Zendaya and Anne Hathaway Join the New Christopher Nolan Film

The new film from master director Christopher Nolan is already causing quite a stir. As Deadline reports, two more top stars have been confirmed for the project alongside Tom Holland and Matt Damon.

We are talking about Zendaya and Anne Hathaway. Anne Hathaway is no stranger to the Nolan universe. She already played the role of Selina Kyle, alias Catwoman, in "The Dark Knight Rises", and two years later she appeared as an astronaut in the science fiction epic "Interstellar". For Zendaya, however, this is her first collaboration with the director. The actress has not only made a name for herself in recent years with her role as Rue Bennett in the acclaimed HBO series "Euphoria", but has also appeared in major blockbusters such as "Dune 2" and the "Spider-Man" films.

As far as the plot is concerned, Nolan is keeping a low profile as usual. Even though the details of the story are still top secret, industry experts speculate that the director could possibly try his hand at a new genre. While his previous movies were often set in the fields of action, science fiction and thriller, there are indications that this time it could be a horror film. So it remains exciting to see what story Nolan will ultimately tell us with this top-class cast.

The as yet untitled film will be released on July 17, 2026 – once again in IMAX format, of course.

The Career of Zendaya

Zendaya, born Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman on September 1, 1996 in Oakland, California, has established herself as a versatile talent and is now known as an actress, singer and fashion icon. Her career began at a young age, and over the years she has amassed an impressive array of projects that have helped her gain a wide fan base and critical acclaim. Here are the major milestones in Zendaya's career.

Early Years and Entry Into Show Business

Zendaya was attracted to show business at an early age. She danced at a young age and was a member of a dance group called Future Shock Oakland. She took her first steps in acting on stage in Shakespeare productions and commercials. Her official breakthrough, however, came when she landed a lead role in the Disney Channel series "Shake It Up" in 2010 at the age of 14. In the series, she played the role of Rocky Blue, an ambitious dancer who wants to conquer the world of dance together with her best friend CeCe (played by Bella Thorne). The show ran for three seasons and helped Zendaya gain her first widespread recognition and popularity with a younger audience.

Disney Career and Musical Beginnings

During her time at Disney, Zendaya developed her musical skills and released her first single "Swag It Out" in 2011. This was followed a year later in 2013 by the single Replay, which landed on the Billboard Hot 100 and gave her music career a major boost. She also released a self-titled debut album, which was well received by her fans and showed that she not only has acting skills, but also musical talent.

In the Disney television production K.C. Undercover, Zendaya played the title role of K.C. Cooper, a young spy, from 2015. The series ran for three years and marked an important step for Zendaya, as she was also able to get involved as a co-producer of the show. She used the opportunity to contribute creatively to the character development and themes of the series and to position herself as a young producer. This was an important step in her career as she showed her ambition beyond just acting.

The Breakthrough in Film: Spider-Man and The Greatest Showman

Zendaya made the real transition from child star to successful actress when she took on the role of MJ in "Spider-Man: Homecoming" in 2017, alongside Tom Holland. The role brought her into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), one of the best-known franchises in the world, and brought her international attention. Her portrayal of MJ, who does not embody the typical love story but rather shows an edgy and independent character, impressed both fans and critics. Zendaya returned in 2019 for the sequel "Spider-Man: Far From Home" and most recently played the role of MJ again in "Spider-Man: No Way Home" (2021).

In 2017, Zendaya also starred in the musical film "The Greatest Showman", in which she played a trapeze artist alongside Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron. Her chemistry with Efron and the challenging acrobatic scenes garnered positive reviews and helped to further cement her image as a serious actress.

Critical Success with Euphoria

Arguably Zendaya's greatest achievement to date is her role as Rue Bennett in the HBO series "Euphoria". The series, which debuted in 2019, stars Zendaya as a drug-addicted teenager trying to get her life together while dealing with the challenges of growing up. The role is dark, intense and emotionally challenging – a marked contrast to the lighter roles she had previously played.

Zendaya's performance was critically acclaimed and earned her her first Emmy for Outsanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2020, making her the youngest winner in the category. In 2022, she won another Emmy for the same role. The series, produced by Sam Levinson, tackles sensitive subjects such as drug dependency, finding identity and mental health, proving Zendaya's remarkable range as an actress.

Success in the Sci-Fi Genre: Dune

Zendaya expanded her repertoire when she starred in the 2021 sci-fi adaptation "Dune" by director Denis Villeneuve. In the film adaptation of Frank Herbert's classic of the same name, she took on the role of Chani, who appears alongside Timothée Chalamet. Although her role in the first part was relatively small, she will play a more central role in the upcoming second part of Dune. Working with Villeneuve and taking part in such an ambitious movie project cemented Zendaya's status as one of the most promising actresses of her generation.

Other Projects

Zendaya also starred in "Malcolm & Marie" (2021) alongside John David Washington. This black and white movie, filmed during the pandemic, is about the complex relationship between a director and his partner. Although the film received mixed reviews, Zendaya's performance was widely praised as she portrayed the emotional highs and lows of her character with impressive intensity. In 2024, she also impressed in Luca Guadagnino's tennis drama "Challengers".