Apple TV+ recently announced the new series,Lucky, starringAnya Taylor-Joy, and it’s the perfect follow-up for the actress afterThe Queen’s Gambit. Though Taylor-Joy had already reached a wide level of fame prior to starring inThe Queen’s Gambit, her portrayal of Beth Harmonbrought her even more acclaim.The Queen’s Gambitwon 11 Emmy Awards, and Taylor-Joy won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a miniseries. Though Taylor-Joy may not be reappearing as Beth Harmon, her new role in theApple TV+ showis definitely something for audiences to get excited about.
Luckyis based on the book of the same name by Marissa Stapley, and it follows the main character, Lucky Armstrong. Lucky is a con artist and a thief who happens to purchase a winning lottery ticket. The catch is that if she collects the winnings, her criminal past will catch up with her, and she will be arrested. The book also focuses on Lucky’s relationships and how she deals with her past, and it would make sense for the series to keep this same focus. This means audiences will get tosee Taylor-Joy as another complex leading character inLucky, similar to Beth Harmon.
Anya Taylor-Joy’s Lucky Character Is Similar In Spirit To Beth Harmon
Both Characters Are Complex But Likable
Based on her portrayal in the book,Taylor-Joy’s character Luckyis a flawed woman with a troubled past, but she is lovable anyway. Lucky attempts to make sense of her situation in the best ways she can while trying to find a way to leave her crimes and family troubles in the past (viaApple TV+ Press). This means thatTaylor-Joy will get to step back into a very similar role to Beth Harmon.
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Like Lucky, Beth Harmon is similarly flawed and complex, which is what made viewers so drawn to her story inThe Queen’s Gambit. Despite her flaws and her struggles, audiences wanted to see Beth succeed both at chess and in her attempts to find friends and family. In their respective books, Beth and Lucky are already interesting characters, but it is Anya Taylor-Joy’s performance that influences how audiences will perceive them. Like her portrayal of Beth Harmon, her talent at creating nuanced emotional responses will definitely be advantageous in her role inLuckytoo.
Why Anya Taylor-Joy’s First TV Show Since The Queen’s Gambit Is So Exciting
Her Talent Will Shine Through As The Main Character Lucky
Anya Taylor-Joy’s recent role in the action filmFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagaand before that, as the voice of Princess Peach inThe Super Mario Bros. Movie,were certainly exciting and entertaining, but Taylor-Joy also thrives in roles that allow her to showcase the complex emotions of her characters. Thus, roles like Beth Harmon and the upcoming role of Lucky are perfect for Anya Taylor-Joy because, while the characters may not be “good” in the most straightforward sense, they are still characters that audiences want to root for.
With the success of Hello Sunshine’s previous shows and movies, likeGone Girl, Big Little Lies, Where the Crawdads Sing, andThe Morning Show, Anya Taylor-Joy’s return to television is looking very promising.
Beyond Anya Taylor-Joy’s role as Lucky in the new series,Luckyis also exciting because it could be the next successful show from Reese Witherspoon and her company Hello Sunshine, which is known for seeking out projects that center the stories of women. With the success of Hello Sunshine’s previous shows and movies, likeGone Girl, Big Little Lies, Where the Crawdads Sing, andThe Morning Show,Anya Taylor-Joy’s return to television is looking very promising. Though there are still plenty of questions surrounding Taylor-Joy’s next project, audiences will just have to wait untilLuckyhits Apple TV+ in 2025.
The Queen’s Gambit
Cast
Based on the novel by Walter Tevis, the Netflix limited series drama The Queen’s Gambit is a coming-of-age story that explores the actual cost of genius. Abandoned and entrusted to a Kentucky orphanage in the late 1950s, a young Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) discovers an astonishing talent for chess. Haunted by her personal demons and fueled by a cocktail of narcotics and obsession, Beth transforms into an impressively skilled and glamorous outcast, determined to conquer the traditional boundaries established in the male-dominated world of competitive chess.
