Zendaya Was Originally Cast for "After the Hunt"
Malik Hassan Sayeed, the cinematographer for After the Hunt, revealed in a Deadline interview that Zendaya was initially slated to play the role eventually taken by Ayo Edebiri. However, Zendaya dropped out before production began.
Production Timeline and Zendaya's Schedule
Production of After the Hunt began in July 2024. That year, Zendaya had a relatively light schedule, working on only one film, The Drama, in October. This suggests she may have chosen not to participate in After the Hunt, which would have reunited her with director Luca Guadagnino, who also directed her film Challengers.
Reception and Financials of "After the Hunt"
- The film was widely criticized by reviewers.
- It faced backlash for its reactionary political themes.
- It performed poorly at the box office.
- The $80 million production budget is surprising, given most scenes occur indoors.
"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."
Summary
Zendaya was originally set to star in After the Hunt but chose to leave, a decision that appears prudent considering the film's critical and commercial failure.
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