‘Can We Get Rid Of This?’: Anya Taylor Joy’s Had A Blunt Reaction To The Chess Scene In The Gorge, But Something Changed Her Mind

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Although it’s still early in the year, the 2025 movie lineup is already brimming with some intriguing new productions. In our modern times, a cinema screen isn’t always necessary for enjoying these new releases, as demonstrated by Scott Derrickson’s latest film, “The Gorge.” This movie debuted today and is available to stream for Apple TV+ subscribers. We’ve been eagerly anticipating “The Gorge” ever since the first trailer dropped several months ago, but it seems that not everyone in the cast, specifically Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller, shares our enthusiasm. This is due to a subtle nod to their careers that they requested the producers to take out.

In the majority of the movie, Miles Teller’s character Levi and Anya Taylor-Joy’s character Drasa reside in seclusion on opposite sides of a huge ravine. Throughout a sequence where they attempt to amuse themselves, Levi is depicted drumming, while Drasa engages in chess. It’s worth noting that these activities remind us of earlier roles the actors had before joining this production. To prevent excessive self-referentiality, Anya Taylor-Joy attempted to have this segment removed from the film. During our conversation to celebrate the release of The Gorge, she shared this with me:

In this film, Miles handles the drums while I engage in chess. When I agreed to the movie, I remember thinking, ‘Could we possibly remove that?’ However, our suggestion was overruled, but since it turned out to be well-received by audiences, we were content with being overruled. As I sat at the chessboard, I felt a sense of familiarity, as if I had been there before.

The project she mentioned is the 2020 Netflix series “The Queen’s Gambit,” which chronicled Anya Taylor-Joy’s character, Beth Harmon, on her path to chess grandmastership. The show garnered significant success for Netflix and earned Anya Taylor-Joy a Golden Globe for her portrayal. It’s widely regarded as one of her most renowned roles, so it’s no surprise that when she plays chess in “The Gorge,” viewers may connect the dots.

Much like Miles Teller, who made a striking impression with his drumming skills in the 2014 movie “Whiplash”, is also associated with a standout performance. Damien Chazelle’s debut film, which was released over a decade ago, continues to stir up debates, with some believing it deserved the Best Picture award at the Academy Awards and others vehemently opposed to voting for it. Regardless of one’s stance, it remains a memorable role for Miles Teller. In his own words about playing drums in “The Gorge”, he said:

It’s like a little wink.

In the end, it appears they’re content that they didn’t prevail in their dispute over eliminating the “wink” with their producers, despite my discussion with them possibly being the very topic they wanted to steer clear of.

I’m thrilled to recommend “The Gorge,” a chilling love story directed by Scott Derrickson, renowned for his work on films like “Doctor Strange” and the upcoming sequel to “The Black Phone.” As a movie enthusiast, I can assure you that this horror mastermind has crafted a deliciously dark tale that’s not to be missed. Catch it now exclusively on Apple TV+! For all the latest updates on the 2025 movie releases, stay tuned to TopMob for the most recent news and insights.

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2025-02-15 05:37