Zendaya’s Secret to Dodging Franchise Burnout in Hollywood

Zendaya’s back in the spotlight this year, fronting two of the biggest film franchises around. She’s set to join Tom Holland again for the fourth Spider-Man instalment, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and she’s also stepping back into the desert as Chani in Dune: Part Three. Despite these high-profile gigs, she’s not letting herself get stuck in a franchise rut.

Alongside these blockbusters, Zendaya’s got her hands full with a string of prestige projects. She’s taking on Athena in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and teaming up with Robert Pattinson in Kristoffer Borgli’s The Drama, where she plays Emma Harwood. Plus, she’s returning as Rue Bennett for the third season of Euphoria, a role that’s earned her plenty of critical nods. It’s a mix that shows she’s not just chasing box office numbers—she’s keen to keep things interesting.

Mixing Big-Name Franchises with Indie Cred

Zendaya first made waves as a Disney kid in Shake It Up, before moving on to Spider-Man and more serious turns in The OA and Euphoria. Her breakout as Chani in Dune: Part One and her role in Spider-Man: No Way Home—her biggest box office hit—cemented her as a major player. But she’s never let these big titles define her. Instead, she treats them as a launchpad, not the finish line.

Between the tentpole releases, she’s picked roles that show off her range. She belted out tunes in The Greatest Showman and starred opposite John David Washington in the black-and-white drama Malcolm & Marie. After her 2021 box office run, she was back on telly for Euphoria’s second season, diving into roles that let her explore more subtle, complex territory. This approach might just be the secret to a long run in the industry.

Choosing Variety Over Playing It Safe

Zendaya’s not one to take every script that lands on her desk. She’s picky, and it shows. Even within the world of franchises, she’s managed to keep things fresh. Her characters in Spider-Man and Dune might both be part of massive universes, but they’re worlds apart in tone and style. In an interview, she said she’s drawn to roles that challenge how punters feel about her characters.

She put it this way:

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

She used Rue as an example, saying,

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

Acting wasn’t something she got straight away, but she became obsessed with it, telling the Irish Times:

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.

She’s not chasing the next big franchise just for the sake of it. Each project asks something new of her, so punters never know quite what to expect. That unpredictability is rare, especially in the world of big-budget films.

Franchise Fame Opens New Doors

Landing roles in Spider-Man and Dune has given Zendaya a massive boost, but instead of boxing her in, it’s opened up more opportunities. She’s now seen as both a commercial draw and a versatile performer. The Marvel films have made her a household name, while Dune’s put her on the radar for sci-fi fans. Working with directors like Denis Villeneuve has shown she’s up for ambitious, director-led projects.

With this clout, she’s been able to pick her collaborators and take a few creative risks. She’s not keen to get stuck in endless franchise cycles, but she’s not ruling them out either. She’s even set to voice Felicia in Shrek 5, due out in 2027. As long as the roles keep her challenged, she’s likely to keep mixing it up.