Challengers starring Zendaya hits the screens on April 26 and is paving the way with a new trailer. The film was initially set to release in 2023 but was pushed back due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes. This is just one of two major Zendaya pictures arriving this spring, first with Dune: Part Two in March. There’s been no question about her star power for quite some time now, but the doubleheader speaks to her gradual rise as an actress. Directed by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name), the film seems poised to capture his signature visual energy.
Aided by a score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, the film depicts the drama of three athletes. The competition looms outside of tennis, though, as the trailer showcases the drama between the three main characters, the two men vying for Zendaya’s Tashi. Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor are two actors also on the rise, with Faist a particular standout in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. The talent behind and in front of the camera creates a perfect storm with a refreshing, original story anchoring it.
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What is Challengers About
From visionary filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, Challengers stars Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach and a force of nature who makes no apologies for her game on and off the court. Married to a champion on a losing streak (Mike Faist), Tashi’s strategy for her husband’s redemption takes a surprising turn when he must face off against the washed-up Patrick (Josh O’Connor) – his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend. As their pasts and presents collide, and tensions run high, Tashi must ask herself, what will it cost to win.
Cast & Crew
- Zendaya
- Josh O’Connor (The Crown)
- Mike Faist (West Side Story)
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Writer: Justin Kuritzkes
Produced by: Amy Pascal, Luca Guadagnino, Zendaya, Rachel O’Connor
Executive Producers: Bernard Bellew, Lorenzo Mieli, Kevin Ulrich
Release Date
In theaters April 26
