One of the most anticipated movies of the year is Lucas Guadagnino’s romantic drama “Challengers,” which stars Zendaya in her first film lead role. Written by Justin Kuritzkes, the story follows a complicated love triangle between tennis players.
The movie will finally land in theaters next month (April 26), after being delayed from an initial release date in August 2023 due to the Hollywood strikes. And, it seems from the first reactions, that the movie is worth the wait.
While it’s true that Zendaya is one of the most famous stars right now, there’s people who are not familiar with Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, who complete the cast of the film. So, here’s a brief recap of their best known projects to date so far.
Who is in the cast of ‘Challengers’?
Zendaya
Zendaya is arguably the most famous name of the cast. She is coming fresh from the release of “Dune: Part Two,” in which she plays Chani, a pivotal character in the series. However, she is probably best known for her role as Rue in HBO’s drama “Euphoria,” for which she won two Primetime Emmys, as well as for her stint as MJ in the MCU’s Spider-Man trilogy.
The 27-year-old star started her career on Disney Channel’s sitcom “Shake It Up,” before starring in other original movies for the network such as “Frenemies” and “Zapped.” Before leaving Disney, she had her first experience in production with another series, “KC Undercover.”
Mike Faist
Faist’s first major film role was Riff, the leader of the Jets, in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story,” for which he received a BAFTA nomination. He is also known for starring in the Prime Video’s series “Panic” and the comedy biopic “Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game.” Apart from “Challengers,” he is set to appear in “The Bikeriders” alongside Austin Butler this year.
On the other hand, the 32-year-old actor has appeared in several Broadway shows, such as “Dear Evan Hansen” and “Newsies.” Most recently, he also starred in the West End’s production of “Brokeback Mountain.”
Josh O’Connor
Josh O’Connor earned worldwide recognition for his role as then-Prince Charles in Netflix’s drama “The Crown,” for which he won a Primetime Emmy and a Golden Globe award. In TV, he also starred in the comedy drama “The Durrells,” and had minor roles in “Peaky Blinders” and “Doctor Who.”
Meanwhile, in film, he had his breakthrough role in the indie drama “God’s Own Country,” for which he won a British Independent Film Award. His other notable credits include “Emma,” in which he played Mr. Elton, as well as “La Chimera,” which is currently in cinemas. He is also set to star alongside Paul Mescal in the historical drama “The History of Sound.”
