Zendaya Was Originally Cast in "After the Hunt"
Malik Hassan Sayeed, the cinematographer of After the Hunt, revealed in an interview with Deadline that Zendaya was initially set to play the role that eventually went to Ayo Edebiri. However, Zendaya later dropped out of the project.
Production Context and Zendaya’s Schedule
Production for After the Hunt began in July 2024. During that year, Zendaya had a fairly light schedule, taking on only one film: The Drama, which she shot in October. It appears she chose not to participate in Guadagnino’s film, which would have reunited her with the director of Challengers.
Reception and Budget Details
- After the Hunt was broadly criticized by critics for its reactionary themes.
- The film performed poorly at the box office.
- Its $80 million production budget remains puzzling since much of the movie is set indoors in simple locations like rooms and offices.
“Seems like a wise decision on her part to drop out of the film, which was universally panned by critics, called out for its reactionary politics, and bombed at the box office.”
Despite the initial excitement, Zendaya’s decision to leave the project likely spared her association with a film that did not fare well critically or commercially.