Is the Challengers movie based on a book? Considering that the story behind tennis player turned coach, Tashi (played by Zendaya), sounds realistic enough to have been inspired by a true story, here's where the movie idea actually came from.
What is Zendaya's Movie, Challengers, About?
Challengers may look like your typical romantic sports drama/documentary film, but it's definitely more than that. The movie follows three tennis prodigies who end up clashing after one inciting incident.
The central match of Challengers focuses on pitting two former best friends, Art (played by Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O'Connor), with Tashi being forced to pick a side: her husband vs. her ex-boyfriend.
The story behind Challengers reaches a motivational message for those who wish to pursue their own sports career, which begs the question, is Challengers based on a book? Or a true story, perhaps? Do these characters exist in real life?
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Is Challengers Based on a Book? What Inspired the Sports Movie
Challengers screenwriter Justin Kuristzkes revealed that the Zendaya flick is NOT based on a true story or a book. None of the characters are based on real-life people, they are "completely fictional."
At the time of conceptualizing the movie, though, he watched the US Open in 2018, the finals between Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams.
Kuristzkes was drawn to the "controversial call towards the end of the match" when Serena was penalized for receiving coaching from the sidelines.
It was interesting to him that he had never heard the rule that players were not allowed to speak with their coach during the match.
Additionally, Kuristzskes did mention in the same interview that he was reading a book that inspired a key element to the story of Challengers.
According to him, reading Andre Agassi's book, Open, was a "massive inspiration" for the movie.
"Because it's so hyper-specific about the life of an athlete and the feeling of being at the top of your game, and falling out of love with the sport and still having to do it," the screenwriter added.
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Meanwhile, tickets for the Challengers movie are now available in theaters.
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