Zendaya Stars in Alex Garland’s New A24 Sci-Fi Film
Zendaya is set to star in an untitled new A24 sci-fi film written and directed by Alex Garland, according to Deadline. The project continues her collaboration with the studio following her work on the HBO series Euphoria and the A24 film The Drama.
Career Shift from Disney to Auteur Projects
Zendaya began her career on Disney Channel sitcoms Shake It Up and K.C. Undercover, as noted in her Wikipedia profile. She has since transitioned to working with visionary directors, including Denis Villeneuve on the Dune trilogy and Christopher Nolan on The Odyssey, which exceeded $1.7 billion worldwide at the box office.
History with A24 and Garland
A24 has worked with Alex Garland since his Oscar-nominated breakout Ex Machina, according to Deadline. Their collaborations include Warfare, Civil War, Men, and the upcoming Elden Ring adaptation. Zendaya’s casting marks her first lead role in a Garland-directed film under the A24 banner.
Recent Box Office Successes and Upcoming Roles
Zendaya recently starred in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which grossed over $2.5 billion worldwide, and will reprise her role as Chani in Dune: Part Three, set for release on December 18, 2026. Her films as a leading actress have grossed over $9.8 billion worldwide, according to her Wikipedia profile. She has won two Primetime Emmys for her role as Rue Bennett in Euphoria.
What This Signals About A24’s Creative Direction
Zendaya’s involvement in Garland’s new sci-fi film reflects A24’s ongoing commitment to pairing high-profile talent with auteur-driven genre projects. The studio continues to leverage its track record with Garland while expanding into major sci-fi productions, including the Elden Ring adaptation slated for March 3, 2028. Zendaya is represented by CAA, Monster Talent Management, and Granderson Des Rochers, while Garland is represented by WME and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, as reported in the Deadline article.
Zendaya’s Fashion Influence and Brand Collaborations
Zendaya has become a prominent figure in the fashion industry, leveraging her platform to shape trends and partner with luxury brands. She has served as a global brand ambassador for Glaceau Smartwater and the face of footwear company On since 2024. In 2025, she became an ambassador for Rolex, and in 2026, she was named the ambassador for Prada’s perfume Paradoxe. Her influence extends to high fashion, where she has been a spokesmodel for Lancôme, Bulgari, Valentino, and Louis Vuitton.
Her partnership with stylist Law Roach has been a defining aspect of her public image, contributing to her recognition as a fashion icon. In November 2021, Zendaya became the youngest person to ever win the CFDA Fashion Icon award at the CFDA Fashion Awards. She has also been featured on Forbes’ 30 under 30 list and named one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2022.
Zendaya’s fashion choices often generate widespread attention, as seen in her October 2026 appearance in Paris, where she combined controversial shoe trends by wearing black leather Maison Margiela tabi wedge heels with a vintage Prada duster coat at the Merci concept store. This look highlighted her ability to merge avant-garde elements with classic silhouettes, reinforcing her status as a trendsetter in contemporary style.
Zendaya’s Musical Contributions to Film and Television
Beyond her acting roles, Zendaya has contributed original music to several of her projects, showcasing her talents as a singer and songwriter. She co-wrote and performed the songs “All for Us” and “I’m Tired” with Labrinth for the HBO series Euphoria, with the collaboration originating during their time at Coachella in 2023. These tracks were featured prominently in the series and received critical acclaim for their emotional depth and production.
Her musical work extends to film soundtracks, including her duet with Zac Efron on “Rewrite the Stars” from The Greatest Showman (2017), which charted in the top 20 of the US Billboard Hot 100 and achieved multi-platinum certification in multiple countries. Earlier in her career, her debut studio album Zendaya (2013) included the lead single “Replay,” which peaked in the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned multi-platinum status, marking her early success in the music industry.
Building a Legacy with A24 Through Critical Collaborations
Zendaya’s partnership with A24 extends beyond her upcoming Garland project, encompassing a series of acclaimed projects that have cemented her reputation as a versatile leading actress. Her work on HBO’s Euphoria marked her first major collaboration with the studio, delivering a performance that earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Rue Bennett. This role demonstrated her ability to tackle complex, emotionally demanding material under A24’s banner, setting the stage for future collaborations.
Her subsequent film The Drama, directed by Kristoffer Borgli, further solidified her relationship with A24. The darkly comedic rom-com, co-starring Robert Pattinson, achieved significant commercial success with a worldwide gross exceeding $134 million. This project highlighted her capacity to anchor auteur-driven productions while maintaining broad audience appeal. Prior to Garland’s sci-fi venture, she was also attached to star as Ronnie Spector in Be My Baby, an A24 film from Barry Jenkins, underscoring the studio’s ongoing investment in her talent and their shared commitment to innovative storytelling.
Industry Representation and Representation
Zendaya is represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Monster Talent Management, and Granderson Des Rochers, as confirmed in the Deadline report announcing her casting in Alex Garland’s new sci-fi film. This representation structure supports her navigation across major studio franchises, auteur-driven cinema, and high-profile brand partnerships. Her agents and managers have facilitated her transition from Disney Channel origins to leading roles in billion-dollar franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Dune trilogy, as well as critically acclaimed collaborations with directors such as Denis Villeneuve, Christopher Nolan, and now Alex Garland.
Alex Garland is represented by WME and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, according to the same Deadline article. His long-standing creative partnership with A24 — spanning Ex Machina, Men, Civil War, Warfare, and the upcoming Elden Ring adaptation — has been managed through this representation framework. The alignment of Zendaya’s and Garland’s representation teams underscores the industry infrastructure enabling high-profile talent to collaborate on genre-defining projects under the A24 banner, reinforcing the studio’s model of pairing visionary filmmakers with globally recognized stars.
Sources
- Zendaya
- Zendaya To Star In Alex Garland's New Sci-Fi Film At A24
- Zendaya Combines Two Controversial Shoe Trends in Paris
Photo: Jay Dixit (CC BY 4.0)
