Challengers is an upcoming American romantic sports comedy-drama film directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by Justin Kuritzkes. The film stars Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist. Its plot follows a Grand Slam tennis champion who signs up to compete in a challenger event against the former lover of his wife and coach.
The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on April 26, 2024 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was delayed from its initial September 15, 2023 release date, and pulled out from its slot as the opening film of the 80th Venice International Film Festival, due to the ongoing 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.
Premise
Following a losing streak, the wife and coach of a Grand Slam champion signs him up for a Challenger event where he will face off against her former lover.
Cast
Zendaya as Tashi Duncan
Josh O'Connor as Patrick
Mike Faist as Art Donaldson
Production
Development
It was announced in February 2022 that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer had landed the film, which Luca Guadagnino directed and Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist cast to star. Zendaya also served as a producer on the film. In a 2022 interview with Collider, Guadagnino cited Kuritzkes' screenplay, Amy Pascal, and Zendaya as inspirations for making the film.
Filming
Principal photography began on May 3, 2022, in Boston, where a casting call took place for local residents to audition to play tennis players, general extras, and stand-ins. In preparation for her role, Zendaya spent three months training with pro-tennis player-turned-coach Brad Gilbert. Filming occurred in and around the Back Bay and East Boston neighborhoods. Sayombhu Mukdeeprom served as cinematographer. Jonathan Anderson, creative director of Spanish luxury brand Loewe, served as costume designer. Filming wrapped on June 26, 2022.
Post-production
Guadagnino visited Zendaya on the set of Dune: Part Two in order to complete ADR for Challengers. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed the film's score, having previously worked with Guadagnino on 2022's Bones and All. Post-production was completed by April 2023.
Release
Challengers is scheduled to be released in the United States on April 26, 2024.
Previously set to be released on September 15, 2023, and before that August 11, 2023, the film was also scheduled to have its world premiere as the opening film of the 80th Venice International Film Festival, but was delayed and pulled out from the festival by Amazon MGM Studios due to the ongoing 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.
While Warner Bros. Pictures serves as the film's international distributor, the film will not receive a theatrical release in France and will instead stream on Amazon Prime Video.