the premier of the new Challenger’s film was held at Leicester Square’s iconic Odeon Luxe Leicester Square cinema!
Challengers is based on Tashi, once a tennis player herself but now a coach, has worked wonders with her husband, elevating him from a modest player to a globally renowned grand slam champion.
Yet, as he grapples with a string of defeats, she devises a plan to shake him out of his slump: entering him into a challenger event, one of the lowest tiers in professional tennis tournaments.
However, the stakes escalate dramatically when he discovers his opponent on the court is none other than Patrick, a former close friend who once showed great promise but now faces his own struggles. Adding to the tension, Patrick is not just a rival player but also Tashi’s former boyfriend, setting the stage for a confrontation that dredges up old wounds and puts both personal and professional loyalties to the test.
Zendaya will be starring alongside Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist with writer Justin Kurizkes,
producers Amy Pascal and Rachel O’Connor. Love and Rivalry is displayed across the tennis court with director Guadagnino paying homage to films reminiscent of the lively sports movies of the ’80s, pulsating with vibrant energy and retro flair. Yet, within this nostalgic tapestry, there lies a twist — a stylistic execution that occasionally feels out of place amidst the film’s deeper, more serious themes.
One of the recurring themes in Guadagnino’s filmography, is male vulnerability which is massively displayed in Challenger’s whereby he portrays the two main character’s emotional and physical nudity with profound rawness, without resorting to sensationalism.
There were a variety of special guests in attendance at this premier to celebrate the release, including: Russell Tovey, Munroe Bergdorf, Nathaniel Curtis, Mabel, Charli Howard, Rina Lipa and Mia Regan.
Challengers will be released by Warner Brothers Pictures in the UK are Ireland on 26th April 2024.
I personally cannot wait to see this film, which is said to have the perfect combination of romance, drama and tennis, as said by The Guardian, is a “brutal zero-sum game of winners and losers!”
Not long to wait now!
