In partnership with Warner Bros. UK
Challengers, the latest film from visionary director Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name, Bones And All), is sexy, stylish and set in the intense world of professional tennis. Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist play a trio of tennis aces whose lives are intertwined both on and off court. And, as you can imagine, this very intriguing game of mixed doubles doesn’t stay “love all” for long. Here are five reasons to see Challengers in cinemas when it opens on April 26.
1. Zendaya gets to hold court
Challengers is very much a passion project for the award-winning Euphoria and Dune: Part Two actress, who also serves as one of the film’s producers. The Emmy and Golden Globe winner has described it as a more “grown-up” role for her and admitted: “It was a little bit scary to take on, which I think is a good feeling.”
She plays Tashi Duncan, a tennis prodigy whose career is cruelly cut short by injury. Instead of quietly withdrawing from the sport, Tashi sets herself a new challenge: turning round the career of Art Donaldson (West Side Story‘s Mike Faist), a Grand Slam champion on a losing streak. It’s a high-profile coaching job made complicated by the fact Art happens to be her husband.
2. It’s an epic battle of wills
Tashi is a maverick both on and off the court, so she enters Art in a relatively low-level Challenger event. It should be beneath him, but Tashi’s canny strategy ends up pitting Art against washed-up slogger Patrick Zweig (Emmy and Golden Globe winner Josh O’Connor).
Patrick isn’t just Tashi’s former boyfriend, but also Art’s former best friend, so it’s a grudge match charged with serious sexual tension. O’Connor has described his character as a “tough guy” who’s a bit like “a Gallagher brother”, adding: “It’s really nice to play someone who is just pure outward energy.”
Still, there’s no doubt who’s calling the shots in this lopsided game of mixed doubles. “You really feel sorry for her, like, ‘oh my god, poor Tashi’. But hang on a minute, she’s got these boys under her thumb. She’s in complete control over them,” O’Connor said of Zendaya’s whip-smart character.
3. It gets sweatier than a Wimbledon five-setter
And not just on the court – Challengers is a film driven by searing sexual chemistry. “What Luca’s really good at is finding sensuality and desire,” Zendaya said. “There’s so much in just glances. The tension builds. Not having the release is a good thing sometimes.”
For O’Connor, there’s really no separation between Art and Patrick’s rivalry on either side of the net and the rivalry fuelling their love triangle with Tashi. “The tennis is the sex,” he said. “Those moments are so sexy. The film is dealing with the tension before and after. The sex they’re all desperate for is on the court.” Whatever the final score, one thing’s for sure: Challengers is no cosy afternoon knockabout at the country club.
4. It has the swagger of a Grand Slam champion
From 2009’s lush romantic drama I Am Love to 2022’s cannibal love story Bones And All, Guadagnino’s films are known for their stunning visuals, and Challengers is no exception. Here, he reteams with his Call Me By Your Name and Suspiria cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom for a bold, balletic tour-de-force. Challengers has the cool confidence of Roger Federer in his prime – plus the infectious intensity of Serena Williams hitting a winner on Centre Court.
In particular, the tennis scenes really pop with a pummelling intensity. Zendaya spent three months training with Brad Gilbert, a top coach who’s worked with Andy Murray and Andre Agassi. She got so good that Guadagnino has said “we almost actually don’t use any of her double” in the final cut. Meanwhile, Faist has praised the way O’Connor “physically transformed” to play Patrick by packing on 10lbs of muscle. This is an energetic film with suitably athletic performances.
5. There’s an absolutely slamming soundtrack
Challengers has an original score by Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor and his frequent collaborator Atticus Ross. This dynamic duo won an Oscar for their work on 2010’s The Social Network and previously collaborated with Guadagnino on 2022’s Bones And All.
This time around, Reznor and Ross have concocted euphoric house and techno-inspired beats designed to raise your heart rate like a great tennis match. Guadagnino has reportedly said “our goal is for people to dance to the movie,” and there’s no doubt Challengers will really get pulses racing when it slices into cinemas.
‘Challengers’ is in UK cinemas from April 26