Vehicle England Re -match The 1997 match between the World Chess Champion, Gary Kasparov and IBM Super Computer Deep Blue was rebuilt. Christian Cook played the Russian Grandmaster in a six-part series.
The role called for intensive research and provided insight. “I learned that I am not very good in chess,” Christians say laughing. Speaking on a video call from London, Christian says he saw the documentaries and read books by Kasparov in preparing his role.
“With that material and script, I began to understand who he was as a person. Single-mind, drive, ambition and tenacity were some of the adjectives that came to mind on thinking about Kasparov.”
The 37 -year -old actor says Kasparov’s intense attention and precision were compelling and challenging. “When you are playing something focused as chess, you have to focus especially on the board, the board is on the table, and on your opposite person sitting on the person.”
That, Christian said that there is a practical line of vision. “You are not going here and there, you are not interacting with props or people. This is a spontaneous result in a specific type of focus, which is in the real life of a chess player. I just tried to express that intensity.”
For chess scenes, Christian says he worked with chess master Malcolm Payenin in England and a Hungarian Grandmaster who was on the set every day.
Underdeveloped
Re -match Refruiting an important moment in the history of AI. “This was the precipitation of this huge change. Now, 30 years later, we are standing on the teachings of another big leap. Human not knew what they were doing back with personal computing and internet arrival. The digital age was just taking shape, and now AI is becoming part of people’s lives.”
The present is parallel to the moment, Christian says. “It’s going to be interesting to try and get a grip on how we want technology to affect our life vs we want to remain the same.”
The story of Kasparov is both the story of a caution and the celebration of human ambition, Christians say. “It is incredible what a person can achieve when playing against a computer that can do 200 million. A second. It is a celebration that the human mind is capable of doing, but in addition, a precautionary story as Kasparov was finally beaten by a computer. I don’t know that we will not work against it, but we can work with it.
Scare and motivate
It is always intimidating to play the role of a real person, says Christian. “It also provides inspiration to do buckle and come with him. Sometimes what is intimidating us is what makes us drive and it was true for Gary. He was probably afraid of the possibility of being better than the possibility of a computer. But it is what is the one who inspires him to challenge.”
Playing Kasparov, reminded the Christian how hard to do to be on top. “Kasparov worked very hard, and did a lot of research. It’s not all about natural ability. It’s about how hard you do and hours that you do good in something. It is true of every discipline.”
Christian Cook as Gary Kasparov in ‘Remach’ | Photo Credit: Lionsgate Play
Detailed analysis
Shooting of chess game was a real challenge, says Christian. “You are sitting on a chair for 12 to 13 hours a day as you are playing chess. It is mentally tired as an actor, because you cannot re -activate yourself by getting up and interacting with others. Physical views may be less tired, something may have some tiredness. Some tiredness can be done in a way. There is some tiredness about sitting on a chair and paying attention to your very small, specific points.”
You also have to communicate a lot as an actor, Christians say, without much. “You are playing chess, and will have to tell how each step is impressing you as an artist. It is quite ala and specific.”
Too much or less
The director, John Ingram wrote voiceover in the script, shown to show Kasparov, which he was doing immediately. “The audience wanted the audience to understand like a mathematics in his brain. I was a little concerned about it. Voice over is a delicate thing in the film, it either works or doesn’t do it. You are giving a lot of more to the audience and can protect.”
Christian raised his concerns about the voice with Ingram. “He listened to me for about 20 minutes, and then showed me this clip a beautiful Mind Where Russell Crow is on the chalkboard, and on this voice, in which the words are combined in each other. And he said, “How is this going to happen.” It kept me easily. ,
Although Re -match More than chess is about, passion, inheritance and control, do not think of Christian subjects. “As an actor, you are thinking of practical, tangible things like writing, or if the story works structurally, if the character is three dimensions.”
Filmed in Montreal and Budapest, which is one of the favorite cities of Christians. “I filmed there many times. It is good to return to a city you love.” If he can ask Kasparov a question, Christian laughs and says he will ask, ‘Do you think I have done a good job?’ ,
Remach is currently streaming on Lionsgate Play
Published – July 28, 2025 04:00 pm IST
