“Dune” and “Spider-Man” star Zendaya, “The Crown” and “God’s Own Country” leading man Josh O’Connor, and “West Side Story” and “Panic” breakout Mike Faist are set to team with acclaimed filmmaker Luca Guadagnino for his romantic sports drama “Challengers”.
Puck News (via Collider) broke the story saying the feature is set in the world of tennis with Zendaya as a former tennis pro turned instructor. After pushing her husband (Faist) to become a tennis legend, she forces him to participate in a lowly “challenger” event where one of his opponents is his ex-best friend and Tashi’s former lover Patrick (O’Connor).
The report suggests Zendaya could score a major $11-13 million payday for the film which also has “Spider-Man” producer Amy Pascal onboard while playwright and novelist Justin Kuritzkes is penning the script. Filming is expected to begin this spring on the East Coast.
“Call Me By Your Name” and “Suspiria” director Guadagnino is currently wrapping up work on his cannibal love story “Bones & All” starring Zendaya’s “Dune” co-star Timothee Chalamet. The director is also developing a “Brideshead Revisited” remake and an Audrey Hepburn biopic.
