Zendaya is preparing to return to the science-fiction genre, joining forces with filmmaker Alex Garland for a mysterious new feature film backed by A24. The untitled project is expected to begin shooting in 2027, bringing together one of Hollywood’s most in-demand stars and a director known for creating thought-provoking, visually striking science-fiction stories.
Although the filmmakers are keeping the storyline under wraps, the announcement has already created considerable interest among movie fans. Zendaya has established herself as a leading figure in major franchises and ambitious independent productions, while Garland has developed a reputation for exploring complex ideas through films that combine suspense, technology, human psychology, and unsettling visions of the future.
The upcoming collaboration also represents another chapter in Zendaya’s relationship with A24, the independent entertainment company behind several of her recent projects. For Garland, the film continues an established creative partnership with the studio, which has supported several of his most distinctive directorial efforts.
With production reportedly planned for 2027, audiences will have to wait for further announcements before learning the film’s title, characters, story, or potential release date. Nevertheless, the combination of Zendaya, Garland, and A24 makes the project one to watch for fans of original science-fiction cinema.
Zendaya Reunites With A24 for a New Science-Fiction Adventure
Zendaya’s latest casting announcement marks another collaboration with A24, a studio that has developed a strong presence in contemporary filmmaking through distinctive dramas, thrillers, horror films, and unconventional genre projects.
The actress has previously worked with the company on the acclaimed television series Euphoria and the dark comedy-drama The Drama, in which she stars alongside Robert Pattinson. According to the supplied information, The Drama became a significant box-office success, earning nearly $135 million worldwide.
Her continuing relationship with A24 reflects the range of projects she has pursued throughout her career. Although she is widely recognised for blockbuster franchises, Zendaya has also demonstrated an interest in character-driven stories and productions that explore more complicated emotional territory.
Her upcoming science-fiction film with Garland could offer another opportunity to balance those two sides of her career.
At this stage, however, there is little information available about the character Zendaya will portray. The production has not revealed whether the film will take place in the distant future, explore a technologically advanced society, or focus on a more intimate story involving science-fiction elements.
It is also unknown whether the project will feature a large ensemble cast or centre primarily on Zendaya’s character.
Keeping these details secret may be part of the filmmakers’ strategy to protect the film’s central ideas until a later stage of development. Garland’s previous work has frequently attracted attention for its unusual concepts and unexpected narrative developments, making the absence of plot information particularly intriguing.
For now, audiences can look forward to seeing what the actress and director create together.
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Alex Garland Returns to Science Fiction
For Alex Garland, the new project represents a return to a genre that has played a central role in his filmmaking career.
Garland is known for creating stories that combine imaginative concepts with questions about human behaviour, artificial intelligence, technological progress, and the limits of perception. Rather than treating science fiction solely as a vehicle for spectacle, his films often use speculative situations to examine deeper philosophical and psychological concerns.
One of his best-known directorial efforts is Ex Machina, the science-fiction thriller that explores artificial intelligence, consciousness, and the complicated relationship between humans and machines.
The film follows a young programmer who becomes involved in an experiment involving an advanced humanoid artificial intelligence. As the experiment progresses, the boundaries between intelligence, manipulation, and human emotion become increasingly difficult to distinguish.
Garland also directed Annihilation, a science-fiction film that combines mystery, psychological tension, and surreal imagery. The story follows a group of scientists investigating an unusual environmental phenomenon in which the natural world appears to be undergoing extraordinary transformations.
Another notable project is Devs, a science-fiction television series examining technology, determinism, and the possibility of predicting human behaviour. Its story uses a mysterious technology company as the setting for questions about free will and the nature of reality.
Garland has also explored contemporary political and social tensions through films such as Civil War, alongside projects including Men and Warfare.
These productions demonstrate the breadth of his work, moving between intimate psychological stories, speculative science fiction, and larger-scale narratives involving conflict and social instability.
His new collaboration with Zendaya could therefore explore a wide range of possibilities. However, until the filmmakers reveal more information, it would be premature to predict the film’s themes or suggest that it will follow the same approach as any of Garland’s earlier movies.
What is clear is that the project reunites him with a studio that has supported several of his previous films.
Why Zendaya and Alex Garland Could Be an Interesting Creative Combination
Zendaya and Garland come from different areas of the entertainment industry, but their collaboration could bring together complementary strengths.
Zendaya has developed a reputation for portraying characters who face complicated personal circumstances, emotional pressure, and difficult decisions. Her performances have helped establish her as an actress capable of working across television dramas, independent productions, and large-scale studio films.
Garland, meanwhile, is known for creating tightly controlled cinematic environments in which characters must confront uncertainty, danger, or unfamiliar realities.
That combination could provide opportunities for a performance-driven science-fiction film in which the central character’s emotional journey is as important as the story’s larger ideas.
However, the nature of the collaboration will depend on the screenplay and the role Zendaya has been offered. The production has not disclosed whether she will play a scientist, an ordinary person confronting an extraordinary event, or a character whose identity is closely connected to the film’s central mystery.
The supporting cast has also not been announced in the information supplied.
For audiences, the appeal lies partly in the uncertainty. A new science-fiction film from Garland offers the possibility of an original cinematic concept, while Zendaya’s involvement brings considerable star power to a project that has yet to reveal its central premise.
The filmmakers may eventually provide more details through casting announcements, production updates, a first-look image, or a teaser.
Until then, the film remains an intriguing but largely undisclosed collaboration.
Zendaya’s Busy Career Continues Across Major Film Franchises
The new science-fiction project arrives during a particularly active period in Zendaya’s career.
The actress has become a familiar presence in major entertainment franchises, while continuing to pursue projects that allow her to explore different characters and genres.
Among her best-known roles is MJ in the modern Spider-Man films, where she stars opposite Tom Holland. She has also played Chani in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films, bringing an important character from Frank Herbert’s science-fiction universe to the screen.
The Dune franchise has given Zendaya a prominent place in contemporary science-fiction cinema. Its combination of political intrigue, ecological concerns, complex relationships, and large-scale world-building has attracted audiences around the world.
Her next appearance in the series is expected in Dune: Part Three, which is scheduled for December 16 according to the supplied information. The film is expected to continue the cinematic journey through the world of Arrakis under Villeneuve’s direction.
Zendaya has also appeared in The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, both identified in the supplied report as major box-office performers in 2026.
Her growing filmography demonstrates her ability to move between different types of productions. Large franchises provide opportunities to work within established fictional universes, while smaller or more unconventional projects can offer different creative challenges.
The untitled Garland film would add another science-fiction production to that mix, although its eventual scale and style remain unknown.
For fans, the prospect of seeing Zendaya take on a new character outside the established Dune and Spider-Man universes may be one of the project’s most appealing aspects.
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A24 Continues Its Creative Partnership With Alex Garland
The new film also reinforces A24’s continuing relationship with Garland.
The studio has supported several of his projects, including Ex Machina, Men, Civil War, and Warfare. These films vary significantly in subject matter and style, but they share an interest in exploring challenging ideas through distinctive cinematic approaches.
A24 has built its identity around a combination of independent filmmaking, unusual storytelling, and projects that can stand apart from conventional studio productions.
Its releases cover a broad range of genres, including psychological thrillers, horror, comedy, drama, and science fiction. The studio has also become associated with filmmakers who favour distinctive visual styles and stories that leave room for interpretation.
Garland’s work fits naturally within that environment.
His films frequently place characters in situations where the rules are unclear and seemingly reliable explanations become increasingly difficult to trust. That approach can encourage audiences to discuss a film’s meaning long after the credits roll.
The new project may continue this creative relationship, although its specific style and themes have not been revealed.
A24 is also involved in Garland’s upcoming adaptation of the video game Elden Ring. The project features a cast that includes Kit Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Ben Whishaw, Nick Offerman, and Tom Burke.
According to the supplied information, filming on Elden Ring concluded on July 30, with a planned release in March 2028.
The adaptation represents another ambitious undertaking for Garland, who is moving between different types of storytelling while maintaining his connection with A24.
The Zendaya film, meanwhile, is expected to begin shooting in 2027. No official release date has been provided, and it remains unclear how its production schedule will align with Garland’s other commitments.
What the New Film Could Mean for Science-Fiction Fans
Science fiction continues to offer filmmakers opportunities to explore subjects that extend beyond futuristic technology and spectacular visual effects.
At its best, the genre can examine contemporary concerns through imagined worlds, unfamiliar environments, and hypothetical situations. Stories about artificial intelligence, space exploration, environmental change, surveillance, and human identity can provide audiences with new ways of considering real-world questions.
Garland’s previous projects have often used this approach, combining genre storytelling with philosophical or psychological themes.
That history helps explain why his next science-fiction film is attracting interest even without a confirmed title or plot synopsis.
Zendaya’s participation could also help introduce the project to audiences who follow her work through mainstream franchises and television dramas.
Still, it is too early to determine whether the film will be a cerebral thriller, a large-scale futuristic adventure, a character-focused drama, or something that combines several styles.
The production could introduce original technology, examine social changes, or tell a much more personal story within a speculative setting. None of those possibilities has been confirmed.
The filmmakers’ decision to keep the story secret means that the most meaningful details may arrive closer to the start of production.
In the meantime, the pairing of a prominent performer with a filmmaker known for distinctive science-fiction storytelling provides a strong reason for genre fans to watch for updates.
Could the New Film Delay the Third 28 Years Later Movie?
While Garland’s return to science fiction is exciting news for some fans, it may also affect expectations surrounding another project.
Garland wrote 28 Days Later, the influential post-apocalyptic horror film directed by Danny Boyle. The pair later reunited for 28 Years Later, followed by the sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.
The franchise explores a world transformed by a devastating infection, combining horror elements with questions about survival, society, and human behaviour.
Interest in a third instalment has continued, and Boyle has reportedly spoken positively about a screenplay Garland wrote for the next film.
Speaking at the London Film Festival, Boyle described the script as “fantastic,” while indicating that the project was currently on the back burner because Garland was occupied with Elden Ring.
That comment suggests the third film remains a possibility, but its future schedule is uncertain.
Garland’s commitments to other productions could influence when the next instalment moves forward. Writing, development, financing, casting, and production scheduling can all affect the time required to bring a film to the screen.
However, the new Zendaya project should not automatically be interpreted as a cancellation or permanent delay for the horror franchise.
The available information does not establish that the untitled science-fiction film has replaced the third 28 Years Later movie or that the latter will never be made.
Instead, the situation appears to reflect the competing demands on Garland’s time as a screenwriter and director.
Fans hoping to see another chapter in the post-apocalyptic series may need to wait for a more definitive update.
When Will Zendaya’s New Sci-Fi Film Be Released?
Although production is expected to begin in 2027, an official release date for Zendaya’s untitled science-fiction film has not been announced.
The eventual schedule will depend on when filming starts, how long production takes, and the amount of post-production work required.
Science-fiction films can involve complex visual effects, sound design, editing, and other technical processes. The extent of those requirements for this project remains unknown because its story and visual approach have not been disclosed.
It is therefore too early to estimate a specific theatrical release window with confidence.
The cast list beyond Zendaya has also not been confirmed in the information supplied. Further announcements may reveal additional performers, the film’s title, production locations, and other details.
Until then, fans should be cautious about treating unofficial release dates or speculative plot descriptions as established facts.
The most reliable updates will come from formal announcements by the filmmakers and production company.
Final Thoughts: Zendaya and Alex Garland’s Collaboration Is One to Watch
Zendaya’s upcoming collaboration with Alex Garland represents an exciting new possibility for science-fiction fans.
The project brings together an actress who has become a major presence in Hollywood and a filmmaker whose work has explored artificial intelligence, environmental transformation, human psychology, and unsettling visions of the future.
Their shared connection with A24 adds another layer of interest, especially given the studio’s history of supporting Garland’s distinctive approach to filmmaking.
With production expected to begin in 2027, the project is still in its early stages of public development. Its title, storyline, supporting cast, and release date remain undisclosed.
The film also arrives as Garland balances other commitments, including the Elden Ring adaptation and the possible future of the 28 Years Later franchise.
For now, the most important confirmed detail in the supplied report is the creative partnership itself. Everything else—from the film’s genre approach to its eventual place in Zendaya’s filmography—will become clearer as production progresses.
If the collaboration delivers the kind of imaginative storytelling audiences associate with Garland, it could become another noteworthy addition to modern science-fiction cinema. Until further details emerge, fans will have to wait for the filmmakers to reveal what they have planned.