Christian Cooke Relives Grandmaster Kasparov's Legendary Battle With AI in 'Rematch'

The historic chess event between the legendary Garry Kasparov and the IBM machine Deep Blue is reimagined and told in "Rematch."

- By Jerry Donato

Although the second showdown between the two took place three decades ago, the image and the plight the game depicted still resonate with contemporary audiences, who make sense of the roles AI (artificial intelligence) and related technologies play in their daily experience and existence.

Taking on the role of Garry in the six-part mini-series is British actor Christian Cooke, who had a recent brief virtual chat with The STAR. "Rematch" begins streaming today, July 18, on Lionsgate Play.

"I think you just, you know, read and watch as much as you can," said Christian of the preparations required to play the chess grandmaster part. "So, you're absorbing as much about the person as you can."

He watched the documentary on Garry about the latter's match against Deep Blue, and read a book the grandmaster wrote himself on his game strategies. "It's a way of understanding how his mind works," shared Christian, who also thought of and immersed himself in the circumstances and scenes presented in the script.

From there, he interpreted the character with the intention to capture the "spirit" or essence of Garry on the screen.

It's less important or not his primary concern to look, sound and move like Garry, as one could gather from his answers. The actor wanted to narrate "the drive, the ambition, the focus, the intensity, the things he (Garry) had as a being," said Christian.