Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ ‘Challengers’ Score Brings a Sizzling, Sensual Element to Zendaya’s Love Triangle
The tension lurking under every frame in “Challengers” can be attributed in large part to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ original score for the buzzy Luca Guadagnino film. Now, IndieWire can exclusively unveil the official “Challengers (Original Score)” behind the star-studded feature that centers on the love triangle between former tennis star turned coach Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), her almost has-been tennis icon husband Art (Mike Faist), and her ex-boyfriend Patrick (Josh O’Connor).
Milan Records will release the original score from two-time Oscar winners Reznor and Ross on Friday, April 26.
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The official description reads: “Set within the high-stakes world of professional tennis, the film required a soundscape as thrilling as the onscreen action, prompting Guadagnino to turn to hard-hitting techno and electronic music as the starting point for Reznor and Ross’ scoring efforts. The result is a powerful, propulsive score that perfectly matches the pulse of the film, its pulsating techno rhythms and synthwork driving the story while enhancing the emotionality at its core.”
The score is comprised of a 16-track collection that includes original song “Compress / Repress” co-written by Oscar-winning Nine Inch Nails duo Reznor, Ross, and director Guadagnino.
Reznor and Ross previously told IndieWire they had hoped to collaborate with Guadagnino for years. “A few years ago, we had made a short list of people that we felt would be intriguing collaborators to work with, and Luca was one of the names on that list,” Reznor said. “I remember getting wind that Luca was interested in us and that it was a love story about cannibals, and that was about all the information we needed.”
Sony Music released “Challengers [Mixed],” nine tracks from the film’s electronic score, earlier this year. The songs were deconstructed and subsequently reimagined into a continuous mix by DJ and producer Boys Noize, who was hand-selected by the duo for the project. You can listen to it right here or stream it below.
“Challengers” composers Reznor and Ross previously scored David Fincher’s films “The Social Network,” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” “The Killer,” and “Gone Girl,” winning their first Oscar for Best Original Score for “The Social Network.” Their second Academy Award was 10 years later in 2020 for “Soul” alongside Jon Batiste.
The duo are also set to release a new Nine Inch Nails album, and further collaborate with Guadagnino for upcoming release “Queer.”
See the full track list for “Challengers (Original Score)” below.
Challengers
“I Know”
Yeah x10
L’oeuf
The Signal
Brutalizer
Stopper
Brutalizer 2
The Points That Matter
Lullaby
Final Set
Pull Over
Friday Afternoons, Op. 7: A New Year Carol
Friday Afternoons, Op. 7: A New Year Carol (Part 2)
Challengers: Match Point
Compress / Repress
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