Zendaya to Star in Alex Garland Sci-Fi Film at A24

Actor Zendaya has been cast to star in an untitled science-fiction film written and directed by Alex Garland for A24, the studio announced on October 15, 2026. Plot details remain confidential, with production scheduled to begin in 2027.

The project marks the fifth collaboration between Garland and A24. The British filmmaker's prior work with the studio includes his 2014 directorial debut "Ex Machina," as well as "Men" (2022), "Civil War" (2024), and "Warfare" (co-directed with former U.S. Navy SEAL Ray Mendoza). A24 is also currently producing Garland's live-action adaptation of the video game "Elden Ring," which wrapped filming on July 30, 2026, and is scheduled for release on March 3, 2028. "Civil War" previously held the record as A24's costliest in-house production before "Elden Ring."

Zendaya's 2026 has included leading roles in three major films: Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" (grossing over $1.7 billion worldwide), "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" (over $2.5 billion worldwide), and the dramedy "The Drama" with Robert Pattinson (over $134 million worldwide). She also received a Best Actress in a Drama Series Emmy nomination for the HBO series "Euphoria," which concluded its three-season run in 2026 after being produced in collaboration with A24. She is set to appear in "Dune: Part Three," opening December 18, 2026.

Garland's science-fiction work spans two decades, beginning with collaborations with director Danny Boyle on "Sunshine" and continuing through films including "Annihilation" (distributed by Paramount) and the Netflix series "Devs." He also wrote the films "28 Days Later" and, more recently, "28 Years Later" and "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" for Sony Pictures. In 2024, Garland stated he would be stepping back from directing, though multiple projects have followed that announcement.