Luca Guadagnino Lands Zendaya, Mike Faist, And Josh O'Connor To Lead Challengers

"Call Me By Your Name" and "Suspiria" auteur Luca Guadagnino is shaping up to have a mighty prolific future. His formerly-newest-feature "Bones & All" was just announced mere weeks ago, co-starring "Call Me By Your Name" star Timothee Chalamet and Taylor Russell ("Waves") in a cannibal horror-romance. With that film now in post-production, the filmmaker already has a new iron in the rhetorical fire with exciting leads to boot. It was announced today that MGM has picked up "Challengers," a tennis-themed romantic drama written by playwright Justin Kuritzkes.

"Euphoria" and "Spider-Man: No Way Home" star Zendaya is already attached to star in, and co-produce, the project, with "West Side Story" scene-stealer Mike Faist and Emmy-winner Josh O'Connor finalizing talks to co-star. The film will be produced by "Spider-Man: No Way Home" co-producer Amy Pascal and her Pascal Pictures, who will co-produce the feature alongside Zendaya and Guadagnino. It's an exciting story with an extremely buzzy cast, and certainly one to watch out for. Details inside.

The film will see Zendaya, Faist, and O'Connor locked in a tense love triangle. It follows tennis player-turned-coach Tashi (Zendaya), the talented wife of tennis player Art (Faist) who has gradually turned into a Grand Slam champ via Tashi's efforts. Following a losing streak, Art enters a low-level "Challenger" event at Tashi's bidding and finds himself competing against Patrick (O'Connor). The burnt-out ex-phenom Patrick has history with the pair as Art's former best friend and Tashi's ex-boyfriend, and the new challenge heats up old rivalries.

Kuritzkes' sought-after script was featured on the 2021 Black List, ranking the most highly regarded unproduced script in Hollywood. Zendaya is reportedly set for a $10 million payday as both star and co-producer, following a year that easily cemented her A-list status. After the solidification of Faist and O'Connor's contracts, "Challengers" is set for a springtime production start on the East Coast.