Zendaya Joins Alex Garland’s New A24 Sci-Fi Film

Zendaya has signed on to lead an untitled science-fiction film written and directed by Alex Garland for A24. Production is expected to begin in 2027, although the studio has not announced a release date, additional cast members or details about the story.

The casting puts one of Hollywood’s most in-demand stars at the center of Garland’s return to original science fiction. His work in the genre includes Ex Machina, Annihilation and the television series Devs, projects known for pairing ambitious ideas with tense, character-driven storytelling.

Another major A24 collaboration

The film also extends both participants’ relationships with A24. Zendaya previously worked with the company on HBO’s Euphoria and the dark comedy The Drama, in which she starred opposite Robert Pattinson. Garland’s A24 credits include Ex Machina, Men, Civil War and Warfare.

Garland is also directing A24’s large-scale adaptation of the video game Elden Ring. That project has completed filming and is scheduled for 2028, giving the filmmaker a busy slate as he prepares the newly announced feature. The 2027 production plan suggests the untitled movie remains at an early stage, and its eventual theatrical calendar is still open.

Zendaya keeps building a varied film slate

For Zendaya, the project adds another genre title to a career that already includes the Dune and Spider-Man franchises. She has also moved between large studio productions and smaller adult dramas, making the Garland collaboration a natural bridge between spectacle and filmmaker-led material.

The announcement confirms the star and creative team but leaves the most important creative questions unanswered. A24 has not identified Zendaya’s character, disclosed a premise or said whether the film will connect to any of Garland’s earlier worlds. Until production begins, the strongest signal is the pairing itself: a globally recognized actor, a filmmaker closely associated with modern science fiction and a studio with a long record of backing both.