Paramount has acquired an untitled film project built around the the 8-year-old chess prodigy whose refugee family had been living at a homeless shelter when he became the 2019 New York State Chess Champion.
Tanitoluwa Adewumi, or Tani, won first place for his age group earlier this year at the competition after only learning chess two years prior. His family His family moved to the U.S. after fleeing the extremist group Boko Haram in Nigeria and had been living in a homeless shelter.
The story of the Adewumi family will be published in three books set for spring 2020 releases from W Publishing. The script will be sourced from the books.
The movie’s producers are Day Zero Productions’ Trevor Noah and Haroon Saleem, State Street Pictures’ George Tillman Jr. and Bob Teitel, and Mainstay Entertainment’s Norman Aladjem, Deadline reports.
“It’s a story of love, peace, community and faith and the lengths parents will go to bring their family to safety and provide them a better life,” according to Deadline.
After his win, a GoFundMe raised over $160,000, allowing the family to move into a new home.
We can’t wait to see it!