Warning! The following will get into the big spoiler from The Drama. If you don't want to know, stream the movie with an HBO Max subscription and then return here after watching!

The Drama is out on HBO Max, meaning subscribers can now watch the Robert Pattinson and Zendaya film that has everyone talking. I actually knew the twist going into my watch, and while that didn't impact my enjoyment, I do have a question about Charlie's motivation during the movie.

For those who watched and need a reminder, or those who don't care about spoilers, The Drama follows Charlie as he's torn on how to proceed weeks before his wedding when he learns his fiancée Emma planned a school shooting in high school. It's a dark movie that, surprisingly, has a few laughs as well. That being said, I kept thinking about what Charlie was wrestling with during the movie, and if it was more that he was appalled by what he learned, or if he was more appalled at the idea of others finding out.

Did Charlie Fixate On Emma's Confession More Because Of How Rachel Reacted?

Charlie hyperfixates on Emma's confession, and it's completely valid given the context, but I also wondered if the way it all initially went down played into that. Everyone was shocked by Emma's confession, to the point they believed at first that it wasn't true. Once she confirmed it was, however, Rachel got aggressive, and it seemed things changed in Charlie's brain after.

Emma pointed out that Charlie was apt to fixate on things, but what was it he struggled with? I think there's certainly a part of him that had serious questions around her past, but I think Rachel's reaction made him think about the public perception if others found out. How would the world react if they knew Emma's secret, and what would they think of him?

Then, when Rachel pulled out of the wedding as Emma's maid of honor, Charlie was in a rush to get her back in the fold. Why? Well, people might ask questions why she pulled out. I think it's also evident Charlie cared when he asked his coworker Misha about it, trying to get a read on how another person might respond.

Charlie Questioned His Love For Emma, But His Actions In The Drama Show He Always Loved Her The Entire Time

Charlie seems to struggle with whether he should proceed with the marriage in The Drama, but his actions, to me at least, suggest he made up his mind very early on in the movie. I've struggled to talk about this, mainly because, as our review points out, it's weird to talk about this movie with others.

I think Charlie's actions from the start show that he's always loved Emma, even if he isn't aware of it. Everything we see is him coming to grips with accepting the fact that someone he loves was tied to something as controversial as a school shooting.

Getting Rachel to try and forgive Emma, asking a co-worker what they'd do if they found out a loved one was involved in planning something like this- these are the actions of someone who is concerned with the societal reaction tied to someone she loves. Some people will say his brief moment of trying to cheat with his coworker disputes this, but remember, he had the opportunity and didn't go through with it.

Ultimately, The Drama ending was not a shock to me. Emma was always going to love Charlie, and he was going to accept her. I think this is less clouded once the viewer gets out of their head about thinking how they'd wrestle with the situation, which I might've been doing since the trailer first dropped.

I am just one man with an opinion, however, so I would encourage all people to talk about The Drama and maybe rewatch it. With the twist out of the way, maybe I'll get a few people who see that it was never Emma who was the issue when it came to Charlie's love.

Zendaya has a secret weapon for all her jaw-dropping fashion moments, and it’s her stylist Law Roach. The pair have helped popularize method dressing on press tours with their collaboration over the years. But did you know they have done so without “The Big Five” fashion houses? There’s a reason for this, and now, one reason it could change.

Why Zendaya Historically Hasn’t Worn ‘The Big Five’

So, a couple of years ago, Law Roach revealed that Zendaya had never worn The Big Five for a press tour appearance ever. Here’s why, per The Cutting Room Floor podcast:

According to Zendaya’s stylist, it wasn’t too long ago that a number of big fashion brands were not willing to work with him and the actress. And mind you, he’s talking about someone who must have had Disney Channel and Dancing With The Stars on her resume. As he added:

Zendaya has since become the fashion icon of the moment. On her back-to-back press tours this year, where she’s been promoting her multiple 2026 movies, she wore a flowy The Odyssey dress from Trussardi, a Spider-Man-themed red-and-blue two-piece from Versace and a backless spiderweb gown from John Galliano, to name a few. Why do they need to work with The Big Five when just about everyone else will work with them?

Law Roach’s New Update That Could Change Things

Roach was just on Ziwe’s show, which should be noted as a late-night satire. When the host mentioned the “unofficial boycott” on The Big Five fashion houses due to them not working with him at the beginning, Roach was asked to school the people on the “importance of being petty”. Instead, he said this:

You gotta love growth. I should note that directly after this, Ziwe asked Law Roach if Zendaya would wear the brands on the carpet. He firmly said, “No,” with a smile. It served as a perfect comedic moment of juxtaposition for Roach’s comments.

But, with his comments in mind, there's something there around Roach’s statement about releasing his pettiness. It does feel like there’s room here for forgiveness from the stylist's end, and an openness to release the "pettiness" around these brands. Perhaps there is a future where Zendaya does wear them after all?

At the same time, Law Roach and Zendaya have proven that they don’t need to wear these brands in order to stun on red carpets, and that’s such a great flex for them whether they end up working with The Big Five someday or not.

Disney’s live-action Hercules remake has spent years somewhere on Mount Olympus, waiting for Zeus to hurl his lightning bolt at it to bring it to life. There have been a lot of wild rumors around the project, but we still do not have an official cast or release date, which means there remains plenty of time to argue over who should play Hercules and Megara. Now, the woman who knows Meg better than just about anyone has given her two cents on the remake by throwing two very familiar names into the ring: power couple and newly married partners Tom Holland and Zendaya.

Susan Egan, who voiced Meg in Disney’s 1997 animated movie, was asked about her dream casting while speaking with Deadline at D23. She has apparently been campaigning for Zendaya for a while, but this time she went all-in and suggested pairing her with Tom Holland as Hercules. And, yes, Egan knows the couple may eventually ask her to stop doing this. She explained:

I’m completely with her on half of this. The Euphoria star as Meg feels perfect to me. She can sing and give the dry delivery needed for Meg’s constant eye-rolling. Not only that, but she can sell both the character’s toughness and the hurt underneath it.

Egan sees many of those same qualities and made it clear she is not simply casting Z because putting her opposite Holland would make the internet explode. She continued:

Absolutely. Zendaya also has plenty of musical experience between her Disney Channel years and The Greatest Showman, so I have no trouble imagining her tackling “I Won’t Say (I’m in Love).” The Uncharted star as Hercules is where I need a little more convincing.

These Are The Guys I’d Send To Mount Olympus

Tom Holland certainly has the athleticism, charm and Disney résumé. He has also had one heck of a 2026 movie schedule, as he played Telemachus in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, so apparently ancient Greece is already becoming part of his personal cinematic universe. He is also still tearing up the box office as Spidey in the fourth entry in the franchise. But Disney’s Hercules is a huge, wonderfully earnest golden retriever of a demigod, and he has spent much of his career thriving as characters who feel smaller, scrappier and slightly overwhelmed by whatever disaster they have wandered into.

I’m not totally sold on Holland as Hercules, but I’m hardly short on alternatives. If Disney ever gets serious about casting this thing, there are a handful of actors I think could bring the right mix of sincerity and lovable doofus energy to the role. Here are my picks for who could fill Herc’s leather cuirass:

• Kit Connor: Connor may have the best natural combination of physicality and puppy-dog sincerity on this list. Put him opposite a more guarded Meg, and I can already see the chemistry working.
• Taron Egerton: Probably the safest all-around choice. Egerton proved in Rocketman that he can carry a musical, and the Kingsman movies covered the action side. More importantly, he can play vulnerable and slightly uncool without losing his leading-man appeal.
• Mike Faist: This is the more interesting left-field pick. Faist already has serious musical credentials from West Side Story, but what really sells me is how well he plays insecurity. Hercules spends a surprising amount of the animated movie wondering whether he belongs anywhere, and Faist could make that side of him land.
• Mason Gooding: Gooding has the size and charisma, but there is also a warmth to him that keeps him from feeling untouchable.
• Joshua Bassett: Bassett would probably require the biggest physical transformation but, emotionally, he makes a lot of sense. He can sing, has plenty of musical experience and wears his heart directly on his face.

Maybe Holland could still surprise me. I just do not see him in the role as immediately as I see the Dune franchise actress walking into frame in Meg’s purple dress and telling Hercules to keep his tunic on.

For now, all of this remains fantasy casting. Disney announced the live-action Hercules remake years ago, with Joe and Anthony Russo producing through AGBO and Guy Ritchie attached to direct. Development has moved slowly, and Disney still has not announced its Hercules, Meg, Hades or, most importantly, those Muses. So Egan still has time to keep campaigning and, restraining order jokes aside, I hope Zendaya is listening.

Until more information is released about the project, I'll just have to revisit the original animated classic, as it's streaming on with my Disney+ subscription.

Spoilers below for the handful of people who maybe haven’t seen Spider-Man: Brand New Day yet, so be warned!

There’s no question Spider-Man: Brand New Day is one of the most successful movies of all time, with over a billion box-office dollars earned thus far, and many millions more to come. There’s also no question we’re going to see Peter Parker’s Spider-Man again in an Avengers sequel, thanks to that confusing post-credits scene. But the movie did leave me with several questions that I really hope get answers or clarification without before either Secret Wars or Tom Holland’s fifth Spider-Man solo movie hits theaters in 2027 and beyond. My Spidey-Patience is not so powerful.

And I’m not specifically talking about the biggest-picture questions here, like what Peter and Ned’s handshake really meant, and whether or not Doctor Strange’s spell was broken by the power of friendship. They are related, though. Since first watching Brand New Day, my brain has been preoccupied with speculation about the limits of such magical spells, and how it all works within the characters’ own brains.

Where Does MJ Think Her Necklace Came From?

Taken completely at face value, MJ still wearing her black dahlia necklace throughout the entirety of Spider-Man: Brand New Day is an oh-so-sweet sign that her love for Peter is pure enough that not even sorcery can eliminate all signs of it. In that way, it's also possibly the biggest clue early on that Doctor Strange's spell left room for certain loophole-esque situations where Peter's friends still have totems from the years they spent together. But I'm baffled by what their brains are doing to fill in the memory gaps.

Peter gives MJ the necklace in Far From Home, inspired by learning the black dahlia is her favorite flower. The pendant doesn't make it out fully intact, but MJ chooses to continue wearing it for all the adorable thematic reasons, and it's as much a symbol of their bond as Peter and Ned's signature hand-smacks is of theirs. So from a creative perspective, of course she's still wearing it in BND.

But from a more logistical real-world angle, I think it's lowkey terrifying to consider MJ compulsively wearing this necklace on a daily basis without any front-of-mind reasoning for it. Like, if I made a point of wearing the same watch for years on end, only to realize one day that I had zero clue where it came from or when I got it, I miiiight be too freaked out to put it back on. Sure, I can't tell you exactly when and where I bought every T-shirt or pair of pants that I own, but I still have the general blueprint of events up there. But if my favorite accessory only inspired blank spots, I might need a therapist.

When MJ sees her necklace in a mirror, or moves it with her hands, does her brain attempt to flash back to where it came from, only to short-circuit before real memories can appear? Or does Doctor Strange's spell intentionally dull the part of her brain that attempt to make such connections? I really hope there's a slide-show presentation explaining it before any other MCU movies come out.

Is Jean Grey's Telepathy Powerful Enough To Reverse Magic?

One of the ongoing fan theories about Spider-Man: Brand New Day is that Sadie Sink's Jean Grey knocks a few mental dominos loose in MJ and Ned when her telepathic powers bubble out and force zillions of New Yorkers to stay locked in place. I don't really buy into that idea, though, since everyone is affected by the "forget about Peter" spell, and it'd be amazingly convenient for two of his friends to be the only ones to have such adverse affects to Jean's actions. A little too amazingly convenient.

That said, I do think it's entirely possible that the vengeful mutant has (or will have) the ability to perform more distinctive tasks within people's brains. Such as making someone think they're a different person, that they can only eat brown foods, or any other kind of behavioral change that a state hypnotist might also use in an act. But is telepathy (hers or anyone's) powerful enough to reverse a spell crafted by such a magically dominant entity as Doctor Strange?

I almost have to think so at this point, because part of me doesn't want to just buy into the feel-good notion that MJ and Ned's love for Peter alone is enough to shatter such an ironclad enchantment. That's a little too pat and smooth for my tastes.

I guess now I can start pondering whether Doctor Strange's spell will continue to work if he gets killed off in Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars. Might as well brew some coffee now, because this could take a while.

If I'm honest, I didn’t have high expectations when I went to watch Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is still tearing up the 2026 movie schedule. I have seen all the Marvel Cinematic Universe Spider-Man movies. I have enjoyed all of them, except one. One of my most controversial movie takes is that I didn’t think Spider-Man: No Way Home was good. Lots of fan service, but the product left a lot to be desired, leaving me questioning the future of Tom Holland's series.

That I've seen it, I would now probably rank Brand New Day high among the best Spider-Man movies. It really made me excited to see where Marvel goes with the franchise now, and I think I know why this movie worked so well.

Warning: Spider-Man: Brand New Day spoilers are ahead. Proceed with caution.

This Spider-Man Film Feels Equally Hopeful And Bleak

Spider-Man: Brand New Day feels a lot darker than many of the other Marvel and Spider-Man movies. It feels even darker than a lot of the MCU films, but it doesn’t feel gritty. It doesn’t become something the Holland Spider-Man movies never were, but evolves to something a little bleaker.

The storyline of the unseeable entity already has a dark tone to it because the idea of someone taking over your body has sinister connotations. We later learn that Jean Grey (Sadie Sink) is behind it all, and we have seen Jean do plenty of dark things throughout her history in films. We didn’t know how dangerous and murderous she could become. It almost seemed like she would become a foe that Peter (Tom Holland) couldn’t stop.

However, despite how dark things get, Peter manages to save the day. Then he’s greeted with a hero’s applause for all his hard work. It shows that no matter how bleak things get, keep fighting, and maybe you will win in the end.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Feels More Mature Than Previous Movies, Which Works With The Growing Up Theme

Sometimes as we age and grow up, life feels harder and darker. We lose people we love, or our jobs become increasingly more stressful, and we battle outer and inner demons. It’s hard growing up. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is also a coming-of-age movie. Peter goes from a teen with a complicated life to an adult with an even more complicated life.

It shows him maturing but also growing lonelier and more driven, at the cost of existing outside his Spider-Man persona. I thought the film showcases the complexities of adulthood in a sad but fascinating and accurate way, especially for a superhero movie. It felt the closest to the cancelled-too-soon Wonder-Man than any of the other Marvel projects so far. It did this by grounding the superhero story in a more relatable way without compromising the concept of a superhero.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Doesn’t Completely Leave You Feeling Satisfied

Peter essentially saves the day, but his life still has a lot of holes in it. MJ (Zendaya) possibly still doesn’t remember him, and Ned (Jacob Batalon) might remember him. He stopped Jean, but there will always be more bad guys, so he can’t fully be satisfied with everything, and Jean was a complicated villain. Her actions are justified at times.

You leave the movie slightly happy for him, because Ned may remember now, but you leave with so many more questions. I think this is a good reflection of life in general. You may win in the moment, but the fight never ends, and things are never perfectly resolved.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day deserves its box-office success because it succeeds where other superhero movies fail. It makes the human parts just as important as the superhero elements.

Spider-Man has and will always be my favorite superhero. I’ll never forget seeing the first Spidey movie when I was a kid, and I’ve been devotedly following each installment since. While the Sam Raimi trilogy may always be my No. 1 (faults and all), I think the Tom Holland movies have been fantastic. With Brand New Day here, I decided to binge the “Home” trilogy for the first time in one day, and I have some takeaways to talk through.

First off, I still think 2017’s Homecoming is one of the best MCU movies that’s been made. The script is so sharp, and it feels like you’re watching a John Hughes film that also happens to include superheroes. It really nails the awkwardness of being a high schooler in a way no other Spider-Man movie has done before. But, my big problem with rewatching the trilogy happens in its sequel, Far From Home.

The Thing That Doesn’t Hold Up In Tom Holland’s Spider-Man Trilogy

Now, I had totally forgotten until I turned it on, but 2019’s Far From Home was the first MCU movie to come out after Avengers: Endgame and the final installment of The Infinity Saga. It opens with a hilarious high school news video of Betty Brant and Jason Ionelle explaining The Blip – which is when everyone came back five years after The Snap wiped out half the universe.

I proceeded to spend half of Far From Home feeling very confused about what was going on with the students of Midtown High in the fallout of the major universe event. I found it weird that Peter, Ned, MJ along with most of the students from Homecoming just happened to all be part of the Snapped so the plot could move along without a hitch. And yet, there’s this weird thing going on with Remy Hii’s Brad Davis, who aged up five years from a middle-schooler to a high school junior.

I think Far From Home did a decent job of explaining it, and they had a clever way of lore dumping at the top of the movie, but it also had me considering all these existential questions around The Snap and The Blip that I sort of wish the Spider-Man sequel didn’t have. In the moment when we were watching all the MCU movies one-by-one it made sense, but if you decide to skip the movies in between like I did, I think it kind of stunts an otherwise great set of movies.

If you’re thinking “just watch Infinity War and Endgame” before Far From Home, you’re right. I probably should have, but that would have added over five hours to my binge.

The Other Thoughts I Had Watching Them

Now, to put aside my gripes, and share some quick reasons why I liked the “Home” trilogy on my recent rewatch.

• I didn’t totally realize how many suits Tom Holland gets as Spider-Man until now. Like, it’s actually wild how many.
• Happy Hogan is an underrated character in this trilogy. I'm delighted he was part of it.
• Uncle Ben isn’t mentioned once in this Peter Parker’s story. Does he even exist in this version?
• While it feels forced at times, I think it’s really fun to see Tom Holland’s Spider-Man interact with a couple of other MCU characters in each movie. My favorite instance of this is the “suit” moment with Tony Stark in Homecoming.
• It’s still weird to me that they go on a class trip to Italy.
• Peter and MJ are so, so adorable to watch fall in love.
• The “Night Monkey” bit in Far From Home is actually so hilarious to me.
• I hate the Skrull twist during the end credits of Far From Home.
• I wish there was a time jump between Far From Home and No Way Home because they look visibly older, but conceptually I get it. Fine.

And now, we have Brand New Day! I hope it’s the start of another Spider-Man trilogy. You can check out what CinemaBlend thought of the movie as it plays in theaters.

I’ve been watching Spider-Man movies my whole life, and one thing I’ve always loved about them is how they’ve never been without romance. What can I say, Peter Parker is a lover boy, and I eat it up every time. But, Brand New Day took things in a completely new direction with the MJ storyline this time around, and I’m still not over it.

Peter Parker And MJ’s Story In Brand New Day Is Rough

After what happened in No Way Home, I knew going into it that Peter Parker was going to be without his best bud Ned and girlfriend MJ, but it really went a few steps further than I thought it would. For one, in the movie we follow Peter as he goes years without anyone from his past. (Oof, the way I thought it was going to reverse somehow before their second semester).

When Peter finally collides with MJ and Ned again, they truly have no idea who he is. Sure, there’s a brief note between the two of them that there’s something they are missing, but they are completely clueless. When MJ reads the letter and finds out what’s been going on, my heart broke for Spidey when he told her he loved her, and there was not only no reciprocation behind those eyes, but she straight up rejected him. As sad as it is, I also need to praise it.

But, I Think It Deserves Its Flowers

Peter Parker’s decision not to tell Ned and MJ completely made sense to me. While I feel like the actions of some past Peter Parkers have felt not only flawed, but just unnecessary, Brand New Day feels different.

After the death of Aunt May in No Way Home, I really understood why he would isolate himself and lean into becoming the best Spider-Man he could be. Of course, he wanted to have them back, but “with great power comes great responsibility.” In the scene where MJ reads the letter and you feel her sadness about a piece of her life being kept from her, I see why she’s frustrated, but I’m actually happy the movie didn’t bring their romance back right away.

Peter has had messy relationships before, and sure, it would have brought a huge smile to my face to see these two together again. But, I’m living for the slow burn the franchise is going for instead. Instead, the hopeful gratification we got was between Peter and Ned, and it was perfect.

Peter and Ned have known each other much longer than Peter and MJ have, and have seemingly been doing that best friend handshake most of their lives. It was the perfect way to hint at a new chapter where Peter will reestablish his relationships, but without rushing the Peter and MJ romance.

We know that Spider-Man will return among upcoming Marvel movies, so why not give these two some time to fall in love again? I’m personally even hoping that Spider-Man meets one of his other famous love interests like Gwen Stacy or Black Cat before MJ is his endgame. Yearning is like the No. 1 rule of a good romance, and I’m so happy Brand New Day got it.

I can’t believe what’s been going on with Tom Holland and Zendaya this year. Not only did they share two 2026 movies (that have both passed $1 billion at the worldwide box office), they also reportedly managed to sneak in two secret weddings. After we heard back in March that the couple already got married, another one allegedly took place earlier this month. And we just learned more about it.

Holland and Zendaya wrapped two back-to-back press tours for The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. And the word is they had a second wedding at the Beaverbrook Hotel right after. It’s a luxury destination not too far from their southwest London home. Per new details from Vanity Fair, here’s the alleged vibe of their reported wedding suite:

The Beaverbrook Hotel is named after Lord Beaverbrook, who was a Canadian-British billionaire, politician and media baron. He hosted distinguished guests such as Winston Churchill and Elizabeth Taylor. Now there’s an entire suite named after Elizabeth Taylor, which Holland and Zendaya reportedly stayed in for the wedding celebration. Here’s another location on the grounds:

The Spider-Man stars allegedly booked out the entire Beaverbrook estate for their August 4 wedding. The grounds also include exciting amenities like a private golf course club (perfect for Holland’s love of the sport), a private cinema and pickleball. There’s also a host of fancy treatments to book at the spa. Take a look:

The Hollywood couple don’t give off a fussy vibe, but these details about Beaverbrook’s accommodations absolutely suggest they went for an extravagant wedding vibe. While I’m a bit surprised about how fancy it all is, I’m completely happy for these two as they managed to make it feel lowkey and private. The pair of A-listers are hard workers who’ve been traveling all around the world lately to promote two massive films. They absolutely deserved to treat themselves to all the elegance and pampering the Beaverbrook could provide them with.

If you’re as curious as I am about how much it costs to stay at the Beaverbrook Hotel, I looked it up. I’m seeing prices ranging from $688 to $1714 a night. I’m not even going to think about how much it cost to potentially rent out the whole place for their wedding reception. But given their recent successes, I’m not worried if they can afford it.

Following the alleged wedding on August 4, Tom Holland has been spotted wearing a wedding band. This was after fans were wondering why he wasn’t wearing one after news of their first wedding got out. I expect the couple will continue to keep the details private (and Law Roach definitely isn’t telling the press). But, this detail definitely leads me to believe the reported second wedding really happened.

Between these details and their hit movies, congrats to Tom Holland and Zendaya for having the most iconic summer of 2026 all around!

Spoilers ahead for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

It's an exciting time for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, thanks to Spider-Man: Brand New Day's record-breaking release and the upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Doomsday on the way. Fan are still reeling from Brand New Day's ending, and remain invested in the characters played by Tom Holland and Zendaya. Although the latter revealed one big way she would have changed the blockbuster.

Folks who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know that the Spider-Man movies are fan favorites. I mean, just look at how much money Brand New Day continues to make at the box office. Over on Capital's TikTok, the Euphoria icon got real about how she would have handled Peter's predicament with MJ and the letter. In her words:

Same, though. As we learned in Destin Daniel Cretton's blockbuster, Peter had been living a lonely and solitary life in the four years since Doctor Strange's spell deleted the world's memories of him during No Way Home's ending. For all that time he's kept the letter he wrote to MJ, explaining their history and her memory loss. But he kept stopping himself from delivering it, with Zendaya's character instead discovering it while being kept under Punisher's protection.

Clearly the Emmy-winning actress wouldn't have done the same if she was in Spider-Man's position. Instead she would have cut to the chase and delivered the letter. And after seeing what a bad place Peter was in without his loved ones, I can't say I blame her.

While I loved MJ's memory storyline more than Gamora's resurrection in Guardians of the Galaxy, I definitely understand Zendaya's perspective. And while MJ eventually read the letter, Brand New Day ended with her still not having any feelings or memories of Peter. But the same might not be true for Ned, as the movie's final moments saw muscle memory kick in when he and Peter did their signature hand shake. Does this mean Doctor Strange's spell isn't permanent after all? Only time will tell.

There are countless questions about the future of the Spider-Man franchise, as well as Tom Holland's title character. Brand New Day's credits scene seemed to tease Spidey in Secret Wars, although it's unclear if that's going to be Holland or the Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield version of the character.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. Avengers: Doomsday will follow suit on December 18th, so we'll have to see if there are any connections to Peter Parker this winter.

Spoilers ahead for The Drama.

Zendaya has had a big year in movies in 2026, including the recent release of both The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. But she had another big movie earlier this year with Kristoffer Borgli's The Drama. I finally was able to stream the project with my HBO Max subscription, and while the movie's big twist packed an emotional punch, I was shocked by how much I laughed throughout its 105-minute runtime.

The Drama got a big reaction from critics, largely thanks to its subject matter. The movie's titular drama comes just days before the wedding of Charlie and Emma, played by Robert Pattinson and Zendaya, respectively. At the final tasting of the menu, Emma reveals that she planned a failed school shooting as a young person, to the horror of her fiancé and the maid and man of honor. Gun violence is a sensitive subject, so I didn't expect so many comedic beats to crack me up.

Despite The Subject Matter, The Drama Brings The Laughs

The trailers for The Drama guarded the movie's twist, and I was lucky enough to stream it without the reveal of Emma's secret getting spoiled. I was truly shocked when she revealed the worst thing she'd ever done: planning a school shooting that (thankfully) never happened. There was plenty of disturbing content about her fascination with guns as a young person, but this revelation also served as fodder for a number of hilarious moments as Charlie struggled with the truth just days before their wedding.

Case in point: the scene where the couple meets with their wedding photographer Frances, played by Succession star Zoë Winters. The couple is struggling with Emma's revelation, and are (understandably) triggered when she keeps talking about how she'll "shoot" various members of their families during the nuptials. Zendaya is shown hilariously chugging water, followed by the most delightfully cringeworthy photo shoot ever committed to film.

Some other funny scenes include a montage of Zendaya's laugh, as well as the passive-aggressive speech that maid of honor Rachel (Alan Haim) makes during the wedding, where she not-so-subtly criticizes the bride and groom's character. I also got a kick out of how young Emma kept appearing to Charlie, changing the way he saw their entire relationship.

Gun violence is a terrifying subject for so many of us, and while The Drama was billed as a dark comedy, I didn't expect to laugh so much after learning the big twist. In some ways, it's what makes the movie so remarkable; this serious subject brings both high-stakes drama and comedy. And that's why the film is ultimately one of my favorites of the year.

The Drama is streaming now on HBO Max as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to see if folks agree with me, and if it manages to get any attention during Awards Season.

Spider-Man: Homecoming brought Tom Holland and Zendaya together. Then, after rumors surfaced that the two co-stars were dating in 2017, everything came full circle in 2021 when the pair were caught kissing in a car. Now that it’s been confirmed Holland and Zendaya are married, Spider-Man producer Amy Pascal revealed how “MJ and Peter just always fall in love” in real life, and I can’t unsee it.

When Tom Holland and Zendaya were first cast as Peter Parker and MJ, former Chairwoman of the Motion Pictures Group of Sony Pictures Entertainment Amy Pascal tried to warn the co-stars off dating in fear it would make things complicated. As we know, of course, that advice was ignored. Now, in a recent interview with the BBC, Pascal got real about that warning again before making a point about all the actors who have played Spider-Man and his love interest:

Wow, the producer makes a great point! It’s true, there’s no denying that actors who portray Peter Parker and MJ do have a habit of falling in love when the cameras are on and off. (Or in Andrew Garfield's case, he fell for Emma Stone, who played Gwen Stacy.)

With such chemistry between Spider-Man and the woman he loves, it’s very understandable why the co-stars portraying these characters would feel the love in real life too. Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, as well as Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, were co-stars who dated in real life after playing their respective Spidey couples. However, Amy Pascal felt that Tom Holland and Zendaya shouldn’t fall under that familiar spell, seeing as the aforementioned Spider-Man pairings did eventually break up.

Fortunately, Holland and Zendaya are breaking the Spider-Man couple curse by still going strong. And while they're a fairly private couple, the British actor previously said he finds his relationship with his MJ “sacred” and that the only way to be a truly healthy couple is to keep their romance to themselves.

The former Disney Channel star also said she’s a big believer in “protecting things that are special.” By not allowing the press to interfere in their relationship, it’s no wonder they're still going so strong.

Now that I’m aware that “Peter and MJ just always fall in love,” I can’t look at these Spider-Man couples the same way again. While things didn’t work out between the previous Spidey pairings, Tom Holland and Zendaya continue to be couples’ goals with each movie they co-star in and every public appearance they make. Now, we just need the husband and wife to be in a rom-com together to make our dreams come true.

Well, while Holland and Zendaya are doing great in real life, their Peter and MJ are going through it in the 2026 movie release, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. However, the love is still very much there, and the couple's chemistry both in real life and on screen is palpable.

Zendaya has been killing it latly. With four films on the 2026 movie schedule, wrapping up Euphoria (which you can watch with an HBO Max subscription) on the 2026 TV schedule, and impeccable red carpet looks, it’s been a big year for her. So it’s funny to hear how nervous she got about the start of filming on The Odyssey and that, no matter how successful you are and how much you prepare, there are still some things totally out of your control.

During an interview with the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the typically very prepared Zendaya was asked about whether she’d really forgotten a line on her first day. To which she explained that while she was ready to go, the weather had other plans. The Spider-Man: Brand New Day star recalled:

Sounds like a case of Zendaya probably being harder on herself than anyone else on set would have been. It also seems like director Christopher Nolan really put the cast through it during the production of The Odyssey. For instance, Corey Hawkins climbed a mountain on his first day of filming as Polybus.

A lot of actors have had to work through wild weather, whether in the extreme heat or the extreme cold, to pull off a cool on-screen moment. Glen Powell knows what it’s like to strip down to nearly nothing in frigid temperatures, since he had to do so for The Running Man. And Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford had to keep from freezing in below zero conditions for 1923.

All of that being said, Zendaya didn’t shy away from the challenging conditions on The Odyssey, working through the cold in a way that you’d never know affected her when watching the film. She showed up on set, pushed through, and turned in a stand-out performance as Athene the Greek goddess of wisdom, who serves as protector and guide to Odysseus (Matt Damon). And she was happy just to be a part of the experience. The Dune: Part Three star added:

You can watch the full clip of Zendaya here:

The Challengers star has been going non-stop, between filming projects and then promoting them. While Zendaya has explained her plans to disappear for a bit after such a high-profile 2026, a big part of why audiences love her is that she’s just so charming. Yes, she’s a boss when it comes to juggling all of her projects and ventures, but she’s also fun and funny, and not afraid to say it like it is in interviews.

Whether she actually ends up taking some time off or she gets drawn into any number of interesting projects that probably come her way, you can still see her reprise her role as Chani in the next installment of Dune when Part Three of the sci-fi epic hits theaters on December 18^th.

Law Roach has been asked about Zendaya and Tom Holland’s secret wedding (and the actress’s wedding dress) over and over again. Now, even after it's been confirmed that the celebrity couple is married, the stylist is still getting questions. Specifically, he was asked if they had plans for a second ceremony. Well, it’s now widely reported that they did indeed celebrate their nuptials again, so was Roach fibbing when he shot down the claim?

Law Roach Said The Rumors About Tom Holland And Zendaya’s Second Wedding Were Not True

Before word about this second wedding got out, and even before Spider-Man: Brand New Day premiered on the 2026 movie schedule and broke Avengers: Endgame’s box office record, Law Roach attended the LA premiere alongside Tom Holland and Zendaya. While there, Complex brought up the rumors about a “second wedding” or “more public celebration.” Here’s how the stylist reacted to those claims:

The reporter then said the rumors were fairly recent, which led Roach to double down on debunking them, saying:

Well, these comments are certainly interesting in hindsight. It would seem like Holland and Zendaya very much had a second wedding celebration (which we’ll talk about more in a second).

Although I can’t help but focus on the semantics here. Roach was specifically asked if there were plans for a “second wedding” or “more public celebration.” Based on what we’ve heard about the event held at the Beaverbrook Hotel, it seems like Holland and Zendaya still kept the celebration quite private. So, maybe Law Roach found a loophole when it came to talking about the Spider-Man stars’ plans.

He also could have just lied; people do that sometimes to protect spoilers or personal information. So, no matter what actually happened, his response did help keep the couple’s reported plans close to the vest.

Tom Holland And Zendaya Reportedly Had A Second Wedding Celebration

Alright, let me give you the lowdown on this reported second ceremony. While Holland and Zendaya reportedly got married earlier this year, they had another celebration on August 4, per People. Right on the heels of two whirlwind press tours for two wildly successful movies, The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the couple reportedly celebrated for a more personal reason at the Beaverbrook Hotel in Surrey, U.K.

Apparently, the wedding event held at the country house hotel was “very natural,” one source said, and Holland’s brothers wore black tuxedos that had wildflowers tucked into the buttonholes of their jackets.

So, if the power couple did indeed have a second wedding this summer, why did Law Roach say they weren’t?

Well, no matter the answer to that question, I hope Zendaya and Tom Holland are celebrating. The news of the second wedding celebration is wonderful, plus it’s coming just days after they finished massive press tours for two films they should be proud of. So, with that said, if you’re looking to celebrate the happy couple, you can catch both The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day in theaters now.

Much of the past year has seen the public at large speculate on Tom Holland and Zendaya’s relationship status, as the two played coy on whether they were married. However, back in June, Holland finally confirmed their nuptials while explaining that even his own grandmother was fooled by A.I. photos depicting their wedding. While that matrimonial mystery has been solved, it would appear that we now have another involving a different celebrity couple. There’s now reason to wonder whether Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid have tied the knot.

Bradley Cooper (51) and Gigi Hadid (31) mostly keep the details of their relationship private, so there’s a firm chance they wouldn’t make an official announcement in the event they got married. Interestingly enough, though, Page Six snapped photos of the pair walking in Paris, France this week and, at the time, they were sporting matching rings. The news outlet has since reached out to the stars’ representatives for comments on those bands and, as of right now, there’s been no answer on that front.

There may be some who are tempted to pump the brakes on any kind of marriage-based theory. However, one need only look to the saga involving Zendaya (29) and Holland (30) to understand why this development involving Hadid and Cooper would be a big deal. In February, Zendaya was spotted wearing a gold band and sent fans into a frenzy. Obviously, it turned out that she and Holland had indeed exchanged. We may not be able to say the same for Cooper and Hadid just yet but, per this precedent, it’s worth considering.

Hadid and Cooper have reportedly been dating since 2023, with that news coinciding with claims that they were involved in a love triangle with Leonardo DiCaprio. There have since been various reports about how firm Cooper and Hadid’s relationship is. As a result of that, engagement rumors have swirled around the pair and, in 2025, it was alleged that Cooper was considering proposing and wanted kids with Hadid.

Both stars already have kids of their own, as Cooper shares 9-year-old daughter Lea with former partner Irina Shayk. As for Hadid, she shares 5-year-old daughter Khai with ex-boyfriend Zayn Malik.

While the Hangover star and his fashion model girlfriend seem to have a strong bond, marriage is a big step, and that’s especially true when it comes to public figures. Celebrities also have the responsibility of choosing what to share and what to keep to themselves. Holland and Zendaya have long protected aspects of their relationship, and that still seems to be the case now. However, Holland recently joked about their marriage when he was promoting The Odyssey, one of their shared 2026 movie releases.

Only time will tell whether Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper really have become man and wife. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t at least curious as to whether they did decide to have a secret wedding like Tom Holland and Zendaya. Of course, like the Spider-Man stars, Cooper and Hadid are entitled to their privacy so, if they are actually married and want to be open about it, they have the right to do so when it works best for them.

Spoilers ahead for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order were recently treated to a long-awaited upcoming Marvel movie in Daniel Destin Cretton's Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The blockbuster picked up after No Way Home's ending, which saw Doctor Strange's spell erase the world's memories of Peter Parker... including Ned and MJ. Much of the new movie is about this disconnect between the characters played by Tom Holland and Zendaya, and I have to say I much prefer the MJ storyline to how Gamora was handled in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription).

Gamora's death in Avengers: Infinity War set shockwaves through the MCU. And while she was resurrected in Endgame by having a past version of her arrive via time travel, that Gamora had never met Peter Quill and the rest of the Guardians. We watched as Star-Lord tried to reconnect with her in Vol. 3, but I think that the Peter Parker/MJ version of this dynamic was more successful.

I Loved The Way MJ Rejected Peter In Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Both Guardians 3 and Spider-Man: Brand New Day saw their movie's respective Peter trying to reconnect with a girlfriend who has no memories of their time together. But I felt way more moved and emotionally moved by the latter, and I think there are a few reasons why.

To start, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is ultimately a story centered around Rocket. While we see new Gamora and Star-Lord's relationship (or lack thereof), it's not given quite as much time and focus as Peter and MJ in the new Spider-Man movie. Additionally, Gamora makes it clear that she has absolutely no interest in trying to get to know Peter Quill. And as a result, their lack of a true reconciliation came and went without me shedding a tear.

Meanwhile, Peter Parker's longing for MJ (and Ned) is at the heart of Brand New Day. While he's trying to keep a healthy boundary since she no longer knows who he is, that changes when Jean Grey drops her name early on in the movie. Spidey immediately swings into action, and the two are forced to meet and work together as a result. The fake-out of Zendaya's character "remembering" was a true gut punch, one inflicted by an angry Jean who was controlling her mind. Things only got more emotional from there.

Eventually MJ discovers Peter's letter, learning the truth about their former relationship, and the spell that removed her memories. She unfortunately doesn't have any feelings for him, despite knowing their history. She lets him down plainly but kindly, in a way that feels surprisingly like a regular breakup. Afterward, she still invites him into her apartment to hang with Ned. What's more, we see the drawing she made of them in Peter's hospital room after the final conflict.

While Star-Lord and Spider-Man didn't get the romantic reunion they were hoping for, I thought that the way No Way Home handled this unrequited love story was far more powerful. Although after Ned's muscle memory seemingly snapped him out of Strange's spell in the movie's final scene, maybe there's still hope.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. Folks who want to re-watch Gamora and Star-Lord's love story can stream the Guardians and Avengers movies on Disney+.

I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love when a film can generate a big question for audiences to discuss amongst themselves. It’s one of the things Christopher Nolan is notorious for, and the filmmaker does again in The Odyssey. Ever since I saw the epic that is already one of the biggest 2026 movie releases, I’ve been thinking about what’s going on with Zendaya’s Athena. And, someone just asked Nolan about it.

SPOILERS AHEAD.

Even though Athena doesn’t have much screen time in The Odyssey, she has a centerpiece moment. Especially when Odysseus is reflecting on the Trojan War to Penelope once they finally reunite. There are many ways someone can interpret Zendaya's character. Is Odysseus really conversing with a god or is she a symbol of his guilt? When he was asked him to clear it up, Nolan provided a diplomatic response:

Leave it to Nolan to leave one of his movies open-ended. (Don't even get me started on the spinning top.) I guess I’m not at all surprised he deflected this question from Time. I definitely think that it was an intentional decision from the writer/director. I have a feeling he likes when there are a few different ways to process his work. Nolan also said this in the same interview:

What’s fun about Zendaya’s Athena character is that she alone makes me want to rewatch The Odyssey. I’d be curious how I might interpret her character upon a second viewing. The fact that she resembles a Trojan priestess who was beheaded in front of Odysseus during the war can lead one to make a number of conclusions. And, since Nolan's adaptation plays around with both realism and the mystical, it’s not clear whether she's real or not.

No matter how you see Athena in The Odyssey, I think the Drama actress' performance is indisputably a huge highlight of the film. Sure, the film perhaps struggles with its amount of side characters, but it does nail down the message Nolan sought out to convey via Athena.

And, wildly enough, Zendaya shot the role at the same time as two other projects. She was also making Dune: Part Three and the final season of Euphoria simultaneously. And lately for the press tour, she’s been absolutely stunning us with red carpet fit after fit. All of that aside, though, I’ll definitely be thinking about Nolan’s comments on Athena and taking them into my next screening of The Odyssey, which is still playing in theaters nationwide.

Spoiler alert! Major spoilers ahead for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, so proceed with caution if you haven’t made it to the theater yet!

As with any upcoming Marvel movie, the lead-up to Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s release on the 2026 movie calendar was full of rumors, theories and big questions. Now we finally have some answers about what happened to Tom Holland’s Peter Parker after Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) cast a spell to make everyone forget he’d ever existed. Brand New Day balanced the emotional story of Peter’s isolation with his battles against a new threat (props if you avoided the Sadie Sink spoilers), and the ending hinted at a possible crack in Strange’s spell.

Doctor Strange’s Spell Remained Intact For Most Of Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Spider-Man: No Way Home ended with Doctor Strange being forced to erase Peter Parker from everyone’s memory after a previous spell went haywire and ripped open the multiverse. Spider-Man: Brand New Day didn’t backtrack on that plot point at all, and it was heartbreaking to see Peter keeping tabs on MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) from afar. It wasn’t until the final scene of the movie that we were given hope that Peter wouldn’t have to continue living in such isolation.

Did Ned’s Memories Of Peter Return In The End?

While MJ ended up finding the note that Peter decided not to give her at the end of No Way Home, she still didn’t remember Peter, telling him she didn’t love him because she didn’t share the same memories as the girl he wrote the letter to.

In the end, that didn’t discourage Peter from making further efforts, though. After he helped Jean Grey come to terms with her sister's death — and she, in turn, kept him alive after The Punisher accidentally shot him — Peter chose to introduce himself to Ned when he ran into him again. Ned didn’t recognize his old friend until Peter started leading him in their secret handshake from high school. Ned's muscle memory ultimately kicked in, and his face lit up with recognition, as he shouted, “Peter!”

This would indicate that either Peter and Ned’s bond is so strong that no spell was powerful enough to make one forget the other completely, or it could mean that Doctor Strange’s spell weakens over time or was damaged by something that happened in Brand New Day.

If Doctor Strange’s Spell Can Be Broken, Who Else Will Remember Peter?

We only get one fleeting moment of Ned with his Peter Parker memories presumably returned, so we can only theorize what that means for when and where we’ll see Spider-Man next.

If it was the friends' close bond that broke Doctor Strange’s spell, does that mean MJ’s memories of Peter Parker can also be salvaged? What about the villains Spider-Man has fought? What about Happy or even Doctor Strange himself?

Did the spell got weaker over time, or was it damaged or altered when Jean Grey was keeping Spider-Man alive? Had enough time passed that if Peter had run into MJ that day in the bodega instead of Ned, he might have been able to awaken her memories?

Those are questions that may not be answered for a while (unless Tom Holland drops a new spoiler in the meantime), but I’m certain there will be no shortage of theories as we await Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Until then you can try to gain some new clues about the spell by rewatching Spider-Man: No Way Home with your Disney+ subscription or catching another viewing of Brand New Day in theaters now.

Folks love celebrity couples, from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce to Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. Another pair that folks won't stop shipping is Tom Holland and Zendaya, especially because they released two movies together in July. And the Spider-Man actor's reaction to his wife arriving at the premiere of Brand New Day is thoroughly adorable. Seriously, I can't get enough.

Tom Holland and Zendaya had a private wedding earlier this year, and have spent the honeymoon period promoting both The Odyssey and the upcoming Marvel movie Spider-Man: Brand New Day. In a video from VT's TikTok, the Uncharted actor was mid-interview at the latter's premiere when he suddenly heard the crowd go wild. He looked at the cause of the commotion and then said simply:

Clearly, Holland knows that he married a baddie, and that fans absolutely adore Zendaya and her method dressing looks at premieres. Case in point: her stunning Spider-themed Versace dress that she rocked at Brand New Day's Chinese premiere. And the fan-favorite Marvel actor seems delighted by how well-loved his Emmy-winning wife is.

Despite how Holland and Zendaya try to keep their relationship private, the public is definitely invested in this young power couple. On top of their celebrity, a big reason why is because of adorable moments like this. You can see the moment the Euphoria actress arrived mid-interview below:

As previously mentioned, Tom Holland and Zendaya had major roles in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey earlier in July, before celebrating the release of the new Spider-Man movie just weeks later. They were already a power couple, but the fact that they can work together so closely and also promote their projects together shows how strong the recently married pair ultimately is. I mean, working with your partner isn't something that all of us could handle.

Tom Holland and Zendaya met filming Spider-Man: Homecoming, so folks who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have been watching their romantic connection blossom for years. Just as MJ and Peter got closer, so did the two A-list actors. That is at least part of the reason why fans are so invested in their character's journey, especially after No Way Home's twist ending.

Brand New Day picks up years after the last movie, where the entire world has forgotten who Peter Parker is thanks to Doctor Strange's spell. That includes both MJ and Ned, with Tom Holland's hero living a lonely life as he focuses on crime fighting. And fans are hoping that he and Zendaya's characters end up back together.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. Only time will tell what other movies this pair ends up collaborating on next.

Zendaya was in swift competition with Anne Hathaway for most movies of the year. While Hathaway had five, and Zendaya is behind by only one, with four hitting the 2026 movie release schedule: The Drama, The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Dune: Part Three. Not to mention she had the (divisive) final season of Euphoria also hit HBO this year. Up to this point, I was under the impression that Zendaya might take some time to rest for a while but, apparently, she's already been busy with something else.

It’s not another film or TV role that Zendaya's been working on as of late. The megastar has been announced as “the new Prada Beauty Global Ambassador, fronting Paradoxe.” News of her high-profile position was shared on the Prada Beauty Instagram page with a tease that featured fashion, beauty and even a nod to her film career. But no one seems more excited than Zendaya about her new role:

In 2025, the former Disney Channel star was announced as an ambassador for Prada Beauty’s male fragrance line, Paradigme. That's a major distinction on its own, but this latest accomplishment is also sweet. Check out the promotional video below:

As great as that looks, I can't help but think Zendaya needs a break after promoting Odyssey and Spider-Man back-to-back. Before that, she also had an insane Odyssey filming schedule, which coincided with her shoot for Euphoria. Still, she doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. More recently, we’ve seen the star alongside husband Tom Holland dishing about the aforementioned Christopher Nolan epic and the new and highly praised Spider-Man movie. In fact, fans in the comments of the post above were quick to point out another exciting prospect of her newest venture: more time with Holland.

More specifically, fans want to see commercials featuring Zendaya and Holland as part of the former's new position. 5ive5ifty5ive says, “Omg not the husband and wife ambassador duo.” Another, rosangelaraposo, asks, “Is there anything that her or her husband can't do?? Couple goals.”

Fans can’t wait to see the Challengers star in her new role, and I can’t blame them. daya.by.zendaya19 says, “Zendaya the global Prada Beauty ambassador has a nice ring.” But it’s fangirl18611 who says what we’re all thinking, “Zendaya is really winning this year.” Truer words have never been spoken.

It's honestly been quite amazing to see how Zendaya's year has played out, and it's wild to think that she still has one more massive movie in Dune that's still going to hit cinemas this year. On top of that, she even has a fifth film in production in the form of Shrek 5, though that isn’t hitting theaters until 2027. Despite the A-lister's busy schedule, it didn’t take much to convince her to join the next Shrek movie. As a fan of the franchise, the star had a “very quick yes” when asked to play the role of the titular character's daughter.

Hopefully, in between releases and the new ambassador position, Zendaya finds time to rest and recharge, though. Everyone needs a break, including one of the brightest stars in Hollywood.

We’re mere days away from Spider-Man: Brand New Day hitting the 2026 movie schedule, where we’ll see the web-slinger taking on a new destructive force in NYC, even as Peter Parker adjusts to a world that has forgotten he ever existed. Reviews have dropped, and several CinemaBlend staffers were amongst the critics to partake in early screenings. How did we enjoy the newest Marvel flick?

Collectively, we at CinemaBlend had a blast at Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which offered emotional stakes that assistant managing editor Nick Venable says sometimes deservedly outweighed the superhero narrative. It’s a true evolution for Tom Holland’s Peter Parker, he says, giving Spider-Man: Brand New Day 4 out of 5 3D-printed stars in his spoiler-free review. Venable says:

A lot of the movie — particularly the aspects involving Zendaya’s MJ and Jacob Batalon’s Ned — revolves around the spell that Doctor Strange cast at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, and with a full movie to explore the rules and repercussions of that, Nick Venable admits to getting caught in the webs a bit, saying:

Head-scratches often come with the Marvel Cinematic Universe territory, but in this case they were "small potatoes" to an otherwise satisfying venture.

Meanwhile, it’s only positive vibes from CinemaBlend’s movies editor Corey Chichizola. He praises the direction, the performances and the emotional plotline, rating Spider-Man: Brand New Day 4.5 stars out of 5. He says:

There’s been a lot of conjecture about the secret role Sadie Sink plays in the Marvel movie (Sink has even been trolling us over it leading up to the premiere). We won't spoil anything for you here, but I agree with Corey Chichizola that she deserves all the flowers for her role.

For editor in chief Mack Rawden, Brand New Day gives us what we've always loved about Tom Holland's version of this classic character. He also adds that there are enough new elements to keep the fourth movie in the MCU's Spider-Man franchise from feeling stale. He rates it 3.5 stars out of 5 and says:

Managing editor Jessica Rawden, meanwhile, was torn between a 3.5 and 4 in her star rating, as she praised Tom Holland's performance in the "fun romp":

As for my take, I agree with my colleagues that Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a fun addition to the MCU that doesn’t require you to see every Marvel movie in order to be able to understand what’s going on. I give the movie 4 out of 5 stars. Here are my thoughts:

The overall reaction has been positive as well, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day collecting an early 89% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics. You might want to get your tickets early to this one, as the good reviews are likely to help it at the box office this weekend. Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits big screens this Friday, July 31.

I don't know what I expected. The same ambitious director, Christoper Nolan, who made a grounded Batman trilogy and a whole movie centered around entropy, wasn't going to just make a by-the-numbers Odyssey flick.

Don't get me wrong. I don't think The Odyssey is BAD. It's actually really good. That said, even though I was greatly looking forward to it, I didn’t really like it (and no, it’s not because it was Rated-R, which it definitely didn’t have to be). Here’s why.

Oh, and some minor spoilers up ahead.

Christopher Nolan Could Have Gone Fantastical For This One. Instead, He Went "Realistic"

When I first saw Interstellar, there was a key moment in the film where I thought, if this goes where I THINK it’s heading, then I’ll probably hate this movie, but if it doesn’t and Nolan surprises me, then I’ll probably love it. The moment in question was the S-T-A-Y scene, and it went exactly where I thought it was heading, and guess what? I don’t like Interstellar (Even though this website looks upon it fondly).

I had a similar moment with The Odyssey. You see, my favorite part of the epic poem is when Odysseus has to get his men through the Strait of Messina, but there are two horrific monsters called Scylla and Charybdis. Now, Charybdis is a living whirlpool, and Scylla is a multiheaded monster that’s waiting for sailors to come by.

I really wanted to know how Nolan would approach this moment since I knew it was coming and…I was massively disappointed. I’m not going to say it was “realistic,” but it definitely wasn’t as fantastical as it could have been. In fact, all of the mystical moments in this film felt subdued, and it just bummed me out (like the cannibalistic Laestrygonians just being some big dudes in armor). The same goes for the Cyclops scene (There was definitely no “Nobody is attacking me!” moment), as well as Odysseus's journey to the world of the dead.

I mean, the human drama in this film is great, and I liked all of that, but – as I should have expected – Nolan stayed well within his comfort zone when it came to the actual magical elements of this story (Though, the Circe scene was fantastic). Could you imagine if Peter Jackson or Guillermo del Toro tackled The Odyssey? I’ll tell you what, the whole Scylla and Charybdis moment would have definitely been a whole lot more epic.

It Also Takes Itself SO SERIOUSLY. Possibly Too seriously

Once again, I don’t know what I was expecting. The story of Odysseus’s inner turmoil is very effective here, and I love that Nolan included the war as something that is holding Odysseus back. Because in truth, Odysseus is lost both externally and internally as well.

Again, this movie is good for what it is. I’m just saying that I didn’t like it, or at least, I didn’t love it. That may be because I feel like it takes itself way too seriously. I want to go back to that Cyclops moment.

While MOST of the poem is grim and serious, certain parts are whimsical, and even fun. I feel like that’s missing entirely from this film. Yes, Nolan's approach has always been to make pretty much everything serious (which worked for Batman after the tremendously silly Batman & Robin), but I would have liked at least some levity in this movie, like the silly “Nobody is attacking me!” moment in the poem with the Cyclops.

Or, you know, maybe the gods could have actually been involved in the story rather than just being an interpretation. I’m not going to spoil Zendaya’s role in the story as Athena, but I would have loved it if there were clear and definable gods in this movie, since Nolan goes to the edge, but doesn’t quite go far enough.

I don’t know. I’d say The Odyssey is a solid 7 out of 10 movie, and I get why many would call it a 10 out of 10 flick. I just wish that Nolan would have stepped out of his comfort zone a bit more, but I guess it wouldn’t be a Christopher Nolan movie if he did that. Oh, well.

Just when you think Zendaya’s method dressing can’t get any more iconic, she somehow manages to up her game. We’re a week out from Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s debut on the 2026 movie calendar, and not only did the MJ portrayer don another great dress with nods to the upcoming MCU flick at the premiere in Shanghai, China — she showed off her new microbangs to take the look over the top.

Zendaya has been absolutely slaying with her looks while promoting The Odyssey — going full goddess mode in dresses that reference her character Athena — as well as her outfits for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Attending the Chinese premiere for the Marvel movie, the actress donned a webby Versace dress, but it was her hairstyle that really made a statement:

I mean, we’ve heard of breakup bangs, but newlywed bangs may be a creation unique to Zendaya after marrying her Spider-Man co-star Tom Holland. The baby bangs are jaggedly cut, with the rest of her long, brown hair straightened to fall down her back for a very sleek look.

The haircut provided an edgy complement to the vintage couture 2016 Versace gown, which was a tasteful take on the naked dress. Zendaya showed a lot of skin, thanks to the dress’ open weave, but white fabric draped across her body and down to the floor in a look that also had an air of Athena to it.

The bangs are definitely a new (and I’d say welcome) addition to her Spider-Man: Brand New Day press looks. Zendaya chopped off all her hair after filming Euphoria’s final season and Dune: Part Three, flirting with a pixie look in an open-backed spiderweb gown at an earlier appearance. She also featured the cutest short ‘do in a sparkly red-and-blue number that showed off her abs.

Her long hair returned, however, when she started donning ethereal gowns ahead of The Odyssey’s release, with messy curls adding the most perfect touch to that gorgeous winged dress. A loose braid was added to another look that featured a sculpted corset and beaded fringe, with her long curls cascading down her back.

If Zendaya’s goal with her method dressing is to get us excited about Spider-Man: Brand New Day, it’s definitely working (and I’m also starting to wonder how I might look with microbangs, if I’m being honest). There’s so much hype surrounding the summer blockbuster, with Tom Holland toppling one rumor and his wife mercifully keeping him from spoiling the ending.

Meanwhile, Sadie Sink has had an easier time keeping those Marvel secrets, as we still don’t know which character she’s playing. There’s a reason that Sink’s role has been kept secret, and while she is straight up trolling Spider-Man fans at this point, we haven’t seen her following in Zendaya’s footsteps to drop hints with her fashion. (What DID all those black outfits mean?!)

Thankfully, we don’t have too much longer to wait until our questions are answered. Spider-Man: Brand New Day premieres Friday, July 31.

Actor Tom Cruise has the reputation of advocating for a certain class of movies where what we see on screen is done for real. So of course he’s been supporting The Odyssey. The actor dropped by NYC’s Lincoln Square on opening weekend to see it himself, and had big praise for Chris Nolan, the cast and crew. But he also had thoughts on the Dune: Part Three sneak peek playing before IMAX screenings, as well.

Tom Cruise rented out a private showing of The Odyssey for himself and his team. He also apparently ended up inviting some of the employees of the AMC to join him. After an employee shared the “magical” experience, one fan had to ask them if Cruise had thoughts on the Dune: Part Three sneak peek. Here’s what reportedly happened:

In the front of IMAX screenings of The Odyssey, movie fans are treated to the prologue to Dune: Part Three, and Tom Cruise was no exception. Cruise was geeking out over the sequence that involves the Fremen getting caught in a visceral battle after feeling the rain for the first time. And apparently he even called one of the movie’s producers to congratulate them on a job well done. How cool.

Check out Cruise posing with four lucky AMC employees who got to experience the Dune 3 preview and The Odyssey with him. Talk about a treat!

Tom Cruise has certainly been vocal about his love of the Dune franchise before. He sent Chalamet “the most wonderfully inspiring email” that even included a Rolodex of experts he might need for additional stunt training. Per Chalamet’s recounting of the email to GQ, Cruise let him know that “nobody” would hold him to the Old Hollywood standard. And it was up to him to do so.

Dune: Part Three is set to round out Denis Villeneuve’s trilogy based on Frank Herbert’s books. It will follow a super unsettling Paul Atreides 17 years after the previous film. After Paul betrayed Zendaya’s Chani in Part Two and rose as the Lisan al-Gaib, it looks like the two become enemies. All the while, Robert Pattinson’s Scytale executes a plot to dethrone Paul.

It’s not only one of the most exciting upcoming book-to-screen adaptations, it could be the biggest box office weekend of the year. The movie shares a release date with Avengers: Doomsday in a movie event already calling itself Dunesday. We definitely expect Tom Cruise to be first in line after these alleged comments about Part Three.

After much uncertainty (and plenty of A.I-generated wedding photos), it’s finally been confirmed that Tom Holland and Zendaya are indeed man and wife. Holland confirmed that earlier this summer when he admitted that even his grandmother was confused by the A.I. pics. Even more recently, the leading man even joked about his marriage while promoting The Odyssey. While doing press for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Zendaya also had a cheeky comment on the union herself after receiving an impromptu proposal from a fan.

Zendaya recently appeared at a Brand New Day event in Mexico ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 movie schedule entry’s release. It was there that the A-lister walked the red carpet, where she was greeted by a host of photographers as well as admirers. When it came to the latter group of attendees, one person yelled “Will you marry me, please?” The situation was captured in a video shared to Instagram and, as seen in the clip, the MJ actress simply had a funny, three-word response:

I can see the Challengers star still hasn’t lost her impeccable comedic timing! On top of that, she’s also not wrong, given she’s definitely taken at this point. What I wonder, though, is whether or not that fan was aware that Zendaya and Holland had tied the knot or just went ahead and shot his shot anyways. I hope the guy didn’t take the star’s cheeky response too hard but, then again, he did perfectly set himself up for it.

As far as the marriage goes, it’s unclear as to exactly when Zendaya and Tom Holland actually tied the knot. Earlier this year, the actress’ stylist, Law Roach, let slip that the two had married in secret and, from that point on, rumors swirled around whether they actually jumped the broom. Of course, the Spider-Man stars themselves played coy for a while until Holland finally spilled the beans. (And the fact that he would reveal it tracks, given how often he drops Marvel spoilers).

That marriage proposal aside, the former Disney Channel star and her hubby have been busy as of late given their packed work schedules. Both have been jumping between Odyssey and Spider-Man press obligations, and I’m impressed with how they’ve handled it all. In the midst of all that, “Z” has also been sporting some sweet fits and further proving why she’s one of the fashion queens of Hollywood. And, by the looks of it, her hubby is enamored – not just by her threads but by her grace and charm as well.

I think that response to the marriage proposal also perfectly highlights Zendaya’s sense of humor, which manifests itself in a variety of ways. That even comes through when she frequently quotes a certain Spider-Man line to Holland when she sees fit. In short, this is a fun couple, and whenever that joy or humor spills into their public appearances, it’s a real treat.

Check out Zendaya and Tom Holland in The Odyssey, which is playing in theaters nationwide now. Also, see them in Spider-Man: Brand New Day when it hits cinemas on July 31.

We know that Zendaya's filming schedule was busy last year, as she worked on The Odyssey, Dune: Part Three and Euphoria. Now, with four major releases on the 2026 movie schedule, she's staying busy in a different way, as she promotes her projects and continues to prove why she's a fashion icon. This summer, specifically, she’s stepped up her fashion game, as she’s been on global press tours for The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Now, while she shows no signs of slowing down, I have to imagine that she needs a break after slaying this hard for so long.

I’m not kidding, Zendaya and her stylist, Law Roach, have been working overtime this summer. A few months after they put together a bunch of wedding-themed looks to promote The Drama, they brought their method-dressing A-games to not one major blockbuster’s press tour, but two. They began with some iconic fits like the one you can see below for Spider-Man: Brand New Day:

This gown is Giorgio Armani SS 1990, per Law Roach’s Instagram, and Zendaya wore it on June 23 to the Rome premiere of the fourth Spider-Man movie. She also rocked a fun red and blue fit to the photo call in Italy too.

During this leg of the Spider-Man press tour, she also rocked the prettiest backless spider-web dress in London, a fun suit jacket with red shorts in Amsterdam, and a stunning leather set in Berlin. That’s not even every look, either; these are just a few of my favorite examples.

Then, after a few weeks of globetrotting for Spider-Man, she began a different global press tour. That’s right, The Odyssey just came out in theaters, and in the weeks leading up to it, Zendaya wore a handful of stunning ensembles that were fit for a goddess. For example, on July 7 in Paris, she rocked a white dress from Givenchy Haute Couture SS 1997 by Alexander McQueen (per Roach’s IG), and it was paired with a mask by Philip Treacy.

A few days before that, she also graced London with some beautiful flowy looks, and then she rocked a curve-hugging Schiaparelli corset dress that was literally fresh off the runway to the premiere.

These are not all her looks for The Odyssey either; she wore many other lovely outfits while doing interviews for the movie too. For example, while on The Tonight Show, Zendaya wore a gold brocade ensemble by Zuhair Murad (which you can see below), and we cannot forget that jaw-dropping winged gown she wore to the movie’s New York premiere on July 14.

Notably, during The Odyssey premiere, where Zendaya wore that winged dress, she was asked about upcoming projects, like Shrek 5; she was also asked about taking a break after all this. During that interview with ET, she made it abundantly clear that she’s looking forward to doing “nothing” and minding her own business. She also, understandably, said that “sometimes you need to just disappear for a little bit.”

However, she’s not doing that just yet, because she still has more promo to do for Spider-Man. And she’s back wearing black outfits too, as she wore a black high-neck Ashi Studio gown to a fan event in Mexico City on July 20.

She really can’t stop, won’t stop with these looks, and there’s still over a week before Spider-Man: Brand New Day premieres on July 31. So, I’m sure the actress and her stylist have even more looks planned for the upcoming Marvel movie.

Now, by the time Spider-Man premieres, they will have been giving 110% and traveling all over the world for nearly two months straight. So, hopefully, Zendaya and Law Roach get a break. However, it won’t be a super long one, though, because Dune: Part Three will premiere on December 18. And we know the actress always goes hard with her fashion moments for those movies.

After that, though, she’ll be done for a while, and I hope she is able to take a vacation and breathe for a minute.

SPOILERS ahead for The Odyssey. Go see it before reading ahead!

Zendaya continues her reign over the 2026 movie schedule with the release of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. While the actress sadly has a small role in a film that’s nearly three hours long, I think she actually makes the biggest impact. I didn’t necessarily have set expectations for her role as the goddess Athena, but wow, did she steal one scene. That being said, there’s something about her character I’m not solid on.

I Think There’s Two Ways To Interpret Athena In The Odyssey

In Greek mythology, Athena is the goddess of wisdom and war. Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus sees Athena as a vision as she acts as a confidant and mentor to him. But there’s something interesting the Chris Nolan movie does with her character that really makes her presence in the rest of the movie matter more.

Close to the end of The Odyssey, Odysseus recalls his experience at Troy to his wife in more detail. He says he watched “rage” run rampant that night in a way that betrayed his own morals. As he tries to go home after the war, he finds himself emotionally fighting himself over something. Odysseus details how the use of the Trojan horse was a deceitful way to fight an opponent. And, when his soldiers invaded Troy, he’s disgusted by the way the entire city was slaughtered with little mercy, even for the likes of innocent civilians. That’s when we see the face of Zendaya as a woman Odysseus witnesses getting beheaded by his men. At the same time, a statue of Athena earns the same fate.

Since seeing The Odyssey, the sequence has had me thinking about what the moment means. Was Zendaya’s Athena showing herself to Odysseus as the woman he watched be slaughtered through Odysseus’s visions? Or was Athena disguised as a human who sent herself there in that moment to haunt him for his betrayal of the rules of war? It’s definitely a reveal I wasn’t expecting from the movie, and it's really the scene that sticks the most with me.

But, I Think It’s Left Open-Ended For A Reason?

As a longtime viewer of Christopher Nolan movies, I know that the filmmaker likes an ambiguous ending that can lead to multiple interpretations from viewers. I definitely think the whole thing with Athena falls into that camp. Is it Athena the entire movie, or does the goddess come to Odysseus as a symbol of the humanity he gave up during the Trojan War? Either way, the meaning did its job of being powerful and gut-punching. It’s also something that I want to ask more people about now after they watch it. Honestly, I’m not sure there’s one answer to the question. Maybe the fact that it feels enigmatic plays into this quote from earlier in the film:

• Odysseus: "Why can’t gods speak in ways we understand?"
• Athena: "Who doesn’t understand thunder? Or fire? A child’s smile? A good harvest?"

Early in the film, Odysseus is frustrated by the way the gods communicate. And the scene where Athena is beheaded kind of underlines both their points at the same time. While it’s not going to be talked about nearly as much as the spinning top at the end of Inception, I think it has a similar effect. I think the point is to get viewers talking about the scene because it’s kind of the big thesis moment of Nolan’s The Odyssey.

I felt that Odysseus’s epiphany about the ways in which he deviated from his own moral code was thrilling to watch in theaters. Zendaya’s Athena being part of the scene was very effective… even if I’m not totally sure if I can quite explain Athena's arc in the story completely.

The Odyssey is already shaping up to be the biggest movie on the 2026 movie schedule, and the huge press tour happening around the film has been a blast to watch. A lot of this can be attributed to the magnetic chemistry of The Odyssey cast, which includes stars like Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland and Zendaya. Despite being in the same film, Holland and Zendaya are keeping their private life private on the tour. Yet Holland recently made a reference to his marriage to Zendaya in a recent interview to promote the film, and I love this unexpected moment.

Holland, along with Damon, Hathaway and Robert Pattinson participated an interview for Wired, where they answered the internet’s most searched questions about The Odyssey. One particular question was asked about Damon’s character, Odysseus, and his relationship to Zendaya’s character, Athena. After reading the question, Holland made a cute comment that was just too perfect. He said:

Holland's comment is surprising, considering the fact that he and Zendaya have been incredibly quiet about their relationship. The general public didn’t even know they got married until Zendaya’s stylist, Law Roach, let this information slip during a red carpet interview. The pair subsequently dodged marriage questions, with Zendaya only coming out deny that AI photos of a wedding were real. However, it now seems Holland has no problem brazenly (but briefly) mentioning the marriage.

It's true that at this point, the marriage has been made public knowledge, and Holland has also confirmed the wedding in the past few months, hearing it said still feels strange, because of how strict they have been about their privacy. When they first started dating, Zendaya shared a birthday post dedicated to Holland, but that was posted years ago, at a point at which the two weren't even active as a couple on social media. Even on this press tour, they haven’t been paired up for interviews, making sure to shift the cultural conversation to the movie and not their relationship.

Still, I personally love when Holland or Zendaya make little comments about each other like this latest one. While they prefer privacy, little jokes remind fans that these two are very much a unit. Fans have been shipping them since even before they started dating in late 2020. Also, the fact that these two continue working together over and over again, and have two movies coming out together this year also shows that this is a firm professional pairing as well as a romantic one.

In short, I’m always rooting for these two, and I hope even more little nuggets like Holland's joke come out of this Odyssey tour or the Spider-Man one.

You can see (the happily married) Tom Holland and Zendaya in The Odyssey which is currently in theaters nationwide. It’s the first film to be made entirely in IMAX, so make sure to check it out on the biggest screen possible. Also, be sure to see Holland and Zendaya in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which opens in theaters nationwide on July 31.

It's no secret that audiences love the Spider-Man movies (which are currently streaming with a Disney+ subscription). Moviegoing audiences are currently looking forward to Brand New Day, which is the next big upcoming Marvel movie. In the meantime, Zendaya recently recalled what it was like being in theaters when the three Spider-Men united onscreen in No Way Home.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order were shook when Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire united with Tom Holland's Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home. In a clip from The Tonight Show's Instagram, Zendaya described what it was like being at the premiere and knowing that crossover was on its way. In her words:

I can only imagine how thrilling it was to know that the big secret was about to be revealed. While Andrew Garfield lied about his role for months, there was a ton of discourse online about whether or not he and Tobey Maguire would end up actually appearing in the MCU movie. Of course, the Emmy-winning actress had been keeping that secret as well.

Later in the same interview, Zendaya gushed about watching the audience's reactions during No Way Home's various multiversal twists. She spoke about her experience at the premiere by offering:

She's not wrong. This July is a particularly big month for Zendaya. In addition to Spider-Man: Brand New Day, she's also got a role in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. Both of those projects have tons of excitement surrounding them, and will be available exclusively on the big screen. It's a great summer for blockbusters, and both of July's happen to star Zendaya and Tom Holland.

The stakes are super high for the new Spider-Man movie, especially after No Way Home's twist ending. The last movie's conclusion saw Doctor Strange's spell succeed in wiping Peter Parker from the world's memories. That includes both MJ and Ned, with Tom Holland's character entering a life of solitude as he continues to serve as a superhero in New York City.

Luckily for the fandom, the wait for that blockbuster is nearly over. Spider-Man: Brand New Day will hit theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. One can only imagine how many plot twists are coming, and what Zendaya will watch fans react to this time around.

All year, we’ve been talking a lot about how Zendaya is ruling the 2026 movie schedule with four major releases. However, her work this year doesn’t stop there, as she also dropped the final season of Euphoria on the 2026 TV schedule. So, she’s ready for a break. However, next year, she’ll release a huge project: Shrek 5. With all that in mind, I can’t help but wonder: How hard was it for her to say yes to this animated movie when she had five other major projects in the works?

It was announced that Zendaya would join the cast of Shrek 5 in early 2025, and we’ll finally get to see her character in action when the film premieres in theaters on June 30, 2027. Before then, the Euphoria star will release three more movies. However, all that work didn’t stop her from quickly saying yes to this new Shrek installment, as she told ET:

The first Shrek movie came out in 2001 (you can stream it now with a Peacock subscription), and Zendaya was about 5 years old at that time. Like many of us (myself included), she literally grew up with these movies, as Shrek 2 came out in 2004 and the other two sequels followed in 2007 and 2010, respectively. So, I totally get why this was such an easy yes for her.

I mean, who wouldn’t want to join this iconic cast that’s led by Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy? As Zendaya implied, they’re legends. So, joining this ensemble was a no-brainer.

However, I can’t help but wonder if her workload played into this decision. As I said, Zendaya has been a busy bee in 2026. So far, she’s released The Drama and the final season of Euphoria (which you can stream with an HBO Max subscription). The Odyssey literally just hit theaters, and then she’ll premiere Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31 and Dune: Part Three on December 18.

Without a doubt, she’s part of some of this year’s biggest and most anticipated releases. So, I’d get it if she needed a break. Luckily, she’ll be able to take one soon. Even though Shrek 5 is on the docket, she still will be able to get some downtime in, as she explained when the outlet asked her about her plans for her time off:

Zendaya has mentioned taking a break before, so this isn’t a surprise. And she totally deserves it too. Five projects is a lot; the fact that they’re all very big deals makes it even wilder that she’s done all this in 2026. Then, add on the fact that Shrek 5 comes out in a year, and it’s hard to comprehend how she juggles it all.

However, as she said, she wouldn’t change a thing, and I know there are many of us who can’t wait to see every project she releases. So, now, to see her on the big screen, make sure to catch The Odyssey in theaters. After that, you can catch Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Dune: Part Three. Then, get ready for Shrek 5, because if Zendaya immediately said yes to it, you better believe I’ll be seated in the theater the day that movie comes out.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is one of the biggest releases on the 2026 movie calendar, and I can already tell that the movie is going to get review-bombed once the major review sites like Rotten Tomatoes open up. The movie, which hits IMAX screens this weekend, was immediately controversial for all kinds of reasons once the cast list was revealed and the first trailer dropped earlier this year. Well, I’ve seen the movie, and I think the controversies are way overblown.

People Want To Hate This Movie

A couple of weeks ago, when Universal dropped the final trailer for The Odyssey, it was immediately hit with hostility. Internet denizens immediately “ratioed” the YouTube video–meaning downvoting it with the hopes of burying it in the algorithm. As of this writing, the trailer video is sitting on more than 780,000 downvotes (to just 83,000 thumbs up). Some of that might just be a herd mentality to get in on the fun, but there is plenty of evidence out there in comment sections and editorials that people are not happy with the movie Nolan has made. At least, the movie they think Nolan has made.

If you haven’t read much into it, there are a few different buckets of complaints that have people fired up. The first is historically based. This is a group of people who are critical of the armor worn by Odysseus (Matt Damon) and his men being incorrect for the Bronze Age, and the style of ship they are using to travel home from the Trojan War.

There is another bucket of people who are upset that the casting didn’t include more Greek actors, and, more pointedly, people who are upset that actors like Elliot Page and Lupita Nyong’o are in the movie at all. There is a third bucket of critics who don’t like some of the casual nature of the dialogue Nolan has used in his screenplay (and I actually fall into this category).

Let me tell you, all of these are all overblown.

Some Criticisms Are Just Not Right

Even before I saw the movie, I wasn’t all that concerned that these criticisms would affect how much I would enjoy it. After seeing it, I feel the same, with a small caveat. For starters, I think some of the criticisms are totally fair to discuss, like the armor, boats, and the dialogue, which I’ll get into. The casting “controversies” are not fair. This is a myth told by a modern filmmaker for a modern audience; as far as I'm concerned, anyone can play anyone.

The race and ethnicity of the actors is of zero concern for me. Less than zero. It’s no different than Kenneth Branagh casting Denzel Washington in his 1993 Shakespearean masterpiece Much Ado About Nothing. Is it period-accurate casting for Elizabethan England? Of course not, but Washington is one of the best actors ever, so I’m happy to see him in anything, especially doing Shakespeare. The same goes for all of the actors in the stacked cast of The Odyssey.

Others' Criticisms Are Fair In The Right Context

When it comes to the historical nature of some complaints, I have more sympathy. I’m not a historian or a classicist, but I do really appreciate it when movies based on real history take that responsibility seriously. That said, the inaccuracy of the armor worn by the Greeks and the ships they traveled on really didn’t bother me in the slightest. I knew it wasn’t period-correct for what soldiers wore in Bronze Age Greece, but they looked cool, and a movie should look cool!

It looks great, and it honestly is more what I think of as “ancient” armor. Frankly, just look at an example of Bronze Age armor, the kind that would be period appropriate, and tell me it’s not hilarious looking. The armor looks ridiculous to a modern eye, and using it probably would have been way more distracting for most people in the audience (all due respect to the historians in the audience). In that regard, the ships match the armor.

Now, when it comes to the dialogue, well, honestly, I’m kind of with the complainers here. I didn’t like some of the overly casual nature of some of the lines. One thing that has been particularly focused on by some critics is Telemachus (Tom Holland) calling his parents “mom” and “dad.” I didn’t think that was going to bug me, but it did. It really took me out of the movie at times. Again, this is a modern filmmaker making a movie for a modern audience, so I’m not expecting Ancient Greek or anything, but there is a formality to the society in the story, and using words like “mom” and “dad” just felt out of step with that formality.

Nolan’s use of more casual modern language might not be my favorite creative decision here, but it hardly ruins the movie. It didn’t even factor in when I woke up this morning and wrote down my thoughts about the movie after sleeping on it. The Odyssey isn’t a perfect movie, by any means, but it is still one of the best of the year, and certainly one of my favorites. There are some choices I can nitpick, and a couple of places here or there where Nolan’s ambitious decision to film exclusively in IMAX may have actually hurt the overall product, but it’s so grand in scope and vision that those things are easily dismissed for the greater good.

This Is All Overblown

It's worth noting that the actors who seem to have upset a lot of people, namely Page and Nyong’o, and to a lesser extent Travis Scott and Zendaya, don’t really have huge parts. Their collective screentime is minimal compared to Damon, Holland, and Anne Hathaway. More importantly, though, is that they are all legitimately great in their roles. Travis Scott’s role is an addition to the story that I really loved.

While we don't all have to agree with the artistic choices in this book-to-screen adaptation, like the casting, the language, and the costumes, I do really appreciate that Nolan and company are taking a big swing here. So please, don’t listen to the peanut gallery chirping from the sidelines without having actually seen the movie.

The Odyssey has been one of my most anticipated 2026 movies. That being said, I rolled my eyes at the runtime of two hours and 52 minutes after I got my ticket. Christopher Nolan’s latest film isn’t his longest movie – that would be Best Picture winner Oppenheimer – but objectively, that’s too long to sit in a movie theater. That is, unless the movie earns it. Well, did The Odyssey? I have thoughts.

Is The Odyssey’s Long Runtime A Problem?

Don’t get me wrong, some of the best movies I’ve ever seen are around three hours. But, right before I go out and see one, I get kind of stressed out. I usually like to get concessions for a movie like The Odyssey. Ugh, but when the moment comes when I have to use the restroom, it’s a tough call. I then have to make the decision to sit there in pain or try to figure out the right time when I can step away.

I’ll never forget when I went to see Dune: Part One. I ended up leaving to use the facilities when a certain character dies. It kind of messed up my first viewing. And then on the other hand, buying a premium movie ticket for something that ends up being both bad and long just sucks. Or, what if I end up sitting close to someone smelly or with a severe phone addiction?

There’s an easy fix for this. I think long movies need to have intermissions like they used to in the old days. Since that doesn’t seem to be on the table, I wince at long movie runtimes. In the case of The Odyssey, I’m very happy to report that I took no issue with it. Personally, I didn’t look at my watch until two hours into it, and the last hour was awesome. (Sure, it also helps that in-movie bathroom decision gods smiled on me that evening).

Personally, I wouldn’t have cut a single scene. If anything, I would have even sat through more! I’m thinking about going to see it again, and let me tell you, that’s very much a rarity for me to say these days. Critics have also been kind to The Odyssey, with the movie currently holding a 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

What My CinemaBlend Colleagues Thought About The Runtime

As I mentioned before, a three-hour movie only works for me if it earns it. And, there was definitely enough within the pages of Homer’s The Odyssey for Nolan to adapt. Plus, he had to make tweaks to the source material to fit into one movie as is. I was curious about what my co-workers thought about the runtime. Here’s what a few of them said:

• “I love long movies when they are well constructed like The Odyssey. Because of the nature of the source material, the movie flows really well from scene to scene, and I don't think it drags at all.” - Hugh Scott, Syndication Editor
• “The Odyssey kept my attention for the entire 3 hours with its fast-paced storytelling and stunning visuals. If I had my way, it would have been 5 or 6 hours and split into two movies in order to more fully develop the side characters.” - Mack Rawden, Editor-In-Chief
• “I get why it's not two movies so that Nolan could end on a high note, but I thought the runtime was too long. I would definitely have taken two movies.” - Jessica Rawden, Managing Editor
• “I'm always wary of long movies; however, I didn't check my watch once watching The Odyssey. Those three hours flew by, and I was left wishing there was more time to dive even deeper into the story.” - Riley Utley, Weekend Editor

Of course, there’s a range of opinions here regarding the specifics, but overall I think we have a consensus: The Odyssey’s runtime works! If you, too, found yourself unsure about venturing to see it because of its length, I hope this helps reassure you it’s worth it. I know I would have appreciated knowing this before heading into it.

Zendaya has landed some major roles during her career and, funny enough, many of them just happen to fall on the 2026 movie schedule. What wasn’t a laughing matter, though, was the sheer amount of coordination necessary for the A-lister to be in a whopping four movies that have or will be released this year. Not to mention she also had to shoot a certain TV show. Matt Damon, her co-star on Christopher Nolan’s historical drama, spoke about her schedule with CinemaBlend, and I really like how he describes it.

This year, the former Disney Channel star has or will appear in The Odyssey, The Drama, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Dune Part Three as well as the since-ended HBO drama Euphoria. In Nolan’s movie, she plays the role of the goddess Athena, who guides Matt Damon’s Odysseus amid his journey home to Ithaca. While speaking to CinemaBlend alongside co-star Anne Hathaway, Damon showered praise upon Zendaya and made note of how frequently she had to dip in and out of the set:

“Parachute in” is a funny way for the Oscar winner to put it, but it’s actually quite accurate, given what’s known about his co-star’s wild shooting schedule. Zendaya previously talked about working on Odyssey, Dune 3 and Euphoria simultaneously. As she recalled, she could have a night shoot on a ranch for her TV show and would then have to memorize her Chakobsa dialogue for Denis Villeneuve’s threequel. And, from there, she’d travel to Iceland to shoot her material for Nolan’s film.

The idea of having a schedule like that just seems nerve-wracking to me but, then again, I’m not a seasoned performer like the Challengers alum. And, to top it off, she and her stylist – Law Roach – were already planning out her looks for the respective press tours this year. Their hard work seems to be paying off now, though, as Zendaya has sported some particularly fresh fits while promoting The Odyssey. Most recently, at the film’s New York premiere, she wore a feathered gown that Roach went to great lengths to coordinate.

Of course, the Malcolm & Marie star’s preparation for her acting work also paid off, and that was certainly the case with her work on Christopher Nolan’s set. Matt Damon previously revealed that Nolan gave the Athena actress a major compliment, as she was the only star on set to get a “perfect” from him after finishing a scene. That praise even served as a humorous point of contention for Damon and Tom Holland, the starlet’s husband.

So what’s next for Zendaya you might ask? Well, she’ll soon mark the release of her fourth Spider-Man movie and will promote Dune: Part Three later this year. After this big year of hers concludes, she’s “disappearing for a little bit.” I’d say that after having to “parachute in” and out of projects for a year and then promote them the following year, I’d say she’s more than earned it. For now, check her out in The Odyssey, which opens in theaters on July 17.

Zendaya is one of the biggest movie and TV stars in the entertainment industry, and she's also known as a fashion icon. This is largely thanks to her ongoing collaboration with image architect Law Roach, who has helped start the method dressing trend in Hollywood. Her latest movie is Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, and the Emmy-winning actress went viral for a stunning feathered look she wore to the premiere. And it turns out that Roach went to great lengths to secure that look.

What we know about The Odyssey has been limited, but hype is at an all-time high for the book to screen adaptation. The movie will be released shortly, and Zendaya has been going full goddess while promoting it. Case in point: the stunning feathered gown she wore at the movie's New York premiere. Check it out below,

I mean, how gorgeous is that? She's certainly looking like a goddess, once again stunning on carpet for The Odyssey. Law Roach spoke to ET at the star-studded event, where he revealed that this look was a long-time coming for him and Zendaya. In the Legendary judge's words:

Talk about some good planning. Before The Odyssey had even been filmed, Law Roach was already thinking over ideas for what Zendaya could wear at various premiere events. And when he saw the above gown on the runway years ago, he reached out to Matières Fécales directly and had them put the avant-garde look aside from her. That foresight worked out, as the Euphoria star went viral shortly after she showed up in the gown.

In the same interview, Law Roach repeatedly thanked the folks at Matières Fécales for putting the dress aside from Zendaya, and for not using during the years between it hitting the runway and The Odyssey being released. In his words:

Given how Zendaya regularly goes viral for her high fashion looks, it makes sense that the Fashion House might have put this dress aside for her. She's been going viral on the carpet for years, whether it was her robot-inspired Dune look or her spider-web gown for Spider-Man. And we've got Law Roach to thank for his methodical approach to her styling.

The Odyssey hits theaters on July 17th as part of the 2026 movie release list. After it's out Zendaya will likely keep doing press for the upcoming Marvel movie Spider-Man: Brand New Day which will arrive on July 31st.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always releasing new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. But a few upcoming Marvel movies are especially anticipated, chief among them being Destin Daniel Cretton's Spider-Man: Brand New Day. We're only a few weeks away from its release, and a video just arrived online of Zendaya hilariously stopping her husband Tom Holland from spoiling its ending. Talk about a power couple.

Zendaya and Tom Holland are basically couples goals, with the pair of A-listers promoting two summer blockbusters this year. The Euphoria star knows about Holland's penchant for revealing spoilers, and a video is circulating on Twitter of her stopping him from revealing too much about their next Spider-Man movie's ending. Check it out below:

Talk about a close call. It looks like Zendaya's Spider-Sense was tingling, and she knew that her husband was about to say something he shouldn't have. Luckily the Emmy-winning actress stepped in, and Brand New Day's ending remains a mystery for the time being. What a relief.

While the trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day showed the inclusion of Hulk and The Punisher, much of the movie's contents are still being kept under wraps. That includes its main villain, and who Sadie Sink is playing. So if Tom holland accidentally spilled the beans on its finale, it would have broken the internet... in a bad way.

Fans are curious about how Zendaya and Tom Holland's characters will interact when Brand New Day hits theaters later this month. No Way Home's twist ending saw Doctor Strange's spell succeed in removing the entire world's memory of Peter Parker. That includes MJ and Ned, who are now safe from his enemies. Spidey has been living a solitary life, and the trailer showed him watching his friends from afar.

Due to how little we know about the new Spider-Man movie's contents, there are countless theories and rumors swirling about Cretton's blockbuster. Fans are curious about which surprise characters might appear, with Kevin Feige recently teasing the inclusion of Florence Pugh's Yelena. And in addition to all the chatter about Brand New Day, folks who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are also curious about how the movie could open the door for Avengers: Doomsday's arrival this December. The pressure is on, which is likely why the movie's story is being kept under wraps for the time being. And after seeing the above video we might owe Zendaya a big thank you for helping these efforts.

All will be revealed when Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to wait and see if the movie's secrets are kept for the final weeks until its release.

There’s one very famous and serious quote associated with Spider-Man that always comes up (you know what I’m talking about). However, the Spider-Man movies are packed with very funny lines too that are also worth quoting. In fact, there’s one line from Spider-Man: Homecoming that Zendaya says to Tom Holland “a lot” that’s hilarious.

So, as Tom Holland, Zendaya and Jacob Batalon promote Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s release on the 2026 movie schedule, they were asked about movie quotes they use in their everyday lives during an interview with BBC Radio 1. In response, the Challengers star recalled a funny line Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark says in the trio's first Spider-Man movie:

While The Drama star claimed Holland wouldn’t agree with her, he actually did, confirming that she does “say that a lot.”

I get why it’s stuck with them, too. Not only is it a memorable line in Spider-Man: Homecoming, it’s actually said multiple times by Tony Stark (which you can witness by watching the movie with a Disney+ subscription). He says it once right after the whole debacle with the Staten Island Ferry, telling Peter:

He also says it at the very end of the movie, after Peter defeated The Vulture. Both complimenting the boy’s actions and reprimanding him, Robert Downey Jr.’s character said:

While it’s considered one of Tony Stark’s funniest lines, and it’s easily one of the sillier MCU quotes, it is admittedly an odd statement. That’s something Zendaya, Holland and Jacob Batalon joked about too, as they spoke about how it doesn’t make much sense, but it totally works in the movie:

• Zendaya: I think that was just like—what?
• Jacob Batalon: I think that’s just a bad white guy thing to say.
• Tom Holland: Again, not written. I remember walking down the thing, and he said that. And I was like, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
• Zendaya: [I don’t know] what that means, but it’s great.

I totally see what they’re saying; it is an odd thing to say. However, it’s also not that uncommon, and it’s used often when people mess up big time or embarrass themselves, which Peter did on a few occasions in Homecoming.

Now, if you’ve seen the Marvel movies in order, you know how quotable they are. And personally, Homecoming is one of my favorites to quote. It’s awesome that Zendaya does that too, and I love that the line she references most is this hilarious one that’s said by Robert Downey Jr.

Overall, this whole discussion made me want to rewatch Homecoming. However, it also made me even more excited for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, because I’m sure it will be full of great one-liners, just like the other three Holland-led Spidey films are. So, to see if that’s the case, you can see this trio's fourth Spider-Man movie in theaters on July 31.

Christopher Nolan’s next film, The Odyssey, is still a few days away from hitting the 2026 movie schedule, but for months it's been in the firing line for angry people on the internet. I know it’s best to stay out of the comment section, but sometimes I can’t help myself. It doesn’t take long when I do dip my toes in to see some of the major complaints that people have even before seeing the movie. I have to say, none of these are concerns of mine. I remain highly optimistic about this epic that is about to unfold for all of us seeing the movie next week.

The Casting Seems To Be The Focus Of Many Commenters’ Ire

There is no question that Nolan has assembled one heck of a cast. Matt Damon leads the movie as Odysseus. Anne Hathaway is playing his wife, Penelope. Tom Holland is playing Telemachus, his son. Joining them, we’ve got stars like Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Samantha Morton (who has apparently killed it with her performance), and Jon Bernthal, along with many others. It’s stacked. There are two or three cast members who have some people upset, and it makes no sense.

Lupita Nyong'o (Helen of Troy), John Leguizamo (Eumaeus), and Elliot Page (Sinon) have drawn the most wrath, and Travis Scott (playing a bard) has also taken some shots. Of course, it’s easy to see why these four have been in the firing line, and frankly, I think it’s all silly (and offensive, of course). The Odyssey is a myth. It’s not history. Historical accuracy should take a backseat to storytelling in this case. Helen of Troy wasn’t a real person, so why does it matter if the actress playing the character doesn’t look Greek or Spartan? Nyong'o certainly fits the description of being beautiful, and she is one of the most talented actresses in the world. That’s by far enough for me.

The Accents, Armor, And Ships Are Also Popular Complaints

The second most common whine is that the armor Odysseus and his men wear is not period-accurate. I’m all for historical accuracy in film; in fact, it’s often a deciding factor in whether I like a movie or not (I’m looking at you, Napoleon), but again, this is a myth. I don’t care that Damon and his cohorts are dressed in armor that doesn’t fit the age. That’s not the point of the story here. Let’s be honest, period-accurate armor looks rather ridiculous, and so making it look “cooler” is just fine by me. The same goes for the ships used by our hero and his men. Yeah, they look more like Viking ships than boats from ancient Greece, but again, this story is a myth, so why care?

Another popular refrain seems to be that all of the actors are using American accents in the movie, even the Brits. I have to say, again, why is this something people are mad about? They aren’t speaking ancient Greek in this modern telling of the myth, either. No one is upset about that, because everyone understands why the movie is in English, so what does it matter which accents are being used? Nolan apparently was looking for consistency, and so this decision makes total sense. This is seriously just complaining to complain.

Luckily for me, none of these creative decisions bother me in the slightest, and I can say that this is by far my most anticipated movie of the summer.

Celebrity couples have a habit of fascinating the public and making a ton of headlines in the process. We've seen this with pairs like Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, although recently all eyes have been on Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. The pair got married over the Fourth of July weekend at Madison Square Garden, and fans are eager for any photos of the event. They haven't been released just yet, but the newlyweds have been dealing with the same AI issues as Zendaya and Tom Holland did.

Zendaya and Tom Holland got married in private, and fake AI-generated images from their wedding have been trickling out since. The same thing has been happening to Kelce and Swift, to the dismay of fans who want to see the real thing. Director Joseph Kahn was an actual guest for the big day, and took to Twitter to poke holes in those AI images. In his words:

Kahn also shared an image of himself at the wedding on IG, although he was careful not to reveal too much about what things looked/felt like inside MSG. Security was seemingly tight, which is why no legit photos of Kelce and Swift's nuptials have leaked online. But that hasn't stopped folks from creating phony images using AI.

It's hard not to see the similarities between these fake wedding photos and the ones that hit the internet after Zendaya and Tom Holland got married. Zendaya's image architect Law Roach hilariously responded to those faux photos, saying:

Law Roach and Joseph Kahn's comments do share some similarities; namely, that AI couldn't create anything that actually lives up to the reality of these celebrity weddings. Hopefully the generations of curious fans out there will be treated to some real photos from these events. That is, whenever the two pairs are willing to share with the class.

Fans love to ship their favorite A-list couple, so these fake images from the recent weddings were likely inevitable. Zendaya and Tom Holland have always valued their privacy, and while Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding had a massive guest list, it's clear that it was a phone-free event. Only time will tell if/when we get to see legitimate photos from these two nuptials, but it's clear that interest in seeing these celebrities on their happy day isn't going to die down anytime soon.

Unfortunately, it's unclear when this day might happen. For now, fans can enjoy the two couples' professional work, especially Holland and Zendaya who have two separate movies coming out this July: Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey.

The global press tour for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey movie is in full battle mode, and can we talk about how much Charlize Theron is slaying every appearance so far? Because Zendaya is among the cast, she’s often the center of attention for every red carpet and photo call, but I’m loving the specific flair Theron is also bringing to the scene.

I’m still not even over Theron turning up at the world premiere in London by pairing a black dress with over-the-top gloves, and she’s now there's already another gorgeous moment in Paris to talk about. Check it out:

OK, this is too good. I’m in love with this lace gown from Dior that may not count as method dressing, but is definitely giving "goddess". Theron shared the dress with the caption “Mama’s not dead yet”. Here’s another peek at the stunner of a premiere ensemble:

Charlize Theron is somehow 50 years old, and heading toward 51 in less than a month, but she redefines what being middle-aged can look like. A few of her celebrity colleagues took notice as well in the Instagram comment section. Here’s how they hyped her up:

• Jennifer Lopez: "You are killing it 🤍"
• Ariana DeBose: "Very much alive🙌🏾"
• Misty Copeland: "🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾"

Theron plays the role of Calypso, who is a nymph, which is a type of goddess in Greek folklore. In The Odyssey, the character famously keeps Odysseus captive on the island of Ogygia for seven years while he’s trying to return home to his family after the Trojan War. Odysseus actor, Matt Damon, recently complimented Theron on her attitude on set when he worked with her on the big-budget film, calling her someone who “won’t complain, ever” and “seriously tough”.

Clearly, Theron is embracing the sultry and powerful energy of the famed character for the press tour, and I don’t doubt she’s got even more epic things lined up to wear as she continues to promote the movie with the cast.

Theron deserves some flowers for her press looks, but so does the entire star-studded cast of The Odyssey. Zendaya has also been in goddess mode, between wearing a flowy dress and emulating a marble statue with a white corset at the London premiere. The movie features an extensive leading cast of ladies, also including Anne Hathaway as Odysseus’s wife Penelope, Lupita Nyong’o as both Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra and Mia Goth as Melantho.

Since The Odyssey has been screened by a select group of audiences, the movie has been earning a lot of rave first reactions for its massive scale, performances and adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek work. You can see Theron and the rest of the cast in The Odyssey when it hits theaters next Friday, July 17.

The 2026 movie schedule has already had some bangers, but man, I think I just found my official most-anticipated of the bunch for the second half of the year now that we have a fresh trailer for Dune: Part Three We just got the most epic look at Denis Villeneuve's trilogy finale yet, and it has me thinking about what dark arc is on the horizon for Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides. Thankfully, the actor himself shed some light on what’s coming.

CinemaBlend attended Dune: Part 3’s global fan event at the AMC Burbank in Los Angeles, CA on Wednesday morning. We were among the first to see the movie’s new trailer along with witnessing an exclusive conversation between Villeneuve and Timothée Chalamet. Check out the trailer here:

Y’all, the chills I had seeing this in IMAX with an audience! I’m not going to be OK after this movie… and I cannot wait. The new footage really focuses on the fallout of Dune: Part 2, where Paul broke the heart of Zendaya’s Chani by deciding to marry Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan. He did so to take the throne as the Padishah Emperor – officially choosing power and war over anything else.

It certainly seems like Paul is going to the dark side here, so I’m happy that the event’s moderator Brittany Broski asked Chalamet if Paul is stepping into his “villain” era now. Here’s how the Oscar-nominated actor responded:

The writing was on the wall in Dune: Part Two that Paul maybe wasn’t going to be the hero of this story anymore, and in Part Three the ramifications of this will all come to a head. The trailer also sets up what’s going on with Robert Pattinson’s role of Scytale, who decides to execute a plot to dethrone Paul and involve the Princess.

I also think the trailer insinuates that Chani may actually be the one to go head-to-head with the Emperor by the end of the movie after things have gone bitter between them. Chalamet also said this about what’s going on with Paul and Chani during the event:

Part Three's main plotline takes place a couple decades after the second movie, and also features Anya Taylor-Joy as Paul’s sister, Alia. The franchise newcomer has called the role “very intense” and I can see why. While the first Dune: Part Three trailer got me excited, this second one has me moving the movie to the top of my list of 2026 movies I’m hyped for. A big part of that is Paul's nuanced arc across the trilogy being concluded. I mean, and this new poster? Check it:

During the event, we were also treated to an exclusive look at the opening of Dune: Part 3, which will be playing in front of IMAX screenings of The Odyssey next weekend. It had Javier Bardem’s Stilgar and some other men being thrust into an intense battle sequence in the rain. I’d imagine he’s operating under the orders of Paul after embracing him as the messianic Lisan al-Gaib at the end of Dune: Part 2. It doesn't show the whole battle sequence, so now I'm left wanting to watch the whole thing.

We'll have to wait for the final Dune film until December 18!

Nobody does method dressing quite like Zendaya, and with two movies hitting the 2026 movie calendar this month — The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day — it’s just an abundance of riches in the celebrity fashion department. Zendaya has already gotten into goddess mode with two flowy dresses for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, and now she’s topped that with a corset top and beaded skirt.

Zendaya is set to portray Athena in the book-to-screen adaptation of Homer’s epic, and she was definitely looking the part in a piece from Daniel Roseberry’s Schiaparelli Fall 2026 Haute Couture collection:

Zendaya’s top actually looks like an ancient marble sculpture, though Daniel Roseberry also gave it a futuristic feel with the angles of the piece. Contrasting the smooth bodice is a floor-length skirt of beaded fringe, as thousands of pearly beads hug the actress’ curves on a fabric that transitions from beige to silver as it cascades to the ground.

Her hair is styled in loose braids that top her head like a crown, with her brown curls falling down her back. Her Chopard diamond collar looks more like an extension of the top than a separate piece of jewelry.

The Schiaparelli number was reportedly unveiled just eight hours earlier at Paris Haute Couture Week, where Zendaya’s stylist Law Roach sat front row, according to Red Carpet Fashion Awards. This begs the question of whether or not Roach secured the item and immediately flew to London for The Odyssey’s Monday premiere at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square. It certainly sounds plausible — and given how ethereal the actress looks, I’d say it was worth it.

The Odyssey is one of two movies Zendaya has premiering this month — both of which also star her new husband Tom Holland. The epic fantasy adaptation hits theaters on July 17, just two weeks before the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which has seen its own specially created looks from Zendaya and Law Roach.

The actress was an absolute bombshell in a backless spiderweb dress at a photocall for the upcoming Marvel movie just over a week ago in London. She also showed off the cutest red-and-blue two-piece at the Rome premiere, featuring a sleeveless, midriff-baring red top with thick straps paired with a sequined blue-and-red pencil skirt.

These colorful options followed a period of time where Zendaya was wearing a lot of black, leading fans to worry about MJ’s fate in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

This is a busy year for the actress, as we’ve already seen her star opposite Robert Pattinson in The Drama (which featured theme dressing of “Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue”). We’ve also got Dune: Part Three to look forward to in December, and I have no doubt she’ll be blowing our minds again, fashion-wise.

For now, though, be sure to check out Zendaya in all of her Athena glory when The Odyssey hits theaters on Friday, July 17.

Zendaya is sure to dazzle audiences as part of the awesome cast of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Ahead of the film's premiere, though, the fashionista is bringing heat on the red carpet. Unsurprisingly, she and stylist Law Roach have decided to take some Odyssey-themed outfits to Olympian heights for the epic flick’s press tour. In fact, the fashion dream team is displaying some sweet dresses that are flowy and make Zendaya look like she just came down from Mount Olympus.

Amid the hype for Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey, Law Roach took to Instagram to show off Zendaya's flowy Trussardi gown, which gives off all the “Goddess vibes.” Check out this latest case of method-dressing:

Straight from the Trussardi Spring 2006 collection, the Challengers star's outfit is a strapless, floor-length gown that further proves the notion that she can sport just about anything. In the context of Zendaya's role in Nolan's film, it's also a fitting ensemble, given she plays the elegant Goddess of Wisdom, Athena, in the 2026 movie release. All in all, she looks completely regal and ethereal, as she poses in the classy vintage dress.

I can’t take my eyes off the metallic beadwork on the garment, which looks like falling droplets, and those Christian Louboutin jeweled sandals perfectly complement the ensemble. The former Disney Channel star always makes sure those Christian Louboutin pumps make an appearance. For instance, she sported those kicks when she rocked two perfect outfits for Dune 2 and when she wore those stiletto heels in a two-piece top and skirt for Challengers.

Zendaya and Roach weren't done giving off the “Goddess” energy, though. Roach revealed the “essence of Athena” in another social media post, which showed Zendaya wearing a custom Jacquemus gown at IET London: Savoy Place, and it makes her look like a Greek sculpture. Take a look at the dress:

The drapery of that piece is incredibly form-fitting, with its thin-strapped halter neck keeping the dress perfectly in place and providing a Grecian elegance to it. What also makes the gown so eye-popping is its low, fluid back that someone might think would lead to a wardrobe malfunction if it exposes too much down low. But, clearly, the designers knew exactly what they were doing to make this element one of the gown’s stand-out features.

The Jacquemus dress is also perfectly accessorized with Barron London 18k yellow gold and diamond disk earrings and Christian Louboutin So Kate pumps making yet another grand entrance to top it off. Talk about a timeless ensemble for the books.

Beyond watching Zendaya effortlessly transform into memorable characters on the big screen, it's also exciting to see how she and Law Roach determine method dressing for each press tour. Whether she's walked the Dune 2 red carpet looking like C-3PO or worn something old, new, borrowed, and blue for The Drama, her and Law Roach’s outfits each perfectly sync with the film being promoted. Needless to say, this is a fashion duo I can't get enough of.

Now, I'm wondering if Zendaya and Roach have anymore stellar outfits in store for The Odyssey's press tour. I'd love to see them present an outfit that gives off even more "Goddess" vibes but, in the meantime, I'll just bask in the glow of these current outfits. For now, know that Christopher Nolan's latest film hits theaters on July 17th.

If you’ve watched the Spider-Man Home trilogy with your Disney+ subscription, you know Peter Parker has been through a lot in the MCU. But few things sting quite like your closest friends forgetting you exist. After Spider-Man: No Way Home, Tom Holland’s web-slinger was left in one of the loneliest places the franchise has ever put him, with Doctor Strange’s spell wiping Peter Parker from the memories of everyone who knew him. As excitement continues building for the 2026 movie release, the Brand New Day cast members Jacob Batalon and Zendaya are out here trolling Peter Parker about everyone forgetting him, with Holland fully committing to the bit by making some of the best faces.

The official Spider-Man movie Instagram account shared a funny video featuring Holland, Zendaya and Jacob Batalon, playing directly into the heartbreaking ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home. In the clip, Batalon and Zendaya appear to act as if they do not know the Spidey actor, while he makes sad little Peter Parker faces at the camera. The post’s caption reads, “Peter, who?” which is rude, but honestly pretty funny.

The text on the video twists the knife perfectly: “when your besties forget that you’re also their bestie.” Brutal, but fair. By the end of No Way Home, Doctor Strange’s spell had erased Peter Parker from everyone’s memory. The world still remembers Spider-Man, but the person beneath the mask has been erased from the lives of the people who loved him most.

Holland has teased exactly one person still knowing who is behind the webbed mask, but Ned seemingly does not remember being his guy in the chair. MJ also does not remember their relationship. So yes, this is a cute Instagram bit, but it’s built on emotional wreckage. Very Spider-Man coded, honestly.

The timing is especially fun because Brand New Day feels like a title loaded with reset energy. Holland is back for his fourth solo movie, and the franchise seems positioned to move Peter into a new era. That is also why he can’t stop, won't stop dropping Miles Morales’ name when it comes to Spider-Man’s future. The Uncharted actor has made it clear he wants to help bring Miles into the MCU someday, and he has talked about paying it forward for the mentorship he received from Robert Downey Jr.

But before Peter can become a mentor to another wallcrawler the guy probably needs a life again. That is what makes the Ned and MJ question so compelling. Does Brand New Day restore those relationships? Does Peter try to stay away because he thinks they are safer without him? Does the movie actually make him sit in the loneliness that No Way Home left him with?

The filmmakers clearly know fans are asking those questions, which is probably why this little trolling video works so well. The post does not give away any plot details, but it taps directly into that emotional thread. It is a wink, a tease and a reminder that Peter’s situation is still pretty brutal, even when it is being played as a social media joke. Stop and think about it for even a minute, and the whole bit suddenly has a pretty melancholy undertone.

It helps that Holland, Zendaya and Batalon have such easy chemistry. Their dynamic has been one of the secret weapons of the modern Spider-Man movies, and fans spent years watching Peter, MJ and Ned grow into one of the MCU’s most charming little friend groups.

Peter Parker may be thinking about a brand new day, and Holland may be dreaming about Miles Morales in the future. But for now, the Spider-Man social team seems perfectly happy trolling fans with the saddest bestie problem in the MCU.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31, so be sure to check your local listings for showtimes.

Marriage rumors swirled around Zendaya and Tom Holland for quite some time, and neither member of the A-list couple was willing to confirm nor deny that they’d tied the knot. However, earlier this month, Holland subtly revealed he and his longtime partner had indeed exchanged vows. Ahead of that, though, AI-generated photos of the couple made the rounds and seemed to provide glimpses into their big day. Zendaya’s stylist, Law Roach, is now weighing in on the pics, and his take only makes me want to see the real dress more.

It was around this past March that insiders made allegations about Holland and Zendaya having gotten secretly married, with further details suggesting they married in Italy. So, when the AI pictures dropped, many were hyped by the supposed sight of the two Spider-Man stars celebrating their nuptials. Law Roach discussed that viral madness when he appeared as a guest on Good Morning America. Roach dropped an A+ response after being asked what he was thinking when he saw the wedding dress depicted in the faux photos:

First and foremost, I’m cracking up over Roach’s take on the fake dress, as the method-dressing master couldn’t have timed that quip any better. The humorous nature of the comments aside, though, they’re also sure to make fans wonder even more about what the real dress looks like. Something fashion devotees likely know about Roach is that he doesn’t play when it comes to his designs, and that’s especially true when it comes to the pieces he curates for longtime friend and colleague Zendaya.

Roach was actually one of the first people to allude to the fact that a wedding had occurred, as he mused back in March that fans had missed it. Despite that, the Project Runaway judge has remained tight-lipped on details regarding the ceremony and the bride’s dress. Even Christian Siriano claimed Roach was keeping dress secrets for the sake of his friend, Z. Whether the public will ever get to see that dress is unknown, but when asked if the real dress looked like the one in the photo, Roach said:

The man said what he said and, as a result, he piqued my curiosity. Check out the funny interview moment for yourself:

Some may scoff at the notion of AI photos fooling some people, but that’s apparently what happened. Zendaya previously revealed that the photos caught some of her loved ones off guard, and they apparently called her out for not scoring invites to the big day. Even when Holland confirmed the wedding had taken place, he only did so due to explaining that his own grandmother was confused by the pics that surfaced online.

What’s very evident, at this point, is that Zendaya and Tom Holland are very protective of their relationship and personal, meaning they want to keep aspects of it for themselves. That’s definitely admirable and respectable, though I know fans still would probably like to see that wedding dress. I’ll just say that we probably shouldn’t expect the couple or Law Roach to share any genuine photos.

Fans can, at the very least, see the aforementioned couple in two 2026 movie schedule entries. One of those is The Odyssey, which opens on July 17, and the other is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which arrives on July 31.

This year is a big one for Tom Holland and Zendaya. Firstly, after much speculation, it was finally confirmed that they did get married. On top of that, they have not one, but two projects on the 2026 movie schedule: Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey. Now, as we get excited for those releases, it's also time to look toward the future, as Holland revealed the kind of project he'd like to work on next with his partner.

There’s no doubt that Holland and Zendaya have undeniable chemistry playing love interests in the Spider-Man movies. Peter and MJ starting as awkward high school teens with a crush and growing into a lovely couple is one element that’s made the MCU flicks all the more memorable. However, there's no denying how badly I want to see these two actors in a full-blown rom-com. Thankfully, Holland wants to see that too, as he explained to Vanity Fair France at Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s UGC Cine Cité Bercy fan event:

Well, this needs to happen immediately. That's because not only do I want to see these two in a rom-com, but they both have the musical background to pull off what Holland suggested in a magnificent way.

For instance, Zendaya started on Disney Channel, dancing and singing on Shake It Up! while also releasing two albums. Not to mention, she topped the music charts with songs from Euphoria, and she starred in the musical flick The Greatest Showman. So, you know singing and dancing won’t be a problem for the Emmy winner, as Tom Holland said. And because we haven’t seen the actress/singer in a light romance movie before, why not take that genre on with her real-life husband?

As for Tom Holland, he's got some moves of his own! In fact, he joined the cast of Billy Elliot on the West End when he was only 12 years old. Now, Holland is set to play Fred Astaire in the song-and-dance man’s biopic. He's actually started working on the film too, as he explained on Good Hang with Amy Poehler that he had his first dance rehearsal for the flick recently. So, we know he's got the moves; now, we just need to hear his vocal chops.

You have to admit that a Tom Holland-Zendaya rom-com is exactly what we need. While the pair share plenty of cute romance scenes in the Spider-Man movies, their characters still face the constant threat of enemies. So, I'd love to see them tell a story where their characters simply fall in love. Plus, The Drama actress looked very impressed watching her other half dancing ballet in front of her and doing a funny impression of his Billy Elliot singing. So, I can see them having a lot of fun singing and dancing together in a musical.

However, that's a dream for now. So, while we wait for Tom Holland and Zendaya to hopefully star in a musical rom-com together, you can see the loving pair reunite in Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31st. You can also watch the actors in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey in theaters on July 17th.

Celebrity couples have a way of capturing the public's attention. Just look at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Another pair that folks are absolutely shipping online is Tom Holland and Zendaya, who are currently on the promotional tour for their upcoming Marvel movie Spider-Man: Brand New Day. And Holland had just three words for his wife/coworker after finding out she had one of her first dates at one of Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man movies.

Fans who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know there have been several actors who have played Spider-Man. That includes Andrew Garfield's movies (streaming with a Disney+ subscription), and it turns out that Zendaya had a big coming-of-age moment when they were in theaters. During a fan event in Germany (via Instagram), the Greatest Showman actress revealed her history with Spidey before becoming MJ, saying:

Sometimes celebrities really are just like us. Because who among us hasn't gone on a movie date as a young person, especially a superhero movie? It's a strangely full-circle moment for the Emmy-winning actress, as Zendaya is about to debut her fourth appearance in a Spider-Man movie as MJ.

Tom Holland happened to be right next to the Dune star as she made this confession, and had an A+ response in just three short words. He said:

Honestly, these two really are couple goals. On top of being able to work together in projects like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey, they also clearly get a kick out of each other. In this case, it's Holland being jokingly offended after learning Zendaya went to another Spider-Man film while on a date. The disrespect!

This give and take between the two young stars is just the latest example of them being adorable while promoting Brand New Day. Tom Holland recently went viral for calling Zendaya by her middle name, with the two also recently confirming that they did indeed tie the knot. While this pair of A-listers value their privacy, it's small moments like this that result in so many fans shipping them.

In addition to the two actors, fans are also invested in their Spider-Man characters, and are eager to see if they manage to reunite after No Way Home's twist ending. Luckily, the wait for the next movie is nearly up.

All will be revealed when Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. Smart money says Zendaya and Tom Holland will give us more viral moments as they continue promoting the blockbuster.

Zendaya has had a number of red carpet stunners recently, but given all the 2026 movies she’s in, apparently, she’s just been warming up. Now that the Spider-Man: Brand New Day global press tour is in full swing, she has started to method dress for the latest upcoming Marvel movie, but I think she just stepped out in her best one yet.

I don’t know how she tops this London fit, but she’s been known to outdo herself. Check out this gorgeous backless spiderweb gown she just wore:

Check out that detailing – the dress straight up has spider-web jewels on it, and my jaw is dropped. I'm sure yours will, too, when you see the close-up of the spiderweb back that Zendaya posted on her Instagram:

Seriously, I will never get over this back. All the charms are so pretty, and the spider-themed open back is equal parts chic and on-theme.

While it looks like something one might make just for Zendaya for this photo call, it’s actually a vintage 1997 gown from John Galliano's “The Circus” Collection. Now, here's the front:

I’m positively in love with this dress on Zendaya. The pattern, the jewels, the fit – everything! And I continue to be obsessed with how chic her chopped-off hair era is. Her stylist, Law Roach, said this on Instagram when talking about the look:

The style only seems to enhance with each getup. This new fashion moment follows Zendaya wearing a sparkly red and blue two-piece when she stopped in Rome a couple of days ago before changing into another spiderwebbed vintage Giorgio Armani gown from 1990.

Before that, she was wearing so much black on this press tour that fans are worried about “WHO IS DYING” in the new Spidey movie. For example, Zendaya turned up this week in Paris in a simple black Spider-Man T-shirt that Law Roach said he purchased on eBay.

But it hasn't just been black before this week. In Spain, Zendaya went all red with a gown from Ernesto Naranjo, and in Amsterdam she looked “Michael Jackson-coded” with a black top and red shorts from Louis Vuitton.

Her co-star and real-life hubby, Tom Holland, has been in attendance with her, but Zendaya’s fashion is always so eye-catching that sometimes I forget to swoon over the newly married couple. This is one of two 2026 summer movies the pair is in, with the other being Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. I cannot wait to see how Zendaya and Law Roach decide to dress for the Greek epic, already. And surely, the pair of fashion masterminds have something fun cooked up for the Dune: Part 3 press tour as well.

Zendaya once again is playing MJ in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but she’s starting over with Peter Parker / Spider-Man after the events of No Way Home. In the last Spider-Man film, she and everyone else forgot all about Peter Parker. However, one thing I'll never forget is this outfit. Anyway, the movie comes out on July 31, a couple of weeks after The Odyssey’s release on July 17.

Tom Holland and Zendaya have spent years being one of those celebrity couples fans cannot stop watching, partly because they are so good at keeping the actual personal stuff personal. They will pose on a red carpet, talk about upcoming Spider-Man projects and laugh through press questions, but the little private details usually stay tucked away. Which is probably why one quick name drop from Holland just sent fans into full swoon mode. Seriously, cue the awws, because Spider-Man just called his partner by her nickname and it's going viral.

During the Rome premiere for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Holland was caught on video calling Zendaya “Maree,” her middle name. The moment occurred while the two were on the red carpet, and you can see it for yourself in CapitalBuzz's Instagram post below. He was not making a big romantic declaration. He was just trying to get her attention, and the name he used gave fans a tiny glimpse of how he talks to her when the cameras are not the point.

It is honestly one of the most adorable things I have seen in some time. The Uncharted star interrupts her red carpet answer, asking:

Zendaya doesn’t look phased and doesn’t miss a beat. She turns and answers:

To most of the world, the actress is just Zendaya. One name, instantly recognizable, no last name required. But to Holland, at least in that moment, she was Maree, and that feels like a much more personal window into their relationship than any glossy answer on a press tour.

There is also a fun bit of history there. The Euphoria breakout was born Zendaya Coleman, but she has long gone by her first name professionally. In a 2016 Allure interview, she explained the decision in very “her” fashion, saying she thought it was cool, “like Cher or Prince.” It was a clean, confident move, and it clearly worked. Nearly a decade later, she is one of the rare performers whose first name alone does all the work.

That makes Holland calling her Maree even sweeter. Honestly, I get why people are melting over it. My grandparents had something very similar. My grandfather would call my grandmother by her middle name, and I always found it endearing. As a kid, it felt like hearing a tiny piece of their marriage that belonged only to them. What could be more adorable than a window into their relationship?

The “Maree” moment feels like one of those details couples collect over time. The timing also gives the clip a little extra charge. The pair are back together on the Spider-Man: Brand New Day press tour, promoting the franchise that first put them in each other’s orbit. Fans have watched them grow from Spider-Man: Homecoming co-stars into one of Hollywood’s most closely followed couples, all while Peter Parker and MJ’s relationship story has gone through its own emotional meat grinder.

After No Way Home, Peter is living in a world where everyone has forgotten him, including MJ. That means the new movie is walking into some pretty heavy emotional territory. So naturally fans are going to grab onto any warm real-life moment between Holland and Zendaya that they can get.

Brand New Day swings onto the 2026 movie calendar on July 31. But, while you wait, you can revisit the couple's adorable Spidey love connection in all three installments of the Home trilogy, streaming with a Disney+ subscription.

While Zendaya is best known as an Emmy-winning actress, she's also a bonafide fashion icon that folks like to emulate. The Greatest Showman star gets a little help from her image architect Law Roach, who has been styling her for years, to huge success. And while Zendaya has been wearing lots of black while promoting Spider-Man: Brand New Day, she recently showed her midriff and rocked some red and blue in honor of the Marvel hero.

Zendaya is known for method dressing for her projects, and some fans have been worried that her black choices for No Way Home means something tragic will happen in the upcoming Marvel movie. Luckily she recently changed it up for the movie's Rome premiere, and wore a killer red and blue outfit for its Rome premiere. You can check out her outfit over on Zendaya's Instagram. Or in the photo below:

I mean, talk about a perfect Spider-Man coded outfit. Zendaya also shared the following adorable photo of her and Tom Holland together, which fans absolutely gushed over on social media. Check it out:

How cute is that? And talk about an appropriate outfit. While MJ doesn't have any super powers in the Spider-Man movies, Zendaya looks ready to kick some butt in this outfit that matches the web slinger's costume.

Law Roach also revealed over on his Instagram that the outfit is actually from the Versace Fall Winter 1997 collection, and he seemingly sourced the look from the designer's archives in order to pull it off. It's a great choice for Brand New Day, and once again shows that nobody being styled quite like the Euphoria star.

From movie premieres to Zendaya's iconic Met Gala looks, it's clear she and Law Roach have a great working relationship. She's always wearing something fresh and exciting... even if it's actually a vintage piece. I'm curious to see if we'll get more looks of her in Spider-Man's signature colors, or if she'll be going back to black. Fans seem to think that the latter has been hinting at the contents of Brand New Day, either character deaths or the long-awaited debut of Venom. Luckily, the wait for that blockbuster is nearly over, so answers are on their way.

Fans are curious about what's going to go down with Zendaya's MJ in the new Spider-Man movie, especially after No Way Home's heartbreaking ending. In it Doctor Strange's spell erased the entire world's memories of Peter Parker, including MJ and Ned. While they're safe from Spider-Man's enemies, Tom Holland's hero is now living in isolation.

Our answers will come when Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. Fingers crossed that MJ ends up both alive, and able to remember Peter by the end of its runtime.

Tom Holland’s reputation as Marvel’s most dangerous keeper of secrets has become almost as famous as his superhero role itself. The Spider-Man: Brand New Day star has accidentally let enough things slip over the years that Marvel fans basically treat every interview like a live-wire spoiler event. So, naturally, when Robert Downey Jr. privately told him he was returning to the MCU, he did what any noted spoiler might do: he told someone special right away.

In a recent Cinemania interview with Holland and Zendaya while the two were promoting their upcoming 2026 movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the couple talked about the moment Zendaya learned that Downey was returning to Marvel as Doctor Doom. The in-demand actor admitted the news reached her almost immediately after the phone call with his Marvel mentor. He recalled:

Honestly, as far as Tom Holland spoilers go, this one barely counts as a crime. Zendaya is part of the Spider-Man franchise, and the couple is obviously much more than co-stars, as they've been in a long-term relationship with marriage rumors. If Robert Downey Jr. calls to tell you personally he’s returning for a new Marvel movie, telling your fiancée feels less like leaking classified Avengers intel and more like normal human behavior.

Still, I do enjoy imagining Kevin Feige somewhere suddenly looking up from a stack of storyboards and whispering, “Tom knows.” The funny part is the Uncharted actor seems very aware that Marvel has learned to keep him at arm’s length when it comes to the biggest plot details. He continued:

That is probably the safest possible setup for everyone involved. Holland can still be excited about the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday release and whatever comes after, while Marvel keeps the really dangerous story beats locked in a vault somewhere.

It also makes sense that Downey would call the young MCU star himself. Their connection goes back to Captain America: Civil War, where Tony Stark introduced this version of Peter Parker to the larger Marvel universe. That mentor relationship became one of the emotional pillars of Holland’s run, especially through Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

Off-screen, Holland has often credited Downey with helping him navigate the madness of joining Marvel at such a young age. So hearing that Downey gave him an early heads-up about his return feels genuinely sweet.

The twist, of course, is that the Oppenheimer star is not returning as Tony Stark. He is coming back as Doctor Doom, which raises approximately 9,000 questions about what that means for Peter Parker. And the young actor behind the hero sounds just as curious as everyone else, especially considering Peter’s history with Tony and the emotional crater Tony left behind after Endgame.

For now, Holland and Zendaya are busy promoting Spider-Man: Brand New Day. But somewhere out there, the next chapter of the Avengers is waiting, and the In the Heart of the Sea actor knows just enough to be excited, and thankfully, not enough to spoil everything.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31, 2026, and Avengers: Doomsday will follow suit on December 18th.

It’s been seven years since Lip Sync Battle last pitted two celebrities against each other for performances that were guaranteed to live rent-free in our heads. Jenna Dewan doing the Magic Mike dance for Channing Tatum was simply epic, and who can forget watching The Rock sing Taylor Swift? However, I’m surprised at how much Tom Holland’s performance of Rihanna’s “Umbrella” has been coming up — and especially how the latest mention relates to his wife Zendaya.

It’s been nine years since Tom Holland donned the black wig, shorts and fishnet stockings on Lip Sync Battle, but he is still talking about what he’s called the “most stressful thing I’ve ever done in my life.” It sounds like something great came out of it, though, as a source allegedly close to Zendaya said the “Umbrella” moment was when she “fell hard” for Holland and “sealed the deal” for her in their relationship. The insider told the Daily Mail:

While the Spider-Man: Far From Home stars didn’t officially confirm their relationship until 2021, rumors about the two date back to 2017 — the same year of their Lip Sync Battle — so the timing actually works out. Who knows? If Tom Holland hadn’t dressed like Rihanna, would they even be married today? (Of course, that wasn’t the only time he tried to impress Zendaya with his dance skills.)

It’s easy to see why this performance has stuck with fans through the years — and Zendaya was clearly LOVING it. Still, its impact being this strong after so much time is wild.

This is a big year for Tom Holland — with two huge projects (The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day) hitting the 2026 movie calendar this summer and a likely appearance in Avengers: Doomsday in December — and still, it always comes back to “Umbrella.” Last fall on Gordon Ramsay’s Scrambled, Holland said:

Tom Holland has consistently said he gets recognized for his Lip Sync Battle performance more than his Spider-Man movies or any other role. Then he spoke about it at length on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast just this month, he said:

It’s evident by just how many times the “Umbrella” dance still comes up how significant a pop culture moment it was, but I had no idea how impactful that moment may have been for Tom Holland and Zendaya’s romance.

Be sure to catch the couple in Spider-Man: Brand New Day when it hits theaters July 31. The husband-and-wife duo will also both appear in The Odyssey, coming July 17.