Zendaya stars in the new romantic tennis drama Challengers, which includes a provocative three-way kissing scene between the film’s leading trio. The scene involves Zendaya’s character, Tashi Duncan, along with her co-stars Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor) and Art Donaldson (Mike Faist). Zendaya explained that while the scene may appear steamy on screen, the process of filming it is more technical and choreographed.
After the three-way kissing scene, the story in Challengers becomes more complex as Tashi, Patrick, and Art’s relationships evolve over the next 13 years. Tashi ends up dating Patrick, leading to a rift between Patrick and Art. When Tashi suffers a career-ending injury, she turns to Art for support, leading to a deeper connection between the two. The film explores the challenges faced by Art and Patrick as they navigate their pasts and vie for Tashi’s affections in a destructive love triangle.
Josh O’Connor, who plays Patrick in Challengers, emphasized the importance of trust between actors in making scenes work. He noted that trust plays a key role in intimate scenes like the three-way kiss as well as in any other scene. O’Connor highlighted the significance of trust in creating authentic performances and building strong relationships between actors on set.
Zendaya discussed the technical aspects of filming intimate scenes like the three-way kiss in Challengers, emphasizing the choreographed nature of such moments. She explained that while the scene may seem romantic or passionate on screen, the actors are focused on executing the choreography and understanding the filmmaking process. Zendaya compared the experience of filming scenes like this to dancing, highlighting the teamwork involved in creating impactful moments for the audience.
Directed by Luca Guadagnino, Challengers is currently showing in theaters, offering audiences a unique and complex romantic drama centered around the world of tennis. The film delves into themes of love, competition, and personal growth as the characters navigate their relationships and confront their pasts. With a talented cast led by Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist, Challengers promises to be a thought-provoking and engaging cinematic experience for viewers.
