For Zendaya, 2026 is shaping up to be one of her busiest years on screen. From her return to the breakout series “Euphoria” to major blockbuster franchises like “Spider-Man” and “Dune,” she appears in five major projects across film and television within a single year. Below is a closer look at her roles in these upcoming projects, all of which are set to make 2026 a defining year for her

The Drama (April 3)

Opening her 2026 slate on April 3, The Drama begins as a seemingly conventional romance between Emma, a literary editor, and Charlie, played by Robert Pattinson. Their relationship shifts when, just days before their wedding, a confession reveals a deeply unsettling secret from Emma’s past, turning the film into a psychological study of trust and how fragile it can be.

Emma is introduced as the ideal partner – charming, thoughtful and deeply in love with Charlie – fully settled into what feels like a stable relationship. That image begins to crack once her secret surfaces, breaking the trust between them. As suggested in early footage, she is forced to confront her past while navigating a relationship that no longer feels certain, caught between who she is now and how she is seen by her partner.

Euphoria Season 3 (April 12)

In the same month, Euphoria returns on April 12 with a five-year time jump, following its characters into their early 20s as their lives start to move in different directions. Framed through a darker, “film noir” lens by Sam Levinson, the new season shifts its focus toward consequence, faith and what happens after adolescence.

At its centre, Rue’s story takes a heavier turn. A drug addict still carrying the weight of past debts, she is now in Mexico and drawn into a more volatile criminal world as she looks for ways to repay what she owes. As legal consequences begin to close in, her arc leans toward redemption, confronting the long-term reality of addiction while trying to find a way forward.

The Odyssey (July 7)

Arriving July 7, The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan, reimagines Homer’s epic through a grounded, non-linear lens. The film follows Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, on a decade-long journey home after the Trojan War, facing mythical threats while his family struggles in his absence. It balances spectacle with reflection, exploring memory, survival and the meaning of return.

Zendaya appears as Athena, the goddess guiding Odysseus through his journey. Acting as both a strategist and a shaping force in his fate, her role bridges the human and mythic elements of the story. The film’s ensemble cast also brings her back on screen with Tom Holland, while continuing her collaborations this year with Robert Pattinson, who appears as Antinous.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31)

Soon after, Zendaya returns in the Marvel blockbuster Spider-Man: Brand New Day, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Set four years after No Way Home, where everyone forgot Peter Parker following Doctor Strange’s spell, the film follows a more isolated Peter, now living anonymously in New York as a street-level Spider-Man while trying to balance everyday life. The story shifts away from multiverse spectacle, focusing instead on a more grounded and personal conflict.

Here, Zendaya continues her role as MJ under entirely different circumstances. With no memory of Peter, she has moved on and is now studying at MIT. Early footage suggests she may even have a new boyfriend, creating a quiet but significant emotional distance as Peter is left to navigate a relationship that, for her, no longer exists.

Dune: Part Three (December 18)

Closing Zendaya’s on-screen run for the year on December 18, Dune: Part Three, adapted from the novel Dune Messiah, takes place twelve years after Paul Atreides’ rise to power. Now Emperor, Paul presides over a galaxy-wide holy war carried out in his name, while political factions quietly move against him. As his visions of the future intensify, he becomes increasingly trapped by the very destiny he once sought to control.

Reprising her role as Chani, Zendaya moves further into the centre of the story. As Paul’s true partner despite his political marriage with Princess Irulan, she witnesses his transformation into a ruler shaped by power and consequence, while navigating her own fate as her path toward motherhood unfolds. The film also continues her run of collaborations this year with Robert Pattinson, who appears as the main antagonist, Scytale.



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