jagernauth
August 15, 2012 8:21 PM
6 Comments

Well, with "The Great Gatsby" pushed back to next summer, Tobey Maguire is suddenly free of any press obligations or awards season gladhanding and it looks like he's putting his hat back into the ring of making movies. Just yesterday he signed on to lead and produce "Z For Zachariah" for "Compliance" director Craig Zobel, and now, a project that first rose to the surface a couple of years ago, has some new life.

Ed Zwick has come on board to direct "Pawn Sacrifice," which is, yes, a movie about chess. First announced in the spring of 2010, with David Fincher loosely attached to direct (it was later revealed he took a meeting, and offered some advice, but nothing more), the film was penned by Steven Knight ("Eastern Promises") and tells the story of American chess player Bobby Fischer and his 1972 victory over Russian chess champ Boris Spassky which saw him take Spassky's world champion title in a match billed as a "Cold War battle." Maguire will take the role of the eccentric Fischer, who became a grandmaster at the age of 15, but later in his career fell into seclusion, forfeited his title and fell out with the U.S. government, eventually living in exile. He briefly reappeared in 1992 to beat Spassky in a rematch.

While Zwick isn't exactly the most exciting choice to helm this movie, the material itself is captivating and fascinating as hell even if you don't know your bishop from your rook. No word yet on when this might lens, but until then, we strongly recommend watching the documentary "Bobby Fischer Against The World" where this match (and Fischer's life) is chronicled, as well as Steve Zaillian's underrated "Searching For Bobby Fischer." [Deadline]

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More: Edward Zwick, Pawn Sacrifice, Tobey Maguire

6 Comments

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John McCracken | August 16, 2012 2:19 AMReply

Love this script. Though, I can't imagine Zwick doesn't sand off the rougher edges and throws an uplifting message on it.
Glass | August 16, 2012 12:09 AMReply

I totally appreciate the American Dragon Tattoo film (so much great talent involved in all facets) but I still would rather have seen Fincher do this movie - mostly because of the script. Steven Knight is way more exciting than Steven "hm, another writing assignment, what am I adapting now?" Zaillian.
Oogle monster | August 15, 2012 10:36 PMReply

I still haven't forgiven Zwick for Love and Other Drugs... or really his entire career. Though I am a sucker for Blood Diamond.
sg31se.r | August 15, 2012 8:47 PMReply

"tells the story of American chess player Bobby Fischer and his unlikely 1972 victory over Russian chess champ Boris Spassky"

LO effing L. unlikely victory? seriously, that's a riot. you need to check your facts. fischer was a machine and his win was no surprise. nobody could hold their shit together against fischer. he would win matches with all wins, no losses, and no draws.

he kicked the world's best player's asses. white pieces, black pieces, didn't matter. if you drew against bobby you had done well.

'unlikely'. please. don't know what your source was but you should reconsider where you get your info, especially about stuff you know nothing about.
Glass | August 16, 2012 12:18 AM

Fischer was on a record tear leading up to that match, but it was still fucked. He lost three times to Spassky before and had never won against him. It wasn't a super unlikely victory, but it was far from a no-brainer...
yer | August 15, 2012 8:26 PMReply

This script is too good for a director like Zwick.