Challengers features a cringe-worthy scene where Zendaya’s Tashi Duncan tears her knee — and it’s now been revealed how it was made to look so real.
Zendaya’s Challengersfollowsrising tennis star Tashi Duncanand her whirlwind romance with best friends Art and Patrick. However, one moment that’s particularly memorable is the cataclysmic injury that ruins her career: a horrible knee tear.
When watching the movie, the scene will make you cringe and gasp at the sound and look of Tashi’s knee twisting. Many have wondered how the injury could seem so real — and a post on X/Twitter has revealed how the crew made it happen.
The post said, “What is that,” with a photo of a prosthetic version of Zendaya’s lower half. The photo was originallyposted on TiKTokby bysssarah, who worked behind the scenes for Challengers.
what is that 😭pic.twitter.com/jcZ2n7eXlo
The prosthetic was used to mimic the same movements of the career-ending injury without harming Zendaya in the process. The special effects team outdid themselves by creating such a realistic moment that everyone can’t stop talking about.
“The knee tear injury is so well done to the point that at every screening I have watched Challengers you can feel people flinch even later on in the movie when there are shots of both Art and Patrick’s knees during the challenger match,” one fantweeted.
Anotherchimed in, “I’ve dislocated my knee twice before and that scene had me grabbing my knee and groaning in secondhand pain. Like I felt that so bad.”
Challengers is now in theaters and, if you want to know more about the movie, you can find out ift’s based on a true story. You can also read all about theChallengers age rating, or take a look at theChallengers soundtrack.
About The Author
Gabriela Silva was a Senior TV & Movies Writer on Dexerto’s US team, specializing in Netflix originals, K-Drama, and Disney+ shows. She also has bylines at ScreenRant, Pop Br, and Showbiz Cheat Sheet.
