Zendaya in Alex Garland's new sci-fi film

Zendaya has found her next film project: As reported by the industry magazine Variety, the "Dune" actress will star in Alex Garland's new science fiction project. The as-yet-untitled film is being produced by A24 and is scheduled to begin shooting in 2027. No specific details about the story or a release date have been announced yet. All that is known is that Alex Garland will both write the screenplay and direct the film.

For Zendaya, the project marks another collaboration with A24. Her name is particularly closely associated with the HBO series "Euphoria", in which A24 served as a production studio. Zendaya also recently starred alongside Robert Pattinson in the dark tragicomedy "The Drama", which grossed over $135 million at the box office.

For Alex Garland, too, working with A24 is anything but new. The filmmaker has brought numerous projects to life in collaboration with the indie studio in recent years. These include, among others, "Ex Machina", "Men", "Civil War", and the war film "Warfare". Next up is the film adaptation of the acclaimed video game "Elden Ring" – A24's most expensive production to date. The film is scheduled for release on March 3, 2028.

From Euphoria to Dune: Zendaya's Most Famous Projects

Zendaya has long been one of the biggest stars of her generation. She made her breakthrough as a teenager on the Disney Channel, and now she regularly collaborates with some of Hollywood's most renowned directors. This year in particular has been an extraordinary one for the actress, with "The Odyssey" and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day".

Her Breakthrough with Euphoria

She made her big breakthrough in Hollywood in 2019 with the acclaimed HBO series "Euphoria". As the drug-addicted Rue Bennett, Zendaya showcased a much more dramatic side of herself and was honored with multiple Emmy Awards, among other accolades, for her performance. She also quickly established herself in film. In addition to the musical "The Greatest Showman", her role as MJ in the "Spider-Man" universe likely contributed most to her global fame. She has appeared on screen alongside Tom Holland since 2017's "Spider-Man: Homecoming".

Dune Makes Zendaya a Sci-Fi Star

Another important milestone in her career is Denis Villeneuve's "Dune" series. Zendaya appeared as Chani in the first film, even though her role was relatively small at first. In "Dune 2", the character finally took center stage. As a Fremen warrior and Paul Atreides' partner, Chani became one of the story's central figures. In December, Zendaya will return to this role in "Dune 3".

Two Massive Box Office Hits in 2026

The year 2026 was particularly impressive for Zendaya at the box office. In Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey", she took on the role of the goddess Athena. The fantasy adventure, based on Homer's epic, became a massive hit and has grossed approximately $1.78 billion worldwide to date.

Shortly thereafter, the next blockbuster followed: "Spider-Man: Brand New Day". In it, Zendaya returned as MJ and once again starred alongside Tom Holland. The fourth "Spider-Man" film starring Holland proved to be an even bigger box office hit: it has since grossed more than $2.5 billion worldwide. This makes the film the most successful theatrical release of 2026 to date. With "The Odyssey" and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day", Zendaya was featured in two of the year's biggest cinematic events within just a few weeks. The fact that both films together contributed significantly to a record-breaking summer at the box office further underscores her current standing in Hollywood.