A queer tennis-themed love triangle.
If the end of Euphoria season 2 left you longing to see more Zendaya on your screen, then you’re in luck.
The actress is set to star in the upcoming sports romance movie Challengers, which tells the story of an intense love triangle between three professional athletes.
Director Luca Guadagnino has described it as a “fairly fizzy, sexy movie” – which sounds pretty intriguing.
The plot follows Tashi (Zendaya), a tennis player-turned-coach who transformed her husband, Art (Mike Faist), from a mediocre player into a perfect player too.
Unfortunately, Art has found himself caught in a losing streak so he enters a ‘Challenger’ event – the lower end of tournaments on the pro tour – to prove himself again.
Art is put to the test against a player called Patrick (Josh O’Connor), who is just like him in a lot of ways – he was once a rising star and now he’s, well, basic. Oh and Patrick just happens to be Tashi’s ex-boyfriend too.
In a recent interview, Guadagnino hinted that the movie will feature a queer storyline.
As reported by IndieWire, when asked whether Challengers would have queer elements, he simply replied: “It’s me, so…”
The movie will be released in theatres only, and won’t be available on any streaming platforms.
“I don’t want to be rude to the people at Netflix,” Guadagnino said. “But it’s not exactly my cup of tea.
“The problem is how the movie becomes something that stays in time. My only fear about the streamers is that if there is not a theatrical release of it, that makes the movie something that exists in actual reality, it gets lost.”
Unfortunately, even though production of the film is nearing its end, we’ll still have to wait a while for it.
Guadagnino’s other project, Bones & All, starring Timothée Chalamet, is up first. The movie, dubbed as a “Bonnie and Clyde romance” where the protagonists just “happen to be eating people”, tells the story of a young cannibal couple in love (played by Chalamet and Taylor Russell).
Challengers is set for release in cinemas on 11 August 2023.
