Luca Guadagnino’s actual problem: to make tennis attractive.
The “Challengers” director, in accordance with his forged, emphasised the sensual physicality of the game for the upcoming romantic drama. Emmy winner Zendaya performs tennis player-turned-coach Tashi who oversees her husband Art’s (Mike Faist) profession, which leads them to crossing paths with Tashi’s ex-boyfriend (Josh O’Connor) and igniting a tense love triangle with queer undertones.
The trailer for “Challengers” already produced an iconic picture of Zendaya, O’Connor, and Faist having a threesome.
As O’Connor teased to Empire magazine, “The tennis is the sex. Those moments are so sexy. The film is dealing with the tension before and after. The sex they’re all desperate for is on the court.”
Co-star Faist added that Guadagnino “had no knowledge of tennis” previous to the movie, however that the game itself was apart from the purpose.
“I think he had only a vague interest in certain tennis specificities,” Faist stated of Guadagnino. “He was more interested in the bodies and sweat.”
The forged trained for three months with former skilled tennis participant Brad Gilbert, who served as a guide on the movie. Zendaya’s physique double was not used within the closing lower of the tennis scenes, with the actress telling Empire, “What Luca’s really good at is finding sensuality and desire. There’s so much in just glances. The tension builds. Not having the release is a good thing sometimes.”
The “Call Me By Your Name” director Guadagnino previously told IndieWire that he was considering a “hyperkinetic” movie. “I think those three characters in that movie are beautifully complex and really fucked-up people that I love very much,” he hinted. “And a sports film, why not?”
“Challengers” was set to open the 2023 Venice Film Festival however has a delayed launch because of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. “Comandante” will as a substitute debut on the eightieth annual pageant.
