The movie comes from Luca Guadagnino
Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and West Side Story’s Mike Faist have signed up for a new movie. They will star in a romantic tennis drama named Challengers. The movie will be directed by Call Me By Your Name filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, and produced by MGM.
Story and production
Challengers tells the story of Tashi (Zendaya), a former tennis player-turned-coach. Tashi has taken her husband Art (Faist) from a mediocre player to a world-famous grand slam champion. To overcome Art’s recent losing streak, she instructs him to play a ‘Challenger’ event. A Challenger is close to the lowest level of tournament in the pro league, and used for players to reclaim their footing.
But in the event, Art faces Patrick (O’Connor), who was once a promising player, but is now equally burnt-out as him. To add to that, was Art’s former best friend and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend. This chance encounter reignites old rivalries, both on and off the tennis court.
Guagnino, Zendaya, and Amy Pascal under her Pascal Pictures banner will produce the project. The original script was written by playwright singer-turned-author Justin Kuritzkes, and appeared on the 2021 Black List. The Black List features the best non-produced scripts in Hollywood, which is later picked up by production houses.
Everyone’s recent roles
The three actors are currently creating a strong buzz in the industry. Zendaya is undoubtedly one of the most promising young actors in this generation. She recently starred in Spider-Man: No Way Home, which grossed $1.8 billion worldwide, and starred in Dune, which earned 10 Oscar nominations. She is currently in the second season of the hit HBO series, Euphoria.
O’Connor rose to fame with his Emmy-winning role of Prince Charles in The Crown. He recently starred in the drama God’s Own Country.
Faist stole the show in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, earning a BAFTA nomination. He was also nominated for a Tony for the role of Connor Murphy in the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen.
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