Written by Justin Kuritzkes, Challengers captivates with the intricate tale of Tashi, portrayed by Zendaya, who finds herself embroiled in a high-stakes love triangle. This thrilling narrative follows Tashi, a former professional tennis player whose glittering career is abruptly cut short by an injury, forcing her to pivot into the role of a coach.
Coach Tashi sets out with a mission: to transform her husband, described as a mediocre tennis player, into a world-renowned Grand Slam champion. Things seem to be falling into place, until her husband hits a losing streak. In a bid to salvage the situation, she signs him up to compete in a "challenger" event, the lowest rung of professional tennis tournaments. Unbeknownst to her, this decision will lead them to a fateful reunion with his former best friend—Tashi's ex-boyfriend.
Zendaya stars as Tashi Duncan in Challengers, directed by Luca Guadagnino. Mike Faist plays Art Donaldson, Tashi's husband, while Josh O'Connor, a familiar face from Netflix's The Crown, takes on the role of Patrick, Tashi's former lover and Art's erstwhile best friend.
The film is set to hit the big screens in the United States on April 26, 2024. Originally slated for a theatrical release on September 15, 2023, Challengers' premiere was postponed due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. The movie was also slated to open the 2023 Venice Film Festival but was withdrawn due to the strike-related constraints.
"After careful deliberation with our partners and considering the guidelines outlined by SAG-AFTRA for its members, we made the difficult decision to withdraw Challengers from this year's Venice International Film Festival," an MGM/Amazon Studios spokesperson told Vanity Fair at the time of the rescheduling. "We eagerly await the opportunity to celebrate the film with our ensemble cast, director Luca Guadagnino, and the entire filmmaking team at a later date."
Indeed, Challengers comes with not one but two trailers that tease the audience with snippets of the intense and passionate drama unfolding between Tashi, Art, and Patrick—both in the past and the present. The first official trailer, released by MGM on June 20, 2023, offers a glimpse into the unique and steamy dynamics among the trio. It also hints at Tashi's fall from grace and her eventual transition into the role of a coach, all set against an intense remix of Rihanna's "S&M."
The second trailer, unveiled by MGM on February 21, 2024, while less intense in its musical backdrop, provides even more clues about the intricate web of relationships among the three characters. It showcases Art and Patrick both pleading with Tashi to be their coach, leading to a series of hilarious yet emotionally charged moments that play out both on and off the court. "Her game, her rules," declares the trailer, as Nelly Furtado's "Maneater" plays in the background.
When the second trailer was released, Zendaya's boyfriend, Tom Holland, couldn't help but express his excitement on Instagram Stories. "You ain't ready for this one!" the British actor wrote, and it's hard to disagree. Challengers promises to be a thrilling and emotionally charged drama that will keep audiences guessing until the very end.
