Anya Taylor-Joy is finally back — but not as Beth Harmon.
Her The Queen’s Gambit follow-up has the same intensity fans craved, and it just might be the next-best thing to a Season 2 comeback.
With the official Season 2 release date now confirmed, this gripping new chapter promises obsession, genius, and a performance that could outshine her iconic Beth.

👉 Fans are counting down the days — will she surpass the role that made her a legend?

Lucky is 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 to see Taylor-Joy as another complex leading character in Lucky, 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 Lucky is 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 (via Apple TV+ Press). This means that Taylor-Joy will get to step back into a very similar role to Beth Harmon.

Like Lucky, Beth Harmon is similarly flawed and complex, which is what made viewers so drawn to her story in The 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 in Lucky too.

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 film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and before that, as the voice of Princess Peach in The 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, like Gone Girl, Big Little Lies, Where the Crawdads Sing, and The 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, Lucky is 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, like Gone Girl, Big Little Lies, Where the Crawdads Sing, and The 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 until Lucky hits Apple TV+ in 2025.