Zendaya Deals With Steamy Love Triangle in Tennis Film “Challengers”
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Set to return to the big screen this fall, Zendaya will star in a sexy sports-centric movie Challengers. At a glimpse, the plot is thickened by an interesting love triangle that sets her character in tension with the roles of Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist.
Zendaya To Star Alongside Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist in Challengers
Directed by Luca Guadagnino, Challengers is billed as a “romantic sports comedy” film themed on tennis. Warner Brothers has recently dropped the trailer of the movie, exciting fans with its promising storyline.
The movie tells the life of Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), a former tennis prodigy turned coach who turned her husband Art (Mike Faist) from an average player into a world-class Grand Slam champion. With Art suffering a losing streak, Tashi finds a way to redeem his reputation, thus signing him up for a lower-level tournament. As they explore the game, they meet Patrick (Josh O’Connor), Art’s former best friend and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend.
The trailer teased an intriguing love triangle situation between the three. According to the film’s official description, Tashi, Art, and Patrick knew each other when they were teenagers.
Zendaya trained with pro tennis coach and former player Brad Gilbert for three months to prepare for the film. Apart from that, Gilbert also served as the consultant of the film.
The Sensual Scenes in the Trailer are Now a Tom Holland Meme
During the first seconds of the trailer, Challengers showed Zendaya taking turns in kissing the two leads. This has apparently invited social media users to create memes involving Zendaya’s real-life partner, Tom Holland.
Clearly, the trailer tapped the creative and comical energy of the fans. Some memes included screenshots of crying and emotional Holland in his movies. Meanwhile, others relate Zendaya’s kissing scene to Holland’s Spider-man character.
“Tom Holland would be doubting his superpowers after watching Zendaya in Challengers (sic),” one user wrote.
Challengers will arrive only in theaters on September 15. It is also expected to premiere at the 80th Venice Film Festival.