Welcome to Long Live the Sex Scene, a special project by Cosmopolitan that explores why these steamy television and movie moments truly matter, especially right now. Join us as we rewind, replay, and then rewind them all over again.
The Challengers press tour was a tour de force thanks to Zendaya’s impeccable red carpet outfits (the Loewe tennis ball heels...like, can you even?!?!). Directed by Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino, the movie is one of a growing number with sex scenes that were fully filmed with the help of an intimacy coordinator. Intimacy coordinators work with film crews and on sets to help choreograph sex scenes and make sure actors are physically and emotionally safe while filming.
The movie follows tennis star Tashi Duncan’s extremely sexually tense love triangle with fellow players Art and Patrick (played by Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor). According to Zendaya herself, working with a professional coordinator was the 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 the Euphoria star’s comments about bonding on set and mused, “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.”
