Zendaya is returning to science fiction for her next film, joining forces with filmmaker Alex Garland on a new, untitled project from independent studio A24. The film is scheduled to begin production in 2027, although its storyline, supporting cast and release date remain under wraps.
The announcement brings together one of Hollywood’s busiest stars and a director known for exploring unsettling questions about technology, human behaviour and society. Garland, whose credits include Ex Machina and Civil War, will write and direct the project. A24 confirmed the film on Thursday, October 15, according to IndieWire.
Zendaya Returns to Science Fiction
Zendaya’s new role follows several major projects in 2026, including Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and A24’s The Drama, in which she starred alongside Robert Pattinson.
Her upcoming appearance in Dune: Part Three, scheduled for release on December 18, will bring her back to the science-fiction franchise in which she plays Chani. Garland’s new film will mark another move into the genre, although it is too early to determine whether the project will resemble the expansive worlds of Dune or take a more grounded approach to speculative storytelling.
The project also extends Zendaya’s relationship with A24. She starred in the studio’s film The Drama and played Rue Bennett in HBO’s Euphoria, which concluded its three-season run earlier this year. Her association with the studio has included both film and television, giving the latest collaboration a familiar creative home.
Alex Garland Continues His Partnership with A24
Garland has developed a distinctive place in contemporary science fiction through films that use imagined situations to examine real-world anxieties. His directorial debut, Ex Machina, explored artificial intelligence and the boundaries between human consciousness and machines. Men and Civil War later demonstrated his interest in psychological unease and social instability.
The Zendaya project will be another collaboration between Garland and A24, which has backed several of his films. It also arrives as the filmmaker works on Elden Ring, his adaptation of the popular fantasy video game. That film is scheduled to reach cinemas on March 3, 2028.
Garland’s involvement gives the new project a clear creative identity, but the absence of plot details leaves its direction open. Neither the film’s premise nor the character Zendaya will portray has been publicly disclosed.
What the New Film Means for A24
For A24, the announcement adds another high-profile production to a slate that spans independent dramas, genre films and increasingly ambitious projects. Zendaya’s international profile could help the studio attract a broader audience, while Garland brings an established record of directing science fiction that invites discussion beyond its visual spectacle.
The pairing also reflects a wider trend in filmmaking: independent studios are working with globally recognised actors while retaining the creative identities that distinguish them from larger franchise-driven productions.
For now, the most concrete details are the creative partnership and the planned 2027 production start. With the story still secret, audiences will have to wait for further announcements to learn what Garland has planned for Zendaya’s next journey into science fiction.
