Latest news with #Rematch
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Disney+ Rematch star admits he thought 'ridiculous' character trait was too much
Christian Cooke stars in Disney+'s new chess drama Rematch as real-life grandmaster Garry Kasparov Rematch lead Christian Cooke underwent extensive physical and mental training for his role as chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov in the enthralling new series now streaming on Disney+. Despite this, he confessed to initially resisting a distinctive trait of Kasparov's, which audiences will notice recurring throughout the captivating six-part run. First aired in France last year, the series has finally arrived for UK viewers eager to witness the tense and true tale of Russian genius Kasparov challenging IBM's supercomputer Deep Blue in 1997 chess bouts. Kasparov's commitment to fitness is consistently depicted in the drama, with scenes showing him breaking from chess strategising to perform push-ups in his hotel room - a frequent sight each episode. The star revealed in a chat with Express Online: "I kind of fought back against it initially", reports the Express. "I initially thought it was a bit ridiculous, right? I'm not afraid to say that." However, after discussions with Rematch's co-creator Yan England, Cooke acknowledged the physicality was aptly chosen for his character and began to see the reasoning behind it. Cooke elaborated: "But, the thing is, Garry was very fit and he was the first chess grandmaster to really approach it like an athlete. "He was very fit, he ran a lot, he did a lot of push-ups. Approaching a match, he was very strict about his diet and his training. And so, now there is this accepted thing of 'healthy body, healthy mind'. "I don't know if chess players were really putting much thought behind that in the '90s and before that as well, but he'd been doing that in the '80s, since before he was world champion." Kasparov's legacy isn't just about his iconic matches against the machine. The series introduces viewers to a host of chess legends Kasparov defeated, including the Russian prodigy Anatoly Karpov (portrayed by Szabolcs Ruszina). Cooke highlights how the series' flashbacks capture Kasparov's belief in the importance of physical fitness alongside mental agility, especially during gruelling tournaments. "His match with Karpov, when he won the world championship, it went on for five months," Cooke recounts. "It's psychological and you have to be really fit to endure that. If you're sat at a computer and you work for10 hoursa day, writing or whatever, you're knackered. And it's that times 100, I think. "So, I said to Yan, 'Look, I'm going to trust you with this, but it feels a bit ridiculous to me'. But I do think it works. "It's sort of his little quirk, so that's one of those leaps of faith you take. I'm going to do this and hope I don't get egg on my face." The team behind Rematch can breathe a sigh of relief, as the show has garnered glowing reviews from both fans and critics alike. With its UK streaming debut, even more viewers are set to be captivated by the enthralling drama based on fascinating real events.
Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Rematch review — when Garry Kasparov met his match against Deep Blue
The chess master's face frowns over the board: his pieces are dwindling. Calculations click away within the boxy computer sitting opposite him. The master's thoughts whir: 'It wants to take my pawn on B7 and put the Queen on D5. But when I push to F3 it will weaken its King.' But then … his face darkens. In his complacency he has underestimated the machine. He resigns. The man is Garry Kasparov, the machine Deep Blue and the scene comes early on in Rematch (Disney+), a year before the iconic 1997 tussle that lends itself to the title. This is an irresistible prospect. As The Queen's Gambit showed a few years ago, two giant minds competing intensely over a chess board makes for weirdly compelling
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Disney+ premieres 'breathtaking' drama rivaling Netflix's show The Queen's Gambit as obsessed viewers hail the new series a 'masterpiece'
Disney+ has premiered a 'breathtaking' drama that rivals Netflix 's show The Queen's Gambit - and viewers have already hailed it as a 'masterpiece'. The six-part thriller series, titled Rematch, stars Christian Cooke, Sarah Bolger and Tom Austen, amongst others. It first aired last September but launched on the streaming platform today (May 21) and delves into the historic tale of chess champion Garry Kasparov when he faced Deep Blue, a computer. The new series shares similarities with The Queen's Gambit on Netflix, which first aired in 2020. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy as chess prodigy Beth Harmon, it tells the story of her quest to become a world champion. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. It first aired last September but launched on the streaming platform today (May 21) and delves into the historic tale of chess champion Garry Kasparov when he faced Deep Blue, a computer Since Rematch's release last September, it has attracted raving reviews from fans on Google. One fan said: 'A good series that keeps you on the edge of your seat, good acting, especially Kasparov's performance, it made me want to play chess again.' Another added: 'Absolutely amazing. Gripping and exciting until the very last second.' 'As exciting as a crime thriller. Great class,' someone else chimed in. One viewer said: 'Excellent suspense even though we know the outcome of the story.' Rematch has a respectable 7.3/10 score on IMDb and some fans left their thoughts on the review site. One called it a 'masterpiece' while someone else wrote, 'Have fun watching, it is breathtaking all along the 6 episodes'. Though not everyone has been impressed and one viewer on Google penned: 'Terribly boring, slow and overacted. I couldn't last more than 2 episodes....' Another show on Disney+ has caused fans to confess that they've binged the 'best series of the year' after it landed on the streaming service earlier this year. Comedy series Mid-Century Modern follows the lives of three gay best friends who live in Palm Springs. The 10-part series landed on Disney+ on March 28 and on Hulu in the US on the same day. Actor Nathan Lane, 69, plays Bunny Schneiderman, Matt Bomer, 47, has taken on the role of Jerry Frank and Nathan Lee Graham, 56, is Arthur Broussard on the show. And those who have watched the programme have loved it and it's received an impressive 86 percent on review website Rotten Tomatoes.
Metro
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Disney Plus quietly adds 'masterpiece' compared to one of Netflix's best shows
Disney Plus has added a new show to its catalogue that will be catnip for fans of Netflix's smash hit The Queen's Gambit. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, the chess drama was one of Netflix's biggest hits of 2020, when streaming numbers soared during the global coronavirus lockdowns. Now, the six-part series Rematch similarly dives into the cat-and-mouse world of professional chess. The 1997-set psychological thriller follows the historic chess match between Garry Kasparov, played by Christian Cooke, and an IBM supercomputer. The true story tale of this human versus machine battle feels incredibly timely amid ongoing discussions about how artificial intelligence is changing our lives. The show is set at the World Chess Championship, during a time when these technological advances first started to be felt, with the arrival of the internet and the advent of platforms like Google and Facebook. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. Rather than being inspired by the zeitgeisty popularity of chess with The Queen's Gambit, the creators of Rematch had been kicking the idea around years before and saw that the Netflix hit offered an opportunity to get it made. Rematch co-writer Yan England told Deadline: 'Suddenly, people from around the world were playing chess. We knew it would be a while before our show would come out, as we couldn't shoot in the pandemic, so now the world had been reintroduced to chess and we didn't have to explain what it was.' The show first aired on Arte in Europe and has now arrived on Disney Plus for viewers in the UK, several of whom are already raving about the drama. Sharing their reviews on IMDb, one fan praised the show as a 'masterpiece'. @J_p_bedard wrote: 'This is [a] high class series. This is where artificial intelligence all started and look where we are at today. Technology overtaking jobs, space, duties, internet and most of our daily chores. 'Worth a 9/10 and up for those who like or don't like chess you will appreciate it. I watched the 6 in a row!!!' More Trending @Ms-jr similarly raved about the show, writing: 'Rematch brings history to life by presenting pivotal moments in chess and AI development without relying on excessive drama. The characters are carefully crafted, making the series accessible even to viewers unfamiliar with chess history, while also providing a treasure trove of details for enthusiasts.' View More » Rematch is available to stream on Disney Plus. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Netflix fans are binge-watching 'unbelievable' thriller soaring up the chart MORE: ITV to finally air 'ridiculous' series that was pulled from screens 2 years ago MORE: Netflix star reveals the brutal way she was told her acting wasn't good enough
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Disney+ drops its ‘gripping' answer to The Queen's Gambit
Don't let this captivating series based on an unbelievable true story fly under the radar Disney+ is now streaming a six-part series that's absolutely essential for any fans of Netflix 's hit drama The Queen's Gambit. The series starring Anya Taylor-Joy as chess prodigy Beth Harmon captivated millions of viewers during the pandemic and spurred a huge boom in the classic game's popularity. Now, the rival streamer has acquired a new drama that originally aired in France last year about an equally gripping chess tournament. The biggest difference? This one's based on a true story. Starring Christian Cooke as Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov, this addictive miniseries follows his historic rematch against the first computer to win a game of chess, IBM's groundbreaking Deep Blue. Speaking to Express Online about his approach to playing Kasparov, British star Cooke teased the intensity of this incredible true story. 'I equated it to boxing,' he explained. 'It really is the same in that it's one person against another opponent and that's the kind of mindset. 'With each move you're kind of sussing your opponent out and trying to lure them in and then jabbing and jabbing and then you go for the kill. 'That was helpful for me, in terms of how he thinks about his opponents and how he might stare them down over the board. Or after a game, you shake hands like boxers who embrace afterwards.' Elaborating on the challenge on portraying the real life Russian chess pro, Cooke added: 'I didn't want to imitate Garry in any way but I wanted to capture who he was, which is this very focused person with a healthy amount of aggression to succeed and win. 'Or maybe unhealthy, occasionally, but that's just what it takes to be the top of any discipline, on the top of the tree. You do have to sacrifice a lot and you have to be slightly cutthroat and apologetic and driven, and that's how he was.' Disney+ is streaming the series from today (Wednesday, 21st May), but it's already scored rave reviews from fans who caught the initial release in France last year. A five-star review on Google read: 'Absolutely amazing. Gripping and exciting until the very last second.' Another raved: 'Captivating. I watched all 6 episodes in one go.' Someone else gave an ecstatic reaction: 'It's amazing whether you like chess or not, we're 200% into it.' An enthusiastic IMDb reviewer called Rematch a 'masterpiece', claiming: 'this is [a] high class series. 'Have fun watching it is breathtaking all along the 6 episodes. Interesting high class. 'Worth a 9/10 and up for those who like or don't like chess you will appreciate it. I watched the 6 [episodes] in a row!!!' For fans of The Queen's Gambit - which is pretty much everyone with a Netflix subscription - adding Rematch to the top of your watchlist is an absolute no-brainer.
