Zendaya, one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors, says she plans to step back from the spotlight after an unusually busy year that will see her headline four major films and return to television.
The 29-year-old Oakland native is bracing for a near-constant presence on screens in 2026, and she knows it.
“I just hope you guys don’t get sick of me this year,” she said in an interview with Fandango’s Big Ticket posted Thursday, March 26. “I really appreciate everyone who supports any of my movies, or supports my career in any way.”
Zendaya will appear in A24’s “The Drama,” opening April 3, followed days later by the long-awaited third season of HBO’s “Euphoria,” where she reprises her Emmy-winning role as Rue.
By midsummer, she will return to theaters with a one-two blockbuster stretch: Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” and Marvel’s “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” She closes out the year in December with Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Three.”
Taken together, the lineup positions the Bay Area-raised star as one of the most visible performers in the industry this year. It is also, by her own telling, a moment that calls for a reset.
“After this, I’m disappearing for a little bit,” she said, flashing a peace sign during the interview. “I’m gonna have to go into hiding.”
“The Drama,” a dark comedy co-starring Robert Pattinson, has already drawn some criticism ahead of its release. According to TMZ, a parent whose son was killed in the 1999 Columbine High School shooting objected to the film’s subject matter and raised concerns about how it engages with themes related to mass violence.
The latest announcement comes as Zendaya’s public profile continues to grow, fueled not only by her work but also by sustained interest in her personal life, including ongoing speculation about her relationship with actor Tom Holland. Neither has confirmed recent rumors about a possible marriage.
For fans, the hiatus may be short-lived. Zendaya is already set to return in 2027 with a role in “Shrek 5.”