‘Challengers’ Movie: Everything to Know About Zendaya’s Tennis Drama, Including an Onscreen Love Triangle

Zendaya is bringing the heat both on and off the court in her upcoming sports drama, Challengers.

The Luca Guadagnino-directed film, which hits theaters in September, combines the world of tennis with a twisted teenage love story that lingers well into adulthood.

Throughout the MGM production, Zendaya’s character, Tashi, gets caught up in a love triangle between fellow tennis stars Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O’Connor). Although their teenage flirtation gets a little messy, it’s not until they’re all adults that their complex relationships are fully realized.

When Art and Patrick face off in a “Challenger” match — which is close to the lowest level of pro tournament — as grown men, they find themselves once again butting heads over Tashi. This time, however, Art is married to Tashi and Patrick is no longer part of their friendship group.

“She’s wonderful,” Guadagnino told Variety of Zendaya in October 2022, four months after filming wrapped. “I mean, wow. We edited the movie, and we almost actually don’t use any of her double. She’s so good.”

In June, MGM released the official trailer for Challengers, describing the movie via social media as a display of “the art of seduction and other games.”

In the clip, Tashi (Zendaya) starts off as the one to watch on the tennis court due to her skills. Her confidence as a player pours over to her personal life as both Art (Faist) and Patrick (O’Connor) quickly fall under her spell. “Aren’t you everybody’s type?” Art asks in the video, before both he and Patrick hookup with Tashi.

While Art later claims that Patrick is “not in love” with Tashi, she still picks Patrick as her teenage boyfriend. “What makes you think I want someone to be in love with me?” she quips.

Fast forward a few years and Patrick falls out of her life, while Art and Tashi grow closer. As adults, Tashi becomes a coach, leading Art to become a champion — but their past with Patrick isn’t behind them.

“I think maybe you’re disturbed by the fact that she could have been into someone like me,” Patrick teases after learning that he and Art will compete against each other.

Tashi, for her part, appears to be enjoying the show as both men vie for her attention and the title of tennis champion.

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Scroll down to learn more about Zendaya’s Challengers:

While the film was initially set to premiere at the 2023 Venice film festival in August, it was announced in July 2023 that the movie will no longer participate at the Festival amid the ongoing Hollywood strike.

“After thoughtful consideration with our partners, and given the parameters that SAG-AFTRA has outlined for its membership, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw Challengers from this year’s Venice International Film Festival,” Amazon told IndieWire in a statement at the time. “We look forward to celebrating the film when we can do so with our ensemble cast, director Luca Guadagnino, and the filmmaking team at a later date.”

Instead, Challengers has been moved to an April 26, 2024, release date, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Zendaya, who also serves as a producer, portrays former tennis star-turned-coach Tashi, while Mike Faist (West Side Story) plays her husband, Art, who is a tennis champion. Josh O’Connor (The Crown) rounds out the leading roles as Tashi’s former flame and fellow tennis pro, Patrick.

Following the end of her playing career, Tashi focuses on transforming her husband, Art, into a Grand Slam champion. Amid a losing streak, Tashi enters Art into a “Challenger” event where he faces off against Patrick, who was Tashi’s teenage boyfriend and Art’s former BFF. The trio’s past — and complex love triangle — appears to be just as complicated as the sport itself.

“They spent like three months working very hard,” Guadagnino (who directed Call Me By Your Name) told Variety of his leads in October 2022. “Everybody – technically, athletically.” Former tennis professional Brad Gilbert served as a consultant on the project.

Challengers comes out in the U.S. on September 15, 2023. However, in France, the drama will forgo a theatrical release and instead only be available on Prime Video.

The film’s first trailer dropped in June 2023 and teased a twisted love story between Tashi, Art and Patrick. According to the video, during Tashi’s playing days she toyed with both tennis players but ultimately chose to date Patrick. When Tashi gets hurt, Art appears to step up and stay by her side which leads to the couple getting married. Years later, the trailer reveals that Tashi is coaching Art against Patrick in a big match — and the tennis game isn’t all the men are trying to win.