Zendaya Was Initially Cast for Ayo Edebiri’s Role in "After the Hunt"
Malik Hassan Sayeed, cinematographer of After the Hunt, revealed in a Deadline interview that Zendaya was originally set to play the role eventually taken by Ayo Edebiri in Luca Guadagnino’s film. However, Zendaya decided to drop out before production commenced.
Production Timeline and Zendaya's Schedule
Production of After the Hunt began in July 2024. That year, Zendaya’s schedule was relatively light, with her only other project being the film The Drama, shot in October. Given her availability, it appears she chose not to participate in the Guadagnino project.
Critical and Commercial Reception
The film, directed by Guadagnino, reunited him with Zendaya’s co-star from Challengers. Despite this connection, After the Hunt was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews. Critics labeled it reactionary in its themes, and it failed commercially at the box office.
“I’m still not entirely sure how the film cost $80M to produce — it still boggles my mind, since most of it takes place in rooms and offices.” — Commentary on the film’s unexpectedly high budget.
Summary
Zendaya’s decision to withdraw from After the Hunt seems prudent considering the film’s poor reception and commercial failure, especially given its unusually high production costs relative to its setting.
Would you prefer the summary to be more formal or casual?