Zendaya Is Everywhere in 2026—Here’s Every Movie Coming Soon

Something tells us the Gen Z queen of cinema needs no introduction. Our girl Zendaya is back in full force this year, Pop Tellers, and as Harper’s Bazaar perfectly put it, “We’ve officially entered the Zendayaverse.”

We’re only halfway through 2026, yet Zendaya has already dominated the conversation. From reprising her Emmy-winning role as Rue in Euphoria to starring opposite Robert Pattinson in The Drama, she’s once again proved why she’s one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Off-screen, she’s been just as impossible to ignore, delivering one unforgettable fashion moment after another on the Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey press tours.

And somehow, she’s only getting started. The second half of the year is packed with blockbuster releases, long-awaited sequels, and what could be some of the biggest roles of her career. Whether you’re here for the movies, the fashion, or simply to admire Zendaya doing Zendaya things, here’s every upcoming Zendaya project you need on your radar.

Zendaya’s 2026–2027 Release Schedule

The Drama — April 3, 2026

Before we get to what’s coming next, here’s a quick recap of where we’ve already seen Zendaya in 2026. On April 3, audiences got their first full look at A24’s dark comedy The Drama, starring Zendaya alongside Robert Pattinson. The film premiered with a 76% score on Rotten Tomatoes and has since earned more than $105 million at the worldwide box office. It follows a young engaged couple whose relationship is pushed to its limits during the chaotic week leading up to their wedding.

Zendaya and Pattinson’s chemistry quickly became one of the film’s biggest talking points, with fans praising their performances and the movie’s mix of dark humor, romance, and emotional twists. While The Drama divided some critics with its unconventional storytelling, it has continued to attract audiences and has become one of A24’s biggest releases of the year.

Euphoria Season 3 — April 12, 2026

[Spoilers ahead] Although it’s not exactly a movie, I feel Euphoria deserves a spot on this list, even if its final season was pretty disappointing. A couple of weeks after The Drama, we welcomed—and at the same time said our final goodbye—to Rue, Zendaya’s Emmy-winning role. Zendaya returned as a now-grown young adult battling severe substance addiction, struggling with debt owed to drug dealers, and ultimately meeting a heartbreaking end. Season 3 also introduced several exciting new faces, including Rosalía, Sharon Stone, and Natasha Lyonne.

The final season gave Zendaya some of her most powerful material yet, with fans and critics once again praising her raw, emotional performance. Although saying goodbye to Rue wasn’t easy, the series wrapped up one of television’s most talked-about characters, bringing an end to a role that helped cement Zendaya as one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed young actresses.

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The Odyssey — July 17, 2026

The fun is far from over…in fact, it’s only just beginning. This is the cinematic event of the summer, Pop Tellers.

On July 17, Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated epic The Odyssey is set to hit your local movie theaters. Based on Homer’s ancient Greek poem, the film promises battles, romance, family reunions, and encounters with mythological monsters, vengeful gods, and deadly sirens. As with any Nolan film, the cast is packed with fan favorites, including Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, and even a cameo from Travis Scott.

Zendaya takes on the role of Athena in what could be her most iconic casting yet. In Greek mythology, Athena is the goddess of wisdom and strategy who guides and protects Odysseus throughout his journey, often appearing in disguise and orchestrating his safe return home. It’s easy to see why Zendaya was cast—few actors can embody intelligence, strength, and quiet authority quite like she can. And if her performance doesn’t convince you she was born to play a goddess, her press tour looks certainly will.

Despite the excitement surrounding the film, some X users who attended early screenings have claimed Zendaya’s screen time is more limited than expected. Whether that’s true or not, we’re still looking forward to every scene she appears in.

And yes, I fought for those Odyssey tickets to watch it on opening day in IMAX, just as Nolan intended. Sure, I’m sitting at the sidelines of the theatre because everything else sold out—but I have absolutely no regrets.

Fun fact: The Odyssey marks Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s second collaboration this year after The Drama, with Dune: Part Three making it three. Somebody get these two a friendship bracelet.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day — July 31, 2026 

No time to rest for Zendaya. Just two weeks after The Odyssey premieres, she’s back on the big screen, this time returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At this point, July officially belongs to Zendaya.

In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Zendaya returns as MJ—except this version has no memory of Peter Parker, has started university, and may or may not have moved on romantically. If you need a quick recap, MJ first appeared in Spider-Man: Homecoming as the sarcastic, book-loving classmate nobody quite understood. By Spider-Man: No Way Home, she and Peter were deeply in love—until Doctor Strange’s spell erased Peter from her memory. Heartbreaking. Somewhere between those Spider-Man films, of course, the actors playing them fell in love in real life. Art imitating life and all that…

Tom Holland returns as everyone’s favorite web-slinger, joined by Jacob Batalon as Ned, Mark Ruffalo as Hulk, the mysterious Sadie Sink—whose role remains tightly under wraps—and Jon Bernthal as The Punisher, making his long-awaited big-screen debut.

We do wonder whether it was awkward for the alleged newlyweds to film scenes where MJ has a new boyfriend. Interestingly, this also marks Zendaya and Jon Bernthal’s second collaboration this year after The Odyssey. We’d love to know if he, Tom, and Zendaya carpooled between sets—that would have made for quite a road trip. The pair have also confirmed they share a trailer on set. Cute, domestic, and probably cheaper for production.

Dune: Part Three — December 18, 2026 

[Spoilers ahead] December 18 will be a bittersweet day for Dune fans as the trilogy that brought the breathtaking world of Arrakis to life comes to an end. It’s also the conclusion of one of the most ambitious sci-fi franchises in recent years.

Let’s take a moment for Chani. When we first met her in Dune: Part One, she was a fierce, guarded Fremen who had little patience for the mysterious boy dreaming about her. By Part Two, she had become the emotional heart of the story—the one character who refused to let Paul’s growing mythology consume her. She loved him, but she also chose herself. That arc alone deserves a standing ovation.

Now, after a 17-year time jump, Paul has become the Galactic Emperor, and everything Chani feared has come to pass. Unless you’ve read Dune Messiah, we won’t spoil what’s ahead, but book readers know Chani’s story reaches one of Frank Herbert’s most heartbreaking and beautiful conclusions. Bring tissues.

Dune: Part Three sees Timothée Chalamet return as Emperor Paul, Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan—and now Paul’s wife—Javier Bardem as Stilgar, and Anya Taylor-Joy stepping into a much larger role as Paul’s powerful sister, Alia. Joining the cast as the villainous Scytale is Robert Pattinson, making this his third collaboration with Zendaya in a single year. At this point, I’m convinced he’s just following her around, and honestly, I respect the commitment.

And a special mention for 2027…

Shrek 5 — June 30, 2027

Zendaya’s talent is literally endless. While she doesn’t currently have any live-action films scheduled for release in 2027, she will lend her voice to one of the year’s biggest animated movies, Shrek 5. The excitement is real!

Set to release on June 30, 2027, Zendaya will voice Felicia, the daughter of Shrek and Fiona. Beyond what’s been shown in the teaser trailer, very little is known about the film or where it will take our favorite fairy-tale characters.

After appearing in five major projects in a single year, Zendaya told Fandango she hopes people don’t get sick of seeing her and plans to “go into hiding for just a little bit” once everything wraps up. Well, I have some news for you, Z—we could never get sick of you, girlie! But we’ll graciously allow the break.

See you in 2027. Shrek’s daughter better be worth the wait.

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