Zendaya Confirms 'Challengers' Sex Scenes Were Filmed With an Intimacy Coordinator

The Challengers press tour is already my new personality simply based on Zendaya's impeccable red carpet outfits thus far (the Loewe tennis ball heels! can you even!)—but we're here to talk about the film's sex scenes. Which, FYI, were fully filmed with the help of an intimacy coordinator.

The movie follows tennis star Tashi Duncan's extremely sexually tense—at least based on the trailer—love triangle with fellow players Art and Patrick (played by Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor). And Zendaya says working with a professional coordinator was key to filming the intimate scenes.

“We had an intimacy coordinator which was fantastic and very helpful, because it was important that we felt safe,” the actor told The Hollywood Reporter. “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. We got to bond and feel good with each other."

Mike Faist reiterated her comments about bonding on set, saying "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.”

Challengers—which is directed by Call Me By Your Name's Luca Guadagnino—hits theaters on April 26, so buy tickets and prepare to be seated.

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