Zendaya to Star in Alex Garland Sci-Fi Film for A24

Zendaya Sets Sights on Alex Garland Sci-Fi After Dune

Zendaya is expanding her footprint in the science fiction genre by signing on to star in an untitled feature written and directed by Alex Garland for A24. The deal, reported on October 15, 2026, pairs the actress with the filmmaker behind Civil War, Ex Machina, Annihilation, and the television series Devs. Production on the new project is scheduled to begin in 2027, with plot details, casting announcements, and a release date kept entirely under wraps.

The timing of the announcement arrives roughly two months before the theatrical release of Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Three on December 18. In that film, Zendaya reprises her role as the Fremen warrior Chani alongside Timothée Chalamet's Paul Atreides. The final installment jumps 17 years forward from 2024's Dune: Part Two, placing the actress once again at the center of a major cinematic universe just as she maps out her next career moves.

What Does A24 and Alex Garland Bring to the Table?

For Garland, the untitled project deepens an ongoing creative partnership with A24 that has yielded films including Ex Machina, Men, Civil War, and Warfare. The filmmaker has also been managing concurrent workloads, having wrapped A24's upcoming fantasy-adventure adaptation of the video game Elden Ring, which is set for release on March 3, 2028. That film stars Kit Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Ben Whishaw, and Havana Rose Liu, transporting audiences to the war-torn Lands Between.

Garland's heavy schedule points to a sequential rollout. Industry tracking indicates that Garland will work on both projects concurrently, suggesting that the newly announced sci-fi film will likely debut in theaters after the March 2028 arrival of Elden Ring.

How Does This Fit Into Zendaya's Blockbuster Year?

The new film strengthens a professional pipeline between Zendaya and A24. The actress previously starred as Rue in HBO's Euphoria—which concluded its three-season run this spring and earned her an Emmy nomination—and led the A24 dark comedy The Drama alongside Robert Pattinson, which pulled in almost $135 million worldwide.

Her broader 2026 slate has featured some of the industry's highest-profile releases. She appeared in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey as the goddess Athena and returned in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Box office analysts note that if Dune: Part Three crosses $1 billion, Zendaya would achieve the distinction of becoming the first actor to star in three movies that reached that threshold in a single calendar year.

Where Else Will Fans See Her Next?

Beyond live-action science fiction and prestige drama, Zendaya's upcoming calendar crosses into animation and biographical film. In summer 2027, she voices Felicia, the daughter of Shrek and Fiona, in DreamWorks Animation's Shrek 5, which hits theaters on June 30, 2027, following a 16-year franchise hiatus. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz return alongside co-directors Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon.

What Is Next for Moviegoers to Watch?

Forgive me for all I’ve done.

Warner Bros., via official Dune: Part Three trailer promotion

Fans awaiting the fruit of the Zendaya and Alex Garland collaboration will need to practice patience. With production slated for 2027 and Garland managing post-production duties on Elden Ring ahead of its March 2028 release, plot details and additional casting notices will likely emerge closer to the start of filming. In the immediate term, audiences can watch for the arrival of Dune: Part Three in theaters and IMAX on December 18, 2026.