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

Zendaya is adding another exciting project to her filmography. The actress will star in a new science-fiction film from Alex Garland, despite previously suggesting she might disappear from Hollywood after her incredibly busy 2026.

Zendaya apparently isn’t ready to slow down just yet, and we couldn’t be happier about it. The Emmy-winning actress has signed on to star in a new science-fiction film written and directed by Alex Garland for A24. The project remains untitled, with production scheduled to begin in 2027.

According to Deadline, the filmmakers are keeping the story under wraps, and the studio has yet to announce additional cast members or a release date.

Zendaya has joined an untitled science-fiction project from writer-director Alex Garland at A24. The production plans to begin filming in 2027, although the filmmakers have not revealed details about the storyline.

The project reunites Zendaya with A24 following The Drama, the dark comedy in which she starred opposite Robert Pattinson, and HBO’s Euphoria, which A24 helped produce.

It also brings her into the creative world of Alex Garland, whose work includes Ex Machina, Annihilation, Men and Civil War.

Garland has built his reputation around films that explore technology, human behaviour and uncomfortable moral questions. His science-fiction projects rarely offer audiences straightforward answers, which makes Zendaya’s involvement particularly intriguing.

And frankly, after watching her performances in Challengers, The Drama and Euphoria, we’re interested in seeing what she does with material like this.

Didn’t Zendaya Say She Was Taking a Break?

That’s what makes this announcement particularly welcome. Earlier this year, Zendaya suggested she would step away from the spotlight after an exceptionally busy 2026.

During a March interview with Fandango, the actress expressed concern that audiences might become tired of seeing her everywhere.

“I just hope people don’t get sick of me. I really appreciate anyone who supports any of the movies or supports my career in any kind of way, I’m deeply appreciative. I just hope you guys don’t get sick of me this year because I’ll tell you what, after this, I’m disappearing for a little bit. I’m going to have to go into hiding for just a little bit.”

She also explained that she planned to disappear for a little while once her promotional commitments ended. And considering her schedule, who could blame her? Zendaya’s 2026 projects include The Drama, the third season of Euphoria, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Dune: Part Three. That’s an extraordinary amount of work for one actress to promote in a single year.

But here’s the thing: we certainly aren’t getting tired of Zendaya. If anything, it’s refreshing to watch a young actress at the height of her career continue choosing interesting projects rather than limiting herself to predictable blockbusters.

Of course, nobody wants her to experience burnout. There’s a difference between enjoying someone’s work and expecting them to remain constantly available. And signing on for a film scheduled to shoot in 2027 doesn’t necessarily mean she has abandoned her plans to take a break.

In fact, Zendaya acknowledged that contradiction herself during an interview with ELLE. Although she wanted some downtime, she admitted that taking a break often left her itching to return to work.

Zendaya’s Career Choices Keep Getting More Interesting

What stands out about Zendaya’s career is how comfortably she moves between major Hollywood franchises and smaller, more challenging productions.

She can headline a blockbuster like Dune or Spider-Man while making room for unconventional projects like Challengers and The Drama.

Now she’s adding an Alex Garland science-fiction film to that list. It’s particularly encouraging to see her continue working with filmmakers whose projects offer something different from the usual studio formula.

We hope Zendaya takes whatever time she needs to rest and enjoy her life away from Hollywood. But we’re also glad that her plans for the future still include ambitious films. And if she’s going to return to science fiction, doing it with Alex Garland and A24 sounds like an excellent choice.