The film industry has once again been graced with a compelling drama that dives deep into the complexity of love, ambition, and the intricate dynamics of relationships, all set against the backdrop of competitive tennis. “Challengers” emerges as a riveting narrative that seamlessly intertwines the sheer intensity of personal and professional rivalries with a raw and emotive exploration of human connection. Directed by the visionary filmmaker Luca Guadagnino and starring Zendaya in a groundbreaking role, the movie goes beyond the bounds of conventional storytelling, presenting a heart-stirring narrative punctuated by intense performances, a striking score, and dynamic cinematography.
At the heart of “Challengers” lies the vibrant and intense Tashi Duncan, portrayed by the electrifying Zendaya, whose performance elevates the character beyond mere presence on the court. Tashi is a former tennis prodigy whose life takes unpredictable turns as she navigates through relationships with Art Donaldson (played by Mike Faist) and Patrick Zweig (portrayed by Josh O'Connor), forming a captivating love triangle that challenges the boundaries of friendship and romantic love.
“There were so many things that made me want to do this movie,” says director Luca Guadagnino. “Certainly, my complete worship of producer Amy Pascal is one of the most important reasons! The second reason was a very brilliant script by Justin Kuritzkes that had a great voice — it was so humorous and piercing. And the premise of the story — people who are complicated and who never really want to put things in place but in fact make things more complicated for themselves — was even better.”
Says Zendaya, “Tennis in this film is really just a metaphor for power, and power dynamics amongst people who lean on each other, maybe a little bit too much.”
The storyline of “Challengers” is a testament to the creative genius of Luca Guadagnino, whose previous works have already set high expectations. Guadagnino's distinct narrative style and directorial brilliance shine throughout the film, presenting a modern and stylistic look that is a visual treat. The addition of a memorably propulsive score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, combined with dynamic costumes by Jonathan Anderson, further enriches the film's texture, adding layers to the narrative that are both profound and mesmerizing.
According to Zendaya, Guadagnino's nuanced and empathetic portrayal of characters enables an exploration into their vulnerabilities, making them relatable to the audience. The collaborative vision for the film emphasized maintaining a balance between humor and the depiction of nuanced life situations, adding to the film's complexity and depth.
Says ZENDAYA, who also produced the film, “Luca has such a great way of looking at each character in CHALLENGERS through such an empathetic lens, seeing them as human. He is so good at pulling nuances and human aspects of a character out so that they're vulnerable and relatable.”
“From the initial conversations I had with Amy and Luca, it was very clear that we were all on the same page with our vision for the film — it should still be humorous and have a levity to it, even as it deals with life situations that are nuanced and characters who have pain inside of them,” adds Zendaya.
The story of “Challengers” is a creative exploration into the themes of ambition, love, and the quest for identity, set against the competitive backdrop of tennis—a metaphor masterfully employed to explore power dynamics among the characters. The screenplay, penned by Justin Kuritzkes, marks his debut in film, drawing inspiration from an unexpected source—the controversial tennis match between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka. This real-life event, combined with Kuritzkes's burgeoning interest in tennis, fueled the narrative forming the crux of “Challengers”.
“I had not been much of a tennis fan, but my family is full of tennis fans,” says Kuritzkes. “Watching Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka in the finals together, there was a controversial call about Williams receiving coaching from the sidelines. I had never heard of that, but it clicked with me as an intensely cinematic situation.”
“That idea then started brewing in my head,” the screenwriter continues. “Then, parallel to that, I became a legitimate tennis fan and began watching what are called ‘Challenger' events, which are in the lower tier in the world of pro tennis tournaments. I thought it would be an interesting place for two guys who hadn't seen each other in a long time to meet again.”
The film's casting saw the engagement of two critically acclaimed actors, Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor, both of whom brought a classical approach to their roles. Their performances, alongside Zendaya's, create an intricate tapestry that reflects the emotional intensity and raw human connections at the core of the narrative. The nuanced portrayal of their characters underscores the film's exploration of desire, ambition, and the complexities inherent in human relationships.
“I worked with Josh in fine-tuning the character's kind of ‘Ivy League Americanness,' that sense of not necessarily wanting to belong to a world of privilege and yet he is privileged, and he is primal — it was beautiful to see Josh doing that with the character of Patrick,” continues Guadagnino.
“Luca and I had discussions early on about Patrick being sort of ‘animalistic,'” says Josh O'Connor. “He's a carefree character. There's a sort of privilege he has which makes him comfortable in every situation. And he's comfortable in his own body. Luca and I discussed Patrick as someone who's aware of himself in a way that can seem arrogant but is actually the result of total security. Yet Patrick knows he's a loser in tennis and gets things wrong. That helped me figure him out, and find the vulnerability within a character who's outwardly confident.”
“Challengers” also distinguishes itself with an innovative score, a collaboration between Guadagnino and the Oscar-winning duo Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The directors sought to imbue the film with a propulsive soundtrack reflective of the energy and tension of a rave, resonating with the film's youthful and dynamic spirit. This bold approach to the score aligns seamlessly with the narrative's thematic elements, enhancing the film's emotional impact and underscoring the characters' journeys.
“Trent and Atticus are the best — I love and adore them and feel so lucky to be their friends and to be working and creating together with them,” says Guadagnino. “My instinct was, in terms of the music to the film, I wanted to make people dance watching the movie. So I said to Trent and Atticus, ‘Why don't we make music as if it's a rave concert or house music?' The actual propulsion of the movie had to come from the score. They ended up making one of the most arresting soundtracks I've ever heard.”
“This is the second project we've done with Luca — Bones and All being the first — and how we approach working with someone is, we try to listen and understand what the filmmaker is looking for,” says Reznor. “Luca 6 has a very clear understanding of what he wants to make, and at the same time he respects your space…But one of the first things he said to us was, CHALLENGERS is ‘a very sexy movie.'”
“He had sent that in an email and when he typed it out, I think there were maybe six or seven ‘X's' in the word sexy,” adds Ross. “He wrote it as, A very sexxxxxxy movie.' Luca had a definite idea for how to approach the music. He had given us a set of themes he imagined in terms of character studies. On one level the score takes a bold stance in terms of style, but on another, it's fairly traditional as it tracks the story's emotional development.”
A notable contribution to the film's unique appeal is its costume design by Jonathan Anderson, who carefully curated looks that reflect the characters' evolution over time. Anderson's designs provide a visual narrative that complements the film's thematic concerns, such as ambition, identity, and the complex interplay between private desires and public personas. The attention to detail in the costumes further enriches the film's visual storytelling, adding depth to the characters' identities and their relationships.
“Clothing is a fantastic thing, and what Luca realizes — and is so good at understanding as an artist — is how it really gives a view into who we are,” says Anderson. “When you see a Luca Guadagnino film, it makes you question things in your own life. And his films make you think about something new, make you question things emotionally in ourselves or, or how we see ourselves. I was thinking for the design, how do you heighten something in a film through the idea of clothing that makes you engaged with the character? Luca is so good at having audiences feel like they're in constant eye contact with his characters. While watching the film, I think the audience feels like they are like a tennis ball going back and forth, tossed around this fascinating, exciting dynamic.”
In essence, “Challengers” transcends the traditional boundaries of storytelling, offering audiences a multifaceted exploration of human emotions set against the backdrop of competitive tennis. Through its compelling narrative, stellar performances, innovative score, and thoughtful costume design, the film asserts itself as a modern classic, sure to resonate with audiences worldwide. In “Challengers,” Guadagnino, Zendaya, and the entire cast and crew have crafted a cinematic experience that is as unforgettable as it is profoundly human.
