2026 Could Be the Biggest Year of Zendaya’s Career

We didn’t see much of Zendaya in 2025 in the way were are used to. There were fewer red carpet appearances, fewer magazine editorials, and, overall, less of her domination. But, as it turns out, she wasn’t just lazy as hell, laying low (we never actually thought this). She was lining up what is shaping up to be the biggest year of her career yet.

2026 is stacked with major projects that stretch across film, blockbuster franchises, and the TV series that made Zendaya, 29, an Emmy-winning star. Between mythology, sci-fi, superhero universe, prestige drama, and the long-awaited return of Rue Bennett, Zendaya’s calendar next year looks like a choose-your-fighter moment for fans. Her projects include The Drama, The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Dune: Part Three, and Euphoria.

Put simply, she’s balancing massive IPs, career-defining TV, and ambitious adaptations, something very few actors her age pull off simultaneously. She’s dabbling in different genres, portraying wildly different characters, and upping the emotional stakes across all of them.

Here’s why the excitement levels are off the charts for a few of those.

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The Odyssey: Athena is really HER

One of Zendaya’s most intriguing upcoming roles is her turn as Athena in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, a massive big-screen adaptation of the ancient Greek epic. Casting her as the goddess of wisdom and war already feels inspired since she’ll effectively be the first Black woman to play the role. This isn’t an art-house take on mythology; it’s shaping up to be one of those “event movies” where everything including how the characters are portrayed feels big.

Dune: Part Three: Justice for Chani

If the first two Dune films were the setup, Part Three is where Zendaya’s Chani truly steps into her power. Her screen time grew significantly in Dune: Part Two, but the emotional conflict of Chani’s character is far from resolved. Chani is one of the saga’s most morally complex figures, and it’ll be interesting watching Z navigate that challenging terrain.

Euphoria Season 3: Rue is finally back

This one needs almost no explanation. It’s been forever since we last checked in on Rue Bennett, and we have our concerns. The wait alone (four years and counting) has built enormous anticipation. Zendaya’s Emmy-winning performance returns this spring, and fans are desperate to see where Rue’s story goes after everything she’s been through, including addiction, heartbreak, damaged relationships, fragile sobriety, and owing someone scary A LOT of money.

Sam Levison has revealed some details about where Rue is and what she’s up to, and we’ll be tuned TF in no matter what.

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