‘After the Hunt’: Zendaya Was Initially Cast in Ayo Edebiri’s Role
In a Deadline interview, cinematographer Malik Hassan Sayeed revealed that Zendaya was first expected to play the role later given to Ayo Edebiri in Luca Guadagnino’s film “After the Hunt.”
“Zendaya was actually supposed to play the Ayo Edebiri role in Luca Guadagnino’s film, but dropped out,” Sayeed told Deadline.
Production on “After the Hunt” began in July 2024. That year, Zendaya’s schedule was relatively light—she only filmed “The Drama” in October. It appears she simply chose not to move forward with the project, which would have reunited her with her “Challengers” director, Guadagnino.
The decision may have been beneficial. The film was harshly criticized for its tone and politics, failed commercially, and received negative reviews. Despite a reported budget of $80 million, much of the action unfolds in confined settings such as offices and rooms.
Author’s Summary
Zendaya was once attached to “After the Hunt” but withdrew before filming; the project later faced critical and financial failure.