3-Ways, Tennis & a Wavy Bob: Zendaya’s Newest Movie is A LOT

It’s easy to forget that the sweet-faced Zendaya we watched grow up is now a twenty-six-year-old, accomplished actress. In her latest film, Challengers, Zendaya put her teenage Euphoria character Ro on the shelf and instead embodies a powerful, sexually liberated tennis champ, Tashi Duncan.

Challengers is directed by Luca Guadagnino, the man behind Call Me By Your Name and Bones and All. Alongside Zendaya are West Side Story star Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor from The Crown.

In what is described as a “sexy comedy,” Zendaya’s character is grown af and juggling two men who are best friends, possibly lovers, and also tennis competitors. Zendaya plays a former tennis star who suffers a career-ending injury and becomes a coach to her mate, but later still seems drawn to the other member of their former throuple.

Here’s the official synopsis:

“Tennis player turned coach Tashi (Zendaya) has taken her husband, Art (Mike Faist), and transformed him into a world-famous grand slam champion. To jolt him out of his recent losing streak, she makes him play a ‘Challenger’ event — close to the lowest level of pro tournament — where he finds himself standing across the net from his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend (Josh O’Connor).”

In what is bound to be the most memed moment from the recently revealed trailer, Zendaya is seen sitting between both the guys in a cheap hotel room making out, moments before the video skips to the future with her character quipping, “I’m taking such good care of my little white boys.”

Zendaya underwent months of intense training to get in shape for the role and play a convincing tennis player. Director Luca Guadagnino was extremely impressed with her, telling Variety, “I mean, wow. We edited the movie and we almost actually don’t use any of her double. She’s so good.”

Check out the trailer here and look out for Challengers to release in theaters September 15th.