Zendaya’s Franchise Roles: Freedom Beyond Spider-Man and Dune

Zendaya finds herself at the heart of two of the year’s most prominent film series, yet she’s managed to sidestep the usual pitfalls that come with such territory. With a return to the Spider-Man universe alongside Tom Holland in the fourth instalment, and another outing as Chani in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three, she’s not simply repeating herself. Instead, she’s weaving these high-profile roles into a broader tapestry of work that resists easy categorisation.

Mixing Blockbusters with Artistic Ambition

While many would be content to coast on the momentum of major franchises, Zendaya’s schedule tells a different story. This year, she’s also set to appear as Athena in Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey, and she’s taken on the role of Emma Harwood in Kristoffer Borgli’s The Drama, a project that’s already generating buzz thanks to her collaboration with Robert Pattinson. Not to be overlooked, she’s returning as Rue Bennett in the third series of Euphoria, a part that’s become something of a calling card for her more nuanced, emotionally charged performances.

Her journey from Disney Channel beginnings in Shake It Up to the heights of Spider-Man and Dune has been anything but linear. After her breakout as MJ, she quickly pivoted to more demanding roles, including a turn in The OA and the critically acclaimed Euphoria. The first Dune film and Spider-Man: No Way Home both arrived in 2021, cementing her status as a box office draw, but she’s never let these successes define her entire output.

Refusing to Be Pigeonholed

Rather than allowing franchise work to overshadow her other pursuits, Zendaya treats these films as a foundation, not a ceiling. Between tentpole releases, she’s taken on parts that stretch her abilities—singing in The Greatest Showman, starring opposite John David Washington in the black-and-white drama Malcolm & Marie, and returning to television for Euphoria’s second series. These choices offer her the chance to explore vulnerability and complexity, far removed from the spectacle of blockbuster filmmaking.

Her recent run includes a standout performance in Challengers, directed by Luca Guadagnino, and a packed slate for 2026. Notably, she took a break from the screen in 2025, a move that suggests she’s in no rush to saturate the market. Her approach to franchise work is measured, ensuring she remains both commercially relevant and artistically credible. With an estimated net worth of £24 million, she’s also maintained a parallel career in music, releasing singles like Swag It Out and Watch Me back in 2011.

Range Over Repetition

Zendaya’s reputation rests on her ability to bring something fresh to each role, even within the confines of established universes. She’s selective about her projects, and it shows. Her performances as MJ and Chani couldn’t be more different in tone or purpose, and she’s spoken openly about her desire to play characters who challenge audience expectations. In one interview, she remarked,

“[I want to play characters] who are complicated… unlikable, unlovable, or irredeemable.”

She elaborated on her portrayal of Rue:

“Remember that she’s human and she’s hurting, too.”

Acting wasn’t always second nature to her, as she once admitted:

“I learned about my love for acting from the stage. My mum worked at the California Shakespeare Theater since I was a kid. So I really fell in love with acting because of actors I got to see on stage every day since I was two. It was my life. And I just was obsessed with what they were doing. I didn’t really understand it. All that said, this felt like a full-circle moment for me.”

Rather than chasing box office figures, she’s followed her fascination with the craft itself, ensuring that each major project demands something new from her as a performer.

Franchise Success as a Springboard

Her involvement in Spider-Man and Dune has undoubtedly raised her international profile, but rather than being boxed in, she’s used this visibility to open doors to more ambitious, director-led projects. The Marvel films have introduced her to a broad, multi-generational audience, while Dune has made her a favourite among science fiction enthusiasts. Working with directors like Villeneuve, Nolan, and Guadagnino has only expanded her creative horizons.

She’s now in a position to choose her collaborators and take calculated risks, rather than being locked into endless franchise cycles. That said, she’s not averse to further franchise work—she’s set to voice Felicia in Shrek 5, due out in 2027. As long as these roles continue to stretch her creatively, it seems she’ll keep straddling the line between mainstream appeal and artistic exploration.