Zendaya & Josh O'Connor on the queer themes of 'Challengers'

[@ekdud2772]

Josh is brilliant, I wish I could see the moment where the cameras start rolling and he goes from this shy, sort of inward seeming individual to the boastful, overly confident character he played onscreen. The switch is crazy. I mean I know that’s what being good at acting entails but it’s still fascinating to see with certain actors.

[@ronnieacosta6848]

Absolutely!

[@_CharlieH]

I have the same thought with James McAvoy in split. I want to see how he channels all the different people, especially hedwig and Patricia

[@poindexterorozco]

Sooo thankful it’s not 2015 anymore when actors would star in a queer af movie and then deflect about it being queer during the press tour (cough cough bohemian rhapsody)

[@whaddup5417]

Is it a queer film or does it just have queer elements? I think labeling it as a film *about* a queer relationship just makes the story a lot less compelling and the movie less impactful. Thereby doing less to normalize queer in general.

[@davidkonevky7372]

​@@whaddup5417 saying that it's a queer film doesn't take out from the story, it just explains that it exists in this spectrum of non-heteronormativity

[@Tuosma]

You're tell on yourself if you think labeling it as a queer relationship makes it less compelling.​@@whaddup5417

[@scoiattolosabbioso4420]

What happened about bohemian rhapsody?

[@arieleandalon2262]

Every interview I see makes me fall more in love with Josh O'Connor. Incredible explanation of his role, he truly understood the assignment of making his character a bisexual agent of chaos and obsessive brat and in turn, helped me better understand him!

[@sparkygirl266]

Mike literally started in the Broke Back Mountain play and yore not going to talk about his queer roles?

[@mertark8511]

he doesn't seem to care to be involved anyway

[@jellyrollnorton]

@@mertark8511As his body language so clearly states.

[@frostypebbels8191]

i think he had a question for mike but ran out of time.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Justice for Mike Faist

[@ImAshley2023]

Mike really doesn't care. He'd rather not have to do press interviews

[@lavienrosewon8811]

Mike dont care fame,the reasons he have no social media

[@LinaG-lx5fg]

What happened to Mike🙄

[@likeacorpse]

what happened

[@PokhrajRoy.]

@@ImAshley2023 Valid

[@Kaw92101]

Zendaya is so stunning and so well spoken. She is going to be around forever and will be an icon one day. Mark my words.

[@jm7804]

The styling for this interview is giving me 1960s movie star in the best possible way. She already is a fashion icon at a young age. Her Met Gala appearances are frequently the most photographed and reported.

[@monsta46]

She already is an icon lmao. But yeah, she will be around 30 years later and continue being one of the faces of Hollywood

[@notoriousfierce]

I know you have a limited time but still JUSTICE FOR MIKE FAIST

[@heidinewman9335]

Interesting interview. Just saw the film and wow, what a complex character study. Really worth seeing and contemplating.

[@ericamacs3875]

Kind of badly timed interview but I get that Zendaya jumped in there, shame the question wasn't directed at Mike and Josh straight away, both have played much more explicit queer roles.

[@elissalombard7021]

I think Mike especially couldn’t care less about answering these questions 😂 Zendaya played Rue as well - and she was a producer in Challengers which is why many of these questions are initially directed at her.

[@slitmeow]

zendaya is very known for playing a lesbian woman in euphoria wth

[@sankango]

just the interview i was looking for! thank you for asking these questions

[@PokhrajRoy.]

So happy to see their interviews and that too, with Cameron. Such fun!

[@miragelamb]

Love the interview.

[@64chalk]

Yessss this is the best interview I’ve seen about the movie yet!!!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Just wanted to say thank you to all the tweeple who gave me a hit tweet about the recent press conferences.

[@MeelaMeela000]

I think the word Josh is looking for is Polyamory??? I haven’t seen the film so I could be wrong but from this interview alone, I feel like what he’s describing is polyamory.

[@HANNAHPOO]

i think it’s something bigger than that - more metaphorical or poetic

[@darklinaendgame]

It’s definitely polyamory they’re just too Media trained to say it

[@MeelaMeela000]

Metaphorical polyamory?

[@danielamongiat7164]

Let. Mike. Faist. Speak. Let hem them all. Be. Part of the. Inter View

[@Lillianna2478]

Interviews three actors. Only puts two in the title. Do BETTER 🙄

[@chiedu90069]

Um... Editing? The interviewer couldn't ask Mike to elaborate and have someone edit the responses together?

[@1004hyun]

They probably only booked for a short period of time and had to move on to the next interview

[@Venger02]

Great movie!🔥🔥💥💥👏🏿👏🏿❤️❤️

[@LinaG-lx5fg]

Josh🫦🫦

[@monicarose2135]

she's doing all the talking...

[@leonametalian]

he asked her specifically first because she was a producer

[@mymyspacemama]

awwwwww

[@supermilkguy]

The LGBTQI2SAP+ Community supports you!!

Queer/Gay is still somehow in the closet. Not impressed that we are still hesitant, reticent about same sex relationships. Only independent films have the guts to be a bit more open about same sex desire/love.

[@OmfgHiii]

thing is these actors aren't queer. it's easy to kiss on camera but they don't have the answers a queer person would have about representation. to them it's abstract love... but luca definitely can show the crave for authenticity. you can even see this film as only reaching happiness when u give yourself permission to love and how pat and art were each others true all encompassing loves.

[@hm2011100]

@@OmfgHiii only Zendaya is publicly confirmed as heterosexual. The 2 guys aren’t & are obviously committed to not disclosing their orientation. They’ve each had a relationship with a female in their 20s but that’s not conclusive.

[@zuzuyuzuzuzu]

@@hm2011100even zendaya isn’t straight, she’s implied multiple times that she’s not. Besides it really doesn’t matter because they are ACTORS

[@scoiattolosabbioso4420]

​@@OmfgHiii can we please stop assuming people sexuality?

[@Lizzie555xx]

I feel like zendaya was trying to avoid making it sound like there is queer people in the movie in the first bit

[@munch314]

Gay for pay

[@treesny]

They're actors.

[@DeeMontezx1]

@@treesny Actors who are actually engaging in home essential acts for the screen to influence society for the worst. Glad it bombed at the box office ; )

[@PeachGirl46]

😂

[@Meriysi]

I don’t think Mike is completely straight

[@MM-fe9mz]

This so didn't feel queer or gay at all.

[@xashes6552]

You mean the movie? Then you need to watch it again, it's about how the two dudes desire each other while also competing for Zendaya's character. That's the point

[@scoiattolosabbioso4420]

HOW? bisexual poliamory relationship

[@kkaiizz]

you definitely didn’t pay attention during the movie.

[@JiminPalmSprings]

What queer themes does the movie “challengers”have? Seems like we’re stretching it a bit when you just have two dudes straight dudes kissing for Zendaya.

[@jamespader]

Did you watch the movie? You could constantly cut their tension with a knife completely outside of the role zendaya’s character played in their relationship/bromance. The sauna scene? Hello?

[@1Lanavis1]

Patrick was definitely at least not fully straight.

[@jamespader]

They made it very clear that Patrick was yes mostly hooking up with women but also very much hooking up with men too. The brief scene where he’s swiping on tinder says it all.

[@kar12894]

are you actually saying they werent gay enough?

[@3776-d8n]

@@kar12894 😭😭

[@FatherGapon-gw6yo]

Zendaya is such a disappointment

[@3776-d8n]

who are you to be saying this? She's an icon in so many different ways, she's super smart, talented, hardworking, beautiful, and respectful. Meanwhile I don't even know your name. Before putting her down first get on her level