We Won't See 'Challengers' Until Next Year
MGM's Challengers—the much-anticipated tennis romance film, starring Zendaya—has officially been pushed due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. The movie was set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival on August 30, then begin its theatrical run on September 15. Now, Challengers will hit theaters on April 26th, 2024.
MGM released a statement about the change. “After thoughtful consideration with our partners, and given the parameters that SAG-AFTRA has outlined for its membership, we have made the decision to withdraw Challengers from this year's Venice International Film Festival,” the organization wrote. “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.”
This is especially unfortunate news, considering how much the trailer for Challengers sent the world into a frenzy. In the upcoming film, Zendaya plays a retired tennis player who’s caught in a love triangle with her husband and ex-boyfriend. It sounds messy, sure—but it’s certainly not the craziest thing we’ve seen this year. So, why is everyone in a tailspin?
Well, dear reader, in the trailer we see Zendaya doing adult things. You know, the things that happen when... two people love each other very much. Except, in this case, it’s three people, they might not love each other at all, and that's exactly why you're going to see this movie. Oh, and did we mention Challengers is directed by Call Me By Your Name's Luca Guadagnino? Check out in the trailer above—then enjoy the Tom Holland memes. (We're sure he's being a good sport about this all, of course.)
Tom Holland watching the trailer for Challengers like…. pic.twitter.com/HlrJ9KfMsu
— Em (@emmasaurustex) June 21, 2023
Challengers looks like it'll combine two genres we need to see more of: sports and romance. (Love & Basketball, anyone?) Ahead of the film's debut, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about Challengers.
What is Challengers About?
Challengers follows Tashi Donaldson (Zendaya), a professional tennis player who transitioned into coaching after a devastating injury halted her career. While off the court, she trains her husband into a world-famous tennis star. Their life is full of glitz and glamour until he falls into a losing streak. To help him snap out of it, Tashi signs him up for a match against his greatest opponent, Patrick—his ex-best friend and her ex-boyfriend.
Who Stars In Challengers?
Zendaya stars in the film as Donaldson, alongside Mike Faist—who plays her husband, Art—and Josh O’Connor plays Patrick. Faist’s previous credits include Steven Spielberg's West Side Story and Pinball: The Man Who Saved The Game. Meanwhile, O’Connor has starred in The Crown and God’s Own Country.
When Does Challengers Premiere?
Unfortunately, we'll have to wait to see two grown men fight for Zendaya’s attention. Challengers is set to premiere in theaters on April 26, 2024. I don’t know about you, but when the time comes, I’ll be seated in the front row.
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