Josh O'Connor & Mike Faist Serve Sweaty Tension in Challengers Image

Director Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name, Bones and All) is bringing some exciting queer tension to the world of tennis in his upcoming film Challengers.

The film follows a Grand Slam tennis champion competing against another tennis player who happens to be a former friend — and his wife’s ex. Besides their competitiveness on the court, that tension between them also spills into the outside world. Challengers features Zendaya as Tashi, Josh O’Connor as Patrick, and Mike Faist as Art.

On Monday, July 31, Empire released a new image of Challengers where O’Connor and Faist are seen shirtless and smirking at each other. In an interview, Faist talked to the publication about Guadagnino’s approach to the film:

“[Guadagnino] had no knowledge of tennis going into this. And I think he had only a vague interest in certain tennis specificities. He was more interested in the bodies and sweat.”