Zendaya Teases Directing Plans After Conquering Acting, Music and Hollywood’s Biggest Franchises

Published 07/07/2026, 11:27 PM CDT

via Imago

Zendaya has spent years acting, singing, dancing, modeling, producing, and jumping between Hollywood’s biggest franchises as if one career were never enough. Now, with her already packed resume running out of space, the actress has revealed the title she hopes to add next, director. Apparently, conquering Arrakis, the MCU, and television seems was only the warm-up.

And after years of watching filmmakers like Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve command some of Hollywood’s biggest sets, Zendaya might finally be getting the itch to call “action” herself.

Zendaya might have one more career move left up her sleeve

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Speaking in a recent interview with Kevin McCarthy, Zendaya revealed that she hopes to direct someday, explaining that working around incredible filmmakers has made her wish she could do the same. However, the actress admitted that the ambition comes with its own wave of self-doubt, as she sometimes finds herself questioning whether she is the person to take that leap. Considering the number of cinematic giants currently filling her contact list, the directing masterclass has practically been happening around her for years.

“I hope so. I think part of it, like when you’re surrounded by really incredible directors, there’s a part of you that’s like, ‘Wow, I wish I could do that.’ But then, also it’s like, ‘Who am I?’” Zendaya told Kevin McCarthy.

And directing would only add another lane to a career that has already refused to stay inside one box. Zendaya began releasing music during her Disney Channel years before scoring the hit ‘Replay,’ singing ‘Rewrite the Stars’ with Zac Efron for The Greatest Showman, and later contributing ‘All for Us’ and ‘I’m Tired’ to Euphoria. Add the billion-dollar Spider-Man franchise, the Oscar-winning Dune films, and her Emmy-winning turn as Rue Bennett, and apparently the only direction left to explore is literally directing.

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But if Zendaya plans to squeeze filmmaking into her resume, she may first need to find an empty space in a calendar that currently looks allergic to rest.

Zendaya’s blockbuster calendar is already fighting for space

Zendaya has turned 2026 into a relentless sprint across television, streaming, and some of Hollywood’s biggest screens. After The Drama arrived in theaters in April and Euphoria Season 3 premiered on April 12, she is heading toward an even more crowded summer with The Odyssey hitting theaters on July 17 and Spider-Man: Brand New Day following on July 31. Apparently, one blockbuster universe was far too reasonable, so she decided to collect several at once.

Credits: Universal Pictures

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And the year still refuses to let her calendar breathe, with Zendaya set to reprise her role as Chani in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three on December 18, 2026. Between the MCU, Arrakis, ancient Greece, prestige television, and her growing interest in directing, Zendaya is no longer simply moving between projects; she is practically collecting entire cinematic worlds.

And, if the director’s chair really is next, Hollywood may need to make room before she decides to run the set too.

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Would you like to see Zendaya step behind the camera and direct a film someday? Let us know in the comments.

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Lisa Roy

325 articles

Lisa Roy is an Entertainment Writer at NetflixJunkie, bringing Hollywood’s biggest moments to life through crisp news and fan-focused feature stories. With a Master’s in English Literature and over four years of experience across national and international domains , she is known for an eye for stories that fans instantly connect with. While she enjoys covering real-world gossip, she is deeply drawn to fictional universes of wizardry and witches.

Edited By: Aliza Siddiqui

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