Trevor Noah set to produce film based on Nigerian chess prodigy

Tanitoluwa Adewunmi’s rags to riches story will be produced under Noah’s Day Zero Productions company

PICTURED: Trevor Noah

TELEVISION HOST and comedian Trevor Noah is set to produce an incredible rags to riches story based on eight-year-old Nigerian Tanitoluwa “Tani” Adewumi.

Adewumi is a naturally gifted chess player, who went from homelessness to becoming an international chess champion. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, prior to the competition, he had only been playing chess for years. Shortly after, he took the crown as the New York State Scholastic Chess Championship in 2018.

Deadline reports that Noah will produce the film under his production company Day Zero Productions, alongside business partner Haroon Salem. The film’s script is being adapted from trio of books on the family, which will be released through HarperCollins’ W Publishing next spring.

The plot of the film centres around the Adewmi’s family and their moving story of seeking asylum in New York, but falling into a downward spiral of homelessness. The movie highlights the lengths his parents go to keep their family afloat. 

The family’s touching story and Adewumi’s success quickly gained traction across social media, and they received more than $250,000 in donations through GoFundMe.

Thanks to the support from the public they were able to secure permanent housing. 

The release date for the upcoming flick has yet to be confirmed.

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