19
19
Why will 2026 be a landmark year for Zendaya?
A sharp comedy from A24, an epic film by Christopher Nolan, or a Marvel blockbuster… At 29, American actress Zendaya is lining up a monumental 2026 calendar. From the series Euphoria to the next installment of Dune, here’s an overview of the upcoming projects of the highly sought-after Hollywood star.
2026 will be a landmark year for Zendaya
Producer, fashion icon, and a face coveted by studios, American actress Zendaya, 29, is taking ever-greater control over her image, choosing her projects with pinpoint precision. In just a few years, she has established herself as one of the most fascinating figures in Hollywood, effortlessly shifting from raw teen dramas to sweeping sci-fi sagas.
After breaking through with the series Euphoria (since 2019), in which she portrays a troubled teenager, the actress became the youngest one to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She later left her mark in Denis Villeneuve’s monumental saga Dune (2021), in the Netflix romance Malcolm & Marie (2021) alongside John David Washington, and in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), fully embracing the contrast between sci-fi blockbusters and more demanding features. But 2026 could mark a turning point for the American star, as she lines up many exciting projects. Here’s an overview of her anticipated upcoming projects.
The Drama with Robert Pattinson
After Dune: Part Three and The Odyssey, Zendaya will star opposite Robert Pattinson in the film The Drama. A project produced by A24 and directed by Kristoffer Borgli, the filmmaker behind the fantasy comedy Dream Scenario (2023). She will play Emma Harwood, a bookseller from Baton Rouge thrust into Boston high society on the eve of her wedding to an art historian portrayed by the Twilight star.
The project is intriguing and blends bourgeois chronicle, awkward humor and magnified, minor cruelties. The marketing itself — with a fake engagement announcement published in the American press — adds a touch of playfulness. Moreover, fiction intersects with reality here to echo Zendaya’s widely discussed engagement to her partner Tom Holland.
The Drama (2026) by Kristoffer Borgli, coming out in theatres on April 1st, 2026.
A new season of Euphoria in April 2026
After years of delays and rewriting, the filming of season 3 finally started in 2025. A few months ago, HBO unveiled the first images of Rue (Zendaya), who seems older, but still unstable. Sam Levinson’s show reportedly required close to a month of work per episode and was supported by a colossal budget.
Announced as darker, this new run of episodes, set to premiere on April 13th, 2026, is expected to move even further away from the traditional codes of the teen drama. On the agenda, an exploration of the long-term consequences of addiction, grief and fame with social media as a backdrop.
This project remains the riskiest undertaking in Zendaya’s filmography. Rue, the protagonist and terrifying personification of addiction, will have to face withdrawal crises and hallucinatory visions. Opposite Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi and Sydney Sweeney — joined by singer Rosalía and actress Sharon Stone — Zendaya will no doubt further develop the trajectory of her character in season 3.
Season 3 of Euphoria, created by Sam Levinson, will be available on April 13th, 2026, on HBO Max.
Zendaya as a Greek goddess in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey
We will have to wait until July 15th, 2026, to discover Christopher Nolan’s new larger-than-life project. After Tenet (2020) and Oppenheimer (2023), the cult filmmaker is taking on Homer’s classic and stages Matt Damon as Odysseus and Anne Hathaway as Penelope. As for Zendaya, the director entrusted the role of Athena, the strategic goddess guiding the hero through raging seas and hostile kingdoms. A six-minute prologue is about to be unveiled in cinemas as a teaser for The Odyssee (2026)…
Shot entirely in IMAX 70 mm, the feature promises a total experience. First, because Christopher Nolan’s aversion to special effects is well known — he preferred a giant animatronic for the Cyclops Polyphemus, for instance. Then, because he attracted the crème de la crème of the seventh art. Indeed, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron and Jon Bernthal will also star in his upcoming epic.
The Odyssey (2026) by Christopher Nolan, coming out in theatres on July 15th, 2026.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day with Tom Holland
The fourth installment in the Marvel saga, Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026), takes place in the middle of Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Zendaya’s presence has now been confirmed after months of uncertainty. She will reprise her role as Michelle “MJ” Jones — a character inspired by the legendary Mary Jane Watson — and reunite with Peter Parker (played by Zendaya’s partner Tom Holland) in a world where no one remembers their love.
Along with the announcement of the arrival of Jon Bernthal’s Punisher, of Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, and the introduction of new antagonists such as Tombstone, the film promises a neo-noir undertone. Scheduled for release on July 29th, 2026, it is shaping up to be something of an emotional reboot for the franchise. An opportunity to give greater depth to Zendaya’s character, who has so far had limited room to express herself.
Actress Sadie Sink, star of the series Stranger Things (2016-2026), will also join the cast. Her role has not been specified yet. Bookmakers are betting on the character of Shathra, a nebulous entity wandering through the multiverse…
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026), directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, in theaters on July 29th, 2026.
The third and final installment of Dune
In Dune: Part Three, scheduled for release next December, filmmaker Denis Villeneuve will finally tackle Dune Messiah (1969), the second installment in Frank Herbert’s sci-fi literary saga. Zendaya‘s character Chani will logically be at the center of the narrative, after two films in which she often remained no more than an observer. The Fremen is expected to become the true conscience of the story, witnessing and enduring the messianic and inhuman drift of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet). In addition to the American actress, the stellar cast includes Robert Pattinson, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jason Momoa and Florence Pugh.
Dune: Part Three (2026), directed by Denis Villeneuve, coming out in theaters on December 16th, 2026.
