Zendaya to Star in 'Civil War' Director Alex Garland's Next Sci-Fi Film
Zendaya has lined up her next big project. The Emmy-winning actress is set to star in a new science fiction film from writer and director Alex Garland, the filmmaker behind "Ex Machina" and "Civil War."
The untitled movie will be released by A24, TheWrap reported Thursday. Plot details are being kept under wraps, and filming is scheduled to begin in 2027.
A Familiar Home at A24
The project reunites Zendaya with A24, the studio behind HBO's "Euphoria." The drama ended earlier this year after three seasons, and Zendaya won the Emmy for best lead actress in a drama series for the first two.
She also starred in A24's "The Drama," a dark comedy co-starring Robert Pattinson. The film became a sleeper hit, earning nearly $135 million worldwide, according to Variety.
That makes the new film Zendaya's third collaboration with A24, Dark Horizons noted. She is also attached to lead the studio's Ronnie Spector biopic, which is in development.
Garland has his own long history with the studio. A24 produced and distributed his films "Ex Machina," "Men," "Civil War" and "Warfare," which he co-wrote and co-directed with Ray Mendoza. The untitled sci-fi movie will be his sixth film with A24.
Garland's Busy Slate
Garland, who also made the sci-fi film "Annihilation" and the FX series "Devs," will work on the new movie at the same time as another big project. His adaptation of the hit FromSoftware video game "Elden Ring," also for A24, wrapped filming on July 30 and has been in post-production since August, work that is expected to continue into next year.
"Elden Ring" is set for release on March 3, 2028. Its cast includes Kit Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Ben Whishaw, Nick Offerman, Tom Burke, Ruby Cruz and Sonoya Mizuno.
His screenwriting credits also include "Sunshine" and "Dredd." The new Zendaya project could also push back another long-awaited Garland film. He wrote "28 Days Later" and reteamed with director Danny Boyle on "28 Years Later" and its follow-up, "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple."
Boyle said at the London Film Festival that Garland has written a "fantastic script" for a third film. "So it's on the back burner at the moment," Boyle said, and the new sci-fi movie could delay it even further.
A Huge Year for Zendaya
The casting news caps a banner year for the actress. She appeared in two of 2026's biggest blockbusters: Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" and Marvel and Sony's "Spider-Man: Brand New Day."
According to TheWrap, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" is the year's top film with $2.51 billion worldwide. "The Odyssey" ranks second with $1.78 billion and has become Universal's highest-grossing film ever.
She isn't done yet this year, either. Zendaya returns as Chani in Denis Villeneuve's "Dune: Part Three," which hits theaters in December.
What We Know So Far
For now, there is still a lot of mystery surrounding the project. A24 and Garland have not revealed a title, a story or any other cast members. No release date has been announced.
What is clear is that the film pairs one of Hollywood's most in-demand stars with a director known for thought-provoking science fiction. Garland's films often explore big ideas, from artificial intelligence in "Ex Machina" to a divided America in "Civil War."
The timing is notable. Zendaya had previously said she planned to take a break in 2027, and the shoot could fall late in the year, according to Nerdist.
With filming not expected to start until 2027, fans will likely have to wait a while for more details. In the meantime, they can catch Zendaya on the big screen in "Dune: Part Three" this December.
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