Luca Guadagnino’s sexy tennis comedy-drama “Challengers,” starring Zendaya and Josh O’Connor, has been delayed due to complications caused by the SAG-AFTRA strike.
Zendaya stars in the film as a former tennis prodigy turned coach entangled in a love triangle with two pro tennis players (O’Connor, Mike Faist).
The film had been set as the opening night title at the Venice Film Festival on August 30th, but has now been pulled from the festival. Edoardo De Angelis’ “Comandante,” starring Pierfrancesco Favino, will now take over that opening slot.
In addition the film’s planned September 15th release has been scrapped, and instead it will get an early Summer 2024 release date to both reach a wider audience and be long past any strike complications.
Having Zendaya, O’Connor and Faist out promoting the film is a big part of its release strategy and with the strike on they would not have been able to launch the film at a festival.
MGMs/Amazon Studios is releasing the film domestically, while Warner Bros. Pictures is handling the international roll-out. Justin Kuritzkes penned the script.
That’s not the only delay today as Deadline reports that A24 has officially delayed the theatrical release for Julio Torres’ surreal comedy “Problemista” which was originally scheduled for a limited release on August 4th. No new date is set.
It’s expected unless SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP reach a fair conclusion soon, more high-profile releases will be delayed.
Source: Variety
