From a young Disney actress to a Hollywood sensation,Zendayaalways brought her A-game to the roles she played. In her early years, she started her career as a model and backup dancer until she got a major role in a Disney sitcom calledShake It Up. After starring in various Disney projects, she got her breakthrough roles in the MCU’sSpider-Manfilms and HBO’s hit seriesEuphoria. Initially, she played a very small role as Michelle Jones, who also goes by the name MJ, inSpider-Man: Homecoming. Further, in the superhero trilogy, she became a central character alongside Tom Holland’s Spider-Man.
Update August 01, 2025: This article has been updated with more Zendaya projects as well as adjusting release dates forDune: Part TwoandChallengers.
Zendaya also became the youngest actress to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (twice) for playing Rue inEuphoria. Throughout her illustrious career, Zendaya has taken onseveral teenage roles, and there’s no doubt she portrayed all of them gracefully. But now it seems like she is making a bit of a shift to more mature roles, and it would be great to witness her versatile acting range while portraying adult characters. It’s worth noting that Zendaya just keeps adding some great projects to her already impressive filmography. Today, we will dive into the list of her upcoming projects, which you should be waiting for to grace the screens.
Dune: Part Two — July 20, 2025
Dune: Part Two
Dunefilms are based on the 1965 novel penned by Frank Herbert. After the success ofPart One, which earned a box office collection of $402 million, the makers are ready to releaseDune: Part Twoearly next year. The new release date is finally set to be June 25, 2025,after a small delay. Zendaya and Timothee Chalamet will reprise the roles of Chani and Paul Atreides, respectively. While the first installment gave Zendaya’s character very limited screen time, with most of it being just Paul’s haunted visions, the sequel will likely do justice to her role by making her the “protagonist of the story,” as revealed bydirector Denis Villeneuve.
Along with some of the old faces, new characters will also be a part ofDune: Part Two, like Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan), Austin Butler (Feyd- Rautha), Christopher Walken (Emperor Shaddam IV), Léa Seydoux (Lady Margot), and Souheila Yacoub (Shishkali). The story will witness Paul Atreides teaming up with Chani and the Fremen army in an effort to bring his enemies to their knees for killing his family. He has to make a wise choice between his love and the fate of the universe to stop the horrific future that he has predicted.
Challengers — July 03, 2025
One of Zendaya’s most anticipated films isChallengers,featuring her, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist. The film is helmed by Luca Guadagnino, renowned for his films likeCall Me By Your Name, Suspiria, Bones and All,and others. The story is about Tashi, a former tennis player and now-turned-coach, who makes her husband, Grand Slam champion Art, participate in a challengers' event to bring him out of a recent game loss. Soon, her husband finds out that he has to compete against her ex-lover and his best friend Patrick, which builds up tension in the storyline.
Zendaya Shines in the First Trailer for Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers
Tennis and a love triangle are at the center of Challengers, Luca Guadagnino’s new film starring Zendaya.
Along with being the central character, Zendaya will also be the producer of the film alongside Guadagnino, Rachel O’Connor, and Amy Pascal. According toVariety, Zendaya trained for three months to bring her pro tennis skills on-screen. The director, too, praised her tennis abilities and revealed that a body double of her wasn’t needed as she was excellent at flexing her newly developed skills.
Along withDune: Part Two,Challengerswas another Zendaya film delayed due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA Strike. Originally set for release on August 17, 2025, the movie was delayed until June 14, 2025. While originally intended as a potential awards contender, the new release date makes it a potential early summer movie season. IfDeadpool 3is delayed from its August 18, 2025 release date and no Marvel film takes it,Challengersmight be the unofficial kick-off to the summer movie season.
Euphoria Season 3 — TBD 2025
Euphoriahas been a fan favorite series for its engaging storyline, thought-provoking themes, appealing visuals, and an outstanding soundtrack. Season 2 finale was a complete drama package for the viewers, with a popular fight between Maddy and Cassie on stage becoming a highlight of the whole show, which also became a widely recognized meme. The series ended on a cliffhanger, leaving the viewers full of questions about what is going to happen next in each character’s storyline. However, we can expect the next season to clear all our doubts and give us all another good story. According to the costume designer ofEuphoria, Heidi Bivens, the series might take a “five-year” leap when the characters have departed from the high school, which opens the opportunity to explore their adult versions.
The cast ofEuphoriaSeason 3 will likely be Zendaya (Rue), Sydney Sweeney (Cassie), Maude Apatow (Lexi), Storm Reid (Gia), Jacob Elordi (Nate), Colman Domingo (Ali), Austi Abrams (Ethan), Nika King (Leslie), Dominic Fike (Elliot) and Algee Smith (Chris). Barbie Ferreira as Kat will not return for Season 3, as it was her and the showrunner Sam Levinson’s mutual decision to end her story. A fixed release date has not yet been disclosed, but according to an interview with HBO Max Head Casey Bloys, the season will most likely come out in 2025. The cause of the delay is said to be the writer’s strike and Levinson’s commitment to his newcontroversial series,The Idol.
Be My Baby — Release Date TBD
Be My Babyis a biopic about the late singer Ronnie Spector, who passed away at the age of 78 in 2022. The famous singer was the one who led the group named the Ronettes and was often called the “bad girl of rock and roll.” Spector’s first choice was Zendaya to play her role in the biopic. The film will be produced by A24, which is renowned for its films like20th Century Women, A Ghost Story, The Florida Project, Midsommar, Uncut Gems, Bodies Bodies Bodies,and others. A24 will join New Regency to develop this movie.
Jackie Sibblies Drury will likely be penning the script for the biopic. After Spector’s death, Zendaya took to Instagram to pay a heartfelt tribute to her, along with a Polaroid picture of them together. She described the popular singer as “incredibly full of life” and a “true rockstar.” Further, she spoke about how getting to know her was the “greatest honors of her life.” The biopic will be based on the memoir of the same name. The producers are Marc Platt, Adam Seigel, Tom Shelly, Zendaya, and Mark Itkin. Other cast members, release date, and plot details remain under wraps.
A White Lie — Release Date TBD
In collaboration with Reese Witherspoon, Zendaya will be part of the 1890s reality-based psychological thrillerA White Lie. The movie follows Anita Hemmings (Zendaya) as the very first light-skinned African American to pass as white to attend the Vassar College. She manages to convince a very rigid administration board of her merits and her worthiness to be part of the school. The movie will openly dive into racial diversity matters expressed through the lead character’s struggle to hide her African American origins and her family heritage in order to enjoy the white privileges of her time.
Zendaya will not just be the lead actress but also co-produce this film alongside Reese Witherspoon and her Hello Sunshine partner, Lauren Neustadter. The rising anticipation and suspense for this drama thriller is especially felt among the people who read Karin Tanabe’s 2016 novelThe Gilded Years, on which the script will be based (written by Monica Beletsky), and among Zendaya’s devoted fans who already think she will exceed their expectations. The cast, release date, and detailed plot are not shared as yet and no progress has been made on the movie since it was announced in 2018.
Spider-Man 4 — Release Date TBD
Spider-Man: No Way Homereunited the iconic web-heads of different franchises to fight the most beloved villains of all time. The film turned out to be a super-duper blockbuster, with a box office collection of over $1.9 billion worldwide. While Holland’sSpider-Mantrilogy has already ended, he is said to be receiving one more installment calledSpider-Man 4, which is currently in development. In a recent interview (viaVariety), Holland revealed that the film is in its early stages, and they had conversations about it, too, but the film was halteddue to the writers' strike.
By the end ofNo Way Home, we see Holland’s Spider-Man welcoming a new chapter of his life by donning his self-made suit after everyone forgets him, including Ned and MJ. As of this moment, it is unknown if Zendaya will return to play MJ in the heavily rumoredSpider-Man 4. There are plenty of reasons for her to be included, but alsoplenty for the MCU not to bring MJ back. Until the movie is officially announced, it is all speculation.
