'The Challenger': Release Date, Cast, Plot, and Everything We Know So Far About Zendaya-Led Tennis RomCom

The tennis rom-com starring Zendaya was an instant hit.

Sports movies are a niche genre that can often bring a diverse audience together for a work of art. Many sports fans may be unsure of the world of movies, and many movie fans may be unsure of the world of sports, making sports movies the common ground where these two often conflicting sides meet. Sports movies have a long and varied history in film, with Hugh Hudson's "Chariots of Fire" and the more recent heartrending Netflix story "The Swimmers" both There have been highs, but there have also been lows that have given the genre its notoriety in the eyes of some. One sport that often doesn't get the recognition it deserves on screen is tennis. Tennis is one of the most admired sports in the world, yet its appeal to filmmakers seems to have been low. Two of the sport's most famous athletes are indeed getting their own biopics in 2021, Reynaldo Marcus Green's Richard King stars as Serena and Venus Williams, and this Fans of the film will likely be drawn to the upcoming tennis-set rom-com The Challenger.

Announced for release in February 2022, the film stars the star-studded The cast has been announced, and the name Challenger has been mentioned by many when discussing what to watch in 2023. With 2022 winding down and fans turning their attention to the next year, many will see this release as drawing a line in their viewing diaries. So with that in mind, here's what we know about the Challenger...so far.

When Is Challengers Scheduled for Release?

As filming and post-production progress, Challengers is moving toward a release date. This scheduled release date is August 11, 2023. Of course, we've seen a lot of movies delayed over the past few years, so we have to take that into account, because lately, we've never been able to pin down an exact release date for a movie. That date does look like enough to get post-production done And going through the final steps of the marketing process, so fans will be praying we'll see The Challenger on the big screen soon.

Is There a Trailer for Challengers?

Unfortunately, we have not yet received a trailer for The Challenger as the film is still in post-production. With the February 2022 announcement that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has acquired the film, And with their own track record of making great trailers, fans will still be excited when the Challenger trailer finally arrives.

What Is Challengers About?

The original mention of the film described it as a sports rom-com, and intrigue was prevalent from the start. Sports rom-coms are a rarity in the movie world, and with so much talent at the helm, this one might be the best of its kind to date. Challengers' official synopsis reads:

"Follows three players who knew each other when they were teenagers as they compete in a tennis tournament to be the world-famous grand slam winner, and reignite old rivalries on and off the court"

We also know that a major plotline in the movie will revolve around a wife signing her husband up for Challenger's tennis tournament, only to find out that he'll be confronting his wife's ex-lover. The premise seems perfect for romantic comedy lovers, with a setting that oozes classic comedy narrative. Plus, it seems like tennis fans will have a lot to marvel at, since most of the story takes place on the court, or at least around it. In this upcoming release, there really seems to be something for everyone.

Who Is in Challengers?

The most notable part of the upcoming film is the appearance of the world famous Zendaya. Zendaya, who's coming After winning her second Emmy for Best Actress for Euphoria, she will play Tashi, who convinces her husband, played by Mike Fest (West Side Story), to enter the Challenger Championship. Zendaya was reportedly paid $10 million for her role in the film, although the money was hard-earned and she spent three months being coached by professional tennis coach Brad Gilbert. training, and even served as the producer of the film. Clearly, Zendaya's major involvement with the film shows the quality of the original script penned by relative novice Justin Kuritzkes (Ticklish). Joining Zendaya and Faist are Josh O'Connor (The Crown) as Patrick, Jack Jensen (King Richard) as Finn, and many others. With the talents of Zendaya, Faist and O'Connor, fans won't be disappointed when the film hits theaters.

Who Is Behind Challengers?

The aforementioned Justin Kuritzkes was behind the script, but it was a more high-profile name on the cast that attracted the attention of the media. Back in February 2022, it was announced that Luca Guadagnino (Suspiria) would direct the film, having previously found success with such films as Your Phone Call Me Name and most recently Bones, starring Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet. Among other things, Guadagnino has collaborated on Bones and All, and the soundtrack is composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, who have provided highly regarded and critically acclaimed musical scores for The Social Network, as well as many other beautiful and atmospheric music. With cinematography from the award-winning Sayombhu Mukdeeprom (Thirteen Lives), who also collaborated with Guadagnino on Suspiria and Call Me By Your Name, the cast and crew look particularly promising to meet fans' expectations for the film's release. Great teams are one thing, but teams that are used to working together successfully are often a definite recipe for success. So with that in mind, fans have every right to consider The Challenger as one of the must-see rom-coms of 2023, and overall must-see movies