Zendaya has a clear answer when asked about her dream director. During an upcoming appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, the 29-year-old star did not hesitate when naming the filmmaker she most wants to collaborate with.
“I would love to work with Ryan Coogler,” Zendaya said. “For years I’ve felt this way, since Fruitvale Station, because I thought that was such a beautiful and powerful film.”
The comment drew immediate attention from fans and entertainment circles alike. Zendaya is currently one of Hollywood’s most in-demand performers. Coogler, meanwhile, is fresh off one of the strongest award-season runs in recent memory.
A Bond Rooted in Oakland
The desire to collaborate goes deeper than professional admiration. Zendaya and Coogler share roots in Oakland, California, a connection the actress spoke about openly.
“I’m from Oakland too, and I remember when that happened,” she said, referring to the 2009 killing of Oscar Grant. Grant was shot by a Bay Area Rapid Transit officer at Oakland’s Fruitvale Station. Coogler adapted that story into his 2013 debut film of the same name, starring Michael B. Jordan.
The film left a lasting impression on Zendaya. She has cited it as the origin of her admiration for Coogler’s work.
“He means so much to the world, but he also means so much to us,” she said. “I always joke, I’m like, ‘I know I don’t know you, but I feel like you’re my cousin.’ He sounds like my family. His accent is so strong, and so Oakland, and he just makes beautiful work.”
The candid remarks reflect more than a passing interest. For Zendaya, the desire to work with Coogler appears to be a long-held, deeply personal goal.
Packed Schedules May Delay a Collaboration
A team-up between the two may not happen soon. Both carry extremely full slates heading into the rest of 2026.
Zendaya is currently starring in A24’s The Drama, which opened in theaters April 3. She is also set to appear in HBO’s Euphoria Season 3, premiering April 12. Later this summer, audiences will see her in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. She rounds out the year with Dune: Part Three, hitting theaters Dec. 18.
Despite the packed schedule, Zendaya hinted she may need a pause after the wave of releases.
“I just hope people don’t get sick of me, and I really appreciate everyone who supports any of the movies [and] supports my career in any kind of way,” she said in a separate interview with Fandango. “I just hope you guys don’t get sick of me this year because I’ll tell you what — I’m disappearing for a little bit.”
Coogler is equally busy. His film Sinners took home four Academy Awards at this year’s ceremony. Wins included Best Actor for Jordan, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Original Score. He is also developing a reboot of The X-Files for Hulu and continuing work on a third Black Panther film.
No project pairing between Zendaya and Coogler has been announced. Still, the actress’s public admission adds a new layer of intrigue to what both careers might look like in the years ahead. Given their shared origins and mutual dedication to meaningful storytelling, the industry will no doubt be watching closely.