Checkmate: Queen of Katwe Poster Debuts, Full Trailer Tomorrow

Disney sports movies have, at this point, become their own sub-genre. These films are always elegantly told, deeply uplifting, and while usually based on a true story, take an unexpected angle that you’ve probably never heard of or thought about before. This is definitely the case for the next Disney sports movie, Queen of Katwe, co-produced by ESPN Films and debuting this September, which tells the story of a Ugandan chess prodigy. A brand new poster for the film has been released, along with a tease for a full-length trailer, debuting tomorrow.

The evocative poster for the film features Madina Nalwanga, who plays Phiona Mutesi, who would go on to become a Woman Candidate Master at the Master Chess Olympiads, and her “crown” of various Ugandan items which includes a chess piece. The film co-stars David Oyelowo and Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o (who can currently be heard in Jon Favreau’s amazing The Jungle Book), who debuted a tease for the film’s trailer (dropping, in full, tomorrow) on her Facebook page. 

Based on the nonfiction book The Queen of Katwe: A Story of Life, Chess, and One Extraordinary Girl’s Dream of Becoming a Grandmaster by Tim Crothers, the film is directed by Monsoon Wedding filmmaker Nira Nair, who clearly understands the importance of the film’s setting and culture, in terms of crafting an emotionally compelling film. Check back tomorrow for the full trailer for the film (out on September 23). Checkmate!