frame
Challengers — VFX
Client
  • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
  • Amazon Studios
Units
Year2022 -2023
Frame by Frame

VFX Challengers. 650 shots and 7 months of work: from the fury of city winds to architectural reconstructions, our visual effects brought the director's vision to life

Challengers

by Luca Guadagnino
2023
Zendaya stars as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned fiercely determined coach, married to a champion in crisis (Mike Faist). To reignite her husband’s career, Tashi encourages him to face off against Patrick (Josh O’Connor), his former best friend and her ex-boyfriend. Amid personal tensions and competitive rivalries, Tashi is forced to confront the true cost of victory.

The sequences ranged from complex atmospheric simulations, such as a city windstorm, to precise technical interventions like set extensions, beauty work, and the removal of anachronistic elements—all orchestrated to align with the director’s vision.

One key scene involved creating a windstorm. Using CG and compositing, powerful gusts, debris, paper scraps, leaves and urban objects were thrown into chaotic motion. Subtle details, like wind-blown curtains and swaying poles, were also simulated for an effect that was seamless yet entirely believable.

Another crucial task focused on the sequences set at Stanford University, digitally reconstructed as they were filmed elsewhere. Matte painting and compositing recreated the vegetation and architecture with meticulous precision, crafting a backdrop that integrates perfectly into the narrative context.

Compositing 
CG integration
Set extension
Beauty
Fx
Matte painting 
Clean up
Gfx
Screen insert
Split screen

Before and After
Gallery

In two sequences, New York’s skyline reflected on the sea was digitally recreated to complete the landscape behind the actors on a moonlit night. The matte painting defined the scene, precisely integrated during compositing to seamlessly blend with the foreground.

In other scenes, the vegetation around the tennis courts was enhanced and digitally extended to align the background with the setting. Trees and plants were added in every camera-visible direction, creating a fully immersive 360° natural environment.

Breakdown
PlayVideo

Challengers – VFX breakdown

Crew

Credits

Our Team
VFX
Davide Luchetti
VFX Executive Producer
Fabio Cerrito
Head of Department
Virginia Cefaly
VFX Producer
Nicola Pentecoste
VFX Line Producer
Isabella De Blasio
VFX Coordinator
Marco Geracitano
Vfx Supervisor
Maura Manfredi
Lead Compositor
Francesca Lombardi
Vfx Production
Nazzareno Palmigiani
Vfx Production
Mara Misino
Vfx Production
Paolo Lonzi
CG Supervisor
Marco Panci
CG Artist
Luca Simonato
CG Artist
Giulio Bartali
FX Artist
Andrea Reali
Matte Painter
Orsola Sorrentino
VFX Editor
Silvia Tolomeo
VFX Editor Assistant
Flavio Sassu
Data I/O Manager
Gaetano Polizzi
Matchmover
Alessandro Abiuso
Digital Compositor
Antonio Cascone
Digital Compositor
Alessio Chietera
Digital Compositor
Monica Cinquepalmi
Digital Compositor
Luigi Croce
Digital Compositor
Flavio De Blasio
Digital Compositor
Clemente Del Gracco
Digital Compositor
Diego Di Paola
Digital Compositor
Francesca Falzetta Pizzi
Digital Compositor
Mattia Fede
Digital Compositor
Edoardo Fedele
Digital Compositor
Carlotta Ferraresi
Digital Compositor
Marta Gargano
Digital Compositor
Sara Gargano
Digital Compositor
Fabiana Gianfagna
Digital Compositor
Alessandro Macis
Digital Compositor
Giulio Parati
Digital Compositor
Charlston John Peña
Digital Compositor
Emanuele Perrina
Digital Compositor
Matilde Rossi
Digital Compositor
Pasquale Tomaiuolo
Digital Compositor
Chiara Trinchera
Digital Compositor
Stefano Valente
Digital Compositor
Vanessa Zighetti
Digital Compositor
Francesco Santoro
Digital Compositor
Davide Velli
Digital Compositor
Matteo Velli
Digital Compositor
Filippo Verna
Digital Compositor
Fabio Fiordalice
Pipeline TD
Mirko Di Giorgio
Pipeline Technical Assistant
Alessia Marucci
HR Manager
Martina Cestrilli
Account Manager
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