Zendaya's 'Challengers' delayed to 2024, Venice Film Festival opener replaced amid actors’ strike

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Challengers,' starring Zendaya, to 2024. The film was initially set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival with a theatrical release on September 15, 2023. However, it will now hit theaters on April 26, 2024, and will also forgo its opening night feature at the Venice Film Festival, which is scheduled from August 30 to September 9.

Following the postponement of 'Challengers,' the Venice Film Festival announced a replacement for the opening night feature. Edoardo De Angelis' 'Comandante' will now take the coveted spot. The decision reflects the growing concern for fall festivals as they navigate the possibility of missing SAG-AFTRA actors, who are restricted from promotional activities during the ongoing strike.

In the film, Zendaya portrays Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach. Her character's husband, played by Mike Faist, experiences a losing streak, leading him to compete against his former best friend, Patrick, portrayed by Josh O'Connor. As their intertwined past and present collide, Tashi is faced with challenging decisions about what she's willing to do to secure victory.

'Challengers' is a product of the collaborative efforts of notable figures in the entertainment industry. Amy Pascal, through her Pascal Pictures banner, joins forces with Luca Guadagnino and Zendaya to produce the film. The script, penned by playwright-singer-author Justin Kuritzkes, earned a spot on the 2021 Black List.

The ongoing strike has begun to influence release dates, and more shifts are anticipated in the coming days. Lionsgate, for instance, recently announced postponements