How Zendaya has supercharged the promotional trail for Challengers (2024)

Last summer saw Oppenheimer and Barbie theatrically poised against each other to compete for the flick of the summer title.

But as the weather heats up and the sun comes out, a contender has made a strong emergence for 2024's blockbuster - the psychological thriller Challengers, set in the world of tennis.

And its main star Zendaya has hit the ground running hard, with the promotional trail spanning not only countless interviews and posters that have had social media in a frenzy, but method-dressing in crisp sporty ensembles with a touch of glamour.

It has also been teamed with social media posts, behind the scenes snippets from the usually private actress, and an incredible Vogue cover that saw her grace both the US and UK issues.

As the 27-year-old A-lister has, along with her co-stars Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist - pushed the pedal on the movie's promotion ahead of its UK and US release on Friday - she has been candid about the process of making Challengers come to life.

In the film, Zendaya playsTashi Duncan, an aspiring tennis star who gives up her career after suffering a major injury.

She then focuses on coaching her colleague Art (Faist), whom she falls in love with and marries, but she finds her feelings dangerously divided after Art is enrolled on the Challenger Tour, where he faces off against Tashi's ex-boyfriend Patrick (O'Connor).

This week theEuphoria star — who recently dished on the HBO series' third season — took to her Instagram to get candid about filming the upcoming Challengers and to share a few behind-the-scenes photos from the production.

'A little bts dump in honor of @challengersmovie coming out in a couple days,' she wrote. 'This is my first time leading a film in this way so ya girls been nervous but everyones excitement and encouragement has meant the world to me.'

'I’m so honored that I get to do this beside these incredibly talented, brilliant (and hilarious) people and on behalf of all of us, we hope you enjoy the film and again.'

The carousel included a clip of Zendaya showing off her tennis skills, exercising on a yoga ball and paling around with her Challengers costars Mike and Josh.

The social media shares comes after Zendaya also recentlyspoke about filming the sports romance's intimate scenes with her costars.

She praised the intimacy coordinator for keeping a 'safe' environment on set, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

'We had an intimacy coordinator which was fantastic and very helpful, because it was important that we felt safe,' she said.

'I spoke with my colleagues so that we could find a way to feel at ease. We played tennis together, we went out together, we rehearsed together,' the star continued. 'We got to bond and feel good with each other.'

Faist added:'We were able to spend time together during rehearsals and beyond, especially with Josh. We were able to get to know each other as people before we could get into the film. We created a real friendship that created the basis of the film.'

Zendaya has also confessed that she didn't know 'anything' about tennis before she signed up to the movie, despite a previous trip to Wimbledon.

'When I went toWimbledonit was before I really knew anything about tennis,' the actress toldHeart Evenings with Dev Griffin.

'I was just there to see Serena. I was one of those people who was like “I have no idea what’s going on?”'

'It was one those moments where I was like, I don’t have to at the time understand tennis to understand the magic and poetry of her movement and watching her play.'

'So it was, I was in awe, even though I had no idea what I was looking at and so I was so grateful that once I had been exposed to this film [Challengers] and fell in love with tennis and had spent a lot of time appreciating this spot, I got to see her again during the US open after we filmed and it was a whole other experience.'

'I was like “I finally get to know what’s going on!” Wimbledon is very you know, it’s quiet like you can hear a pin drop, whereas the US open is like “let’s go Serena!” like that literally was my mum next to me.'

Speaking to Vogue, Zendaya also admitted her nervousness at the spotlight Challengers put her in - as she explained why it's such an exceptionally different project for her.

'Now, when I have these moments in my career – like, my first time leading a film that's actually going to be in a theatre – I feel like I shrink, I can't enjoy all the things that are happening to me, because I'm like this,' she said, balling up her fists.

'I'm very tense, and I think that I carry that from being a kid and never really having an opportunity to try s**t. And I wish I went to school.'

The star also discussed playing an adult mother herself in her upcoming film Challengers, where she stars opposite Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist.

'I'm always in a high school somewhere. And, mind you, I never went to high school.

'So to break away from that was refreshing. And it was also kind of scary, because I was like, I hope people buy me as my own age, or maybe a little bit older, because I have friends that have kids, or are having kids.'

Zendaya's Challengers promotion has also been far from just run of the mill press junkets.

Shehas become known as one of the best dressed women in the world, with fashion watchers keen to see what the superstarsteps out in. The A-lister, who is famed for her collaborations with superstar stylist Law Roach, goes beyond simple just looking good on the red carpet. Instead, the actress 'method dresses' for her films.

This means she matches her look to whatever project she's promoting - and Challengers has seen a flurry of stunning tennis-themed looks from her.

This week, she put on another fashion parade on Tuesday as she hit the Good Morning America studios in New York.

She wowed in very glam floral gown, with a full, tulle-lined skirt. The dress featured a bold stripe, in Wimbledon green.

The actress was later spotted leaving the studios in another green number, this time a chic lime suit. It included a stylish plunging blazer, which was teamed with a matching mini skirt.

Other looks have also included an all-white pleated gown - an obvious reference to tennis white - anda Louis Vuitton by Marc Jacobs two-piecethe Maison de L'Amerique Latine in Paris.

She then quickly changed into a vintage simple pale yellow satin two piece for Louis Vutton's SS99 collection for the shoot at Hotel de Crillon alongside her castmates.

While promoting the film in Australia, Zendaya looked like she could have just stepped off Centre Court at Wimbledon in a custom design from Lacoste AW24.

The versatile actress was also wearing white pumps which she said were getting caught in her 'net,' which meant her skirt.

Perhaps the most on-the-nose tennis look came in Sydney, when the actress opted for a custom Loewe gown with a tennis player, racket and ball on it.

Rocking a plunging neckline, the Euphoria star was all smiles as she revealed the lawn-green artful tennis player printed on the front of her frock.

The glimmering fabric featured a sky-high thigh split and racy cut out in the back, complementing Zendaya's lithe form as she strutted down the red carpet.

Even her off-duty looks appear to be taking sartorial inspiration from the ball game.

Joining her boyfriendTom Hollandlast month at the BNP Paribas Open atthe Women's Final in Indian Wells Tennis Garden, Zendaya wore tennis whites.

She wore another tennis white look while visiting a store in Sydney.