Zendaya’s 2025–26 Slate Marks Her Boldest Career Pivot Yet

Zendaya kept things low-key this year, and that was not an accident. Fewer red carpets, fewer photo ops, and basically no splashy awards moments. The trade-off: next year is shaping up like a full-on flood of projects and premieres, which is exactly how you make a comeback feel big.

Why she went quiet this year

She skipped the Emmys and the Oscars. That tracks: she was neither nominated nor presenting, so there was no real reason to show up just to wave. Her last major carpet was the Met Gala, and then she pulled back. On the personal side, tabloids keep pushing engagement chatter with Tom Holland, but they have not announced anything themselves.

Her longtime stylist Law Roach basically hinted that the silence was strategic. In an E! News chat, he said both of them are stacked with movies now and the premiere calendar next year is going to be busy. He also said any wedding planning is distant because, again, work.

"I’m resting up for 2026."

Translation: fewer step-and-repeats in 2025 so the 2026 rollout actually lands.

What 2026 looks like (with a big grain of salt)

Here’s the slate that keeps getting attached to her name. Important caveat before we dive in: several of these come from listings (think IMDb) and industry chatter rather than studio announcements. Dates move. Titles change. Treat these as 'in the mix' until the distributors make it official.

• The Odyssey (reportedly directed by Christopher Nolan) — Zendaya is listed as Athena in a large-scale take on the Greek epic. Per listings, it is in post and aiming for July 17, 2026. If this sticks, expect a lot of think pieces about casting tradition, because you rarely see this role played by a Black woman in major studio films.
• Dune: Part Three — Back as Chani. After two films setting the table, this is the one that supposedly pushes her arc to the front emotionally. The date floating around: December 18, 2026.
• Euphoria season 3 — Rue returns after what will be roughly a four-year gap since the last season. The window being tossed around is spring 2026, with April on HBO mentioned in listings. HBO has not publicly locked a date and the schedule has been fluid.
• Spider-Man: Brand New Day — MJ again alongside Tom Holland in what would be his fourth solo Spidey movie. Word is it’s in post with a July 31, 2026 target. Note: that 'Brand New Day' title comes from the comics and has not been confirmed by Sony. Logline-level chatter mentions Peter facing a new threat and teaming with an unexpected ally, but plot details are not official.
• The Drama — A project opposite Robert Pattinson, with Zendaya as Emma Harwood. The premise: a happily engaged couple’s wedding week goes off the rails. Listings say post-production with an April 3, 2026 date. No marketing footprint yet.

So, what should you expect?

If even half of that lineup lands next year, brace for a lot of Zendaya on screens and carpets. The strategy makes sense: sit out a thin awards cycle, then return when you can stack premieres and control the narrative. Dates will shift (they always do), but the plan is clear: 2026 is the victory lap after a deliberate quiet period.