Categories: LocalMovie News

Tobey Maguire Playing Bobby Fischer?

Maguire might have just lost a franchise character in Spider-man, but it looks like he might be playing famous chess icon, Bobby Fischer,  in the film Pawn Sacrifice.

Pawn Sacrifice follows Bobby Fischer who has to face the Russian chess champion, Boris Spassky,  in 1972, in a game filled with Cold War overtones. Basically think Rocky IV just slightly geekier (only slightly).  The film is being written by Steven Knight, who is also working on Matt Damon’s recently announced Robert F. Kennedy biopic, has apparently had the script written for Pawn Sacrifice for some time.

No doubt the film will focus more on the earlier days of Fisher before he became a recluse, and started making lots of anti-Semetic remarks, and focus more on the match. It should be a standard sports fare drama, only with less intense action. I doubt anyone wants to see a slow motion chess game.

Maguire can now concentrate on the roles ahead of him, and take what he wishes now that he is no longer contractually obligated to a huge franchise like the Spider-man series. It makes me curious to see what type of roles he will choose.

Blake Fehl

Member of the St. Louis Film Critics Association. Co-Founder of Saint Brewis and Review St. Louis. Digital Strategist by day, film/beer/hockey fanatic by night.

View Comments

  • "I doubt anyone wants to see a slow motion chess game"

    Probably because you know nothing about the game - otherwise, you would be as excited as I am about it.

    Yes, it may be slow, but also tense and intense. I have watched the best players on the scene, and I can tell you it is a very dramatic atmosphere. Much more apropiated to make a good film than most sports, believe me!

  • "No doubt the film will focus more on the earlier days of Fisher before he became a recluse, and started making lots of anti-Semetic remarks, and focus more on the match. It should be a standard sports fare drama, only with less intense action. I doubt anyone wants to see a slow motion chess game."

    As regards the "I doubt anyone wants to see a slow motion chess game." You are right - the Nascar folks won't like it and I imagine that most Trailer trash will not care for it either (I know that there is a lot of overlap between the two groups...) It may actually require some thought. For those of us who love such films we will go out and watch it - as will a lot of the people who lived through the cold war tension that defined that chess match back in 1972. I look forward to this film!
    - Chess Coach Sean.

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