Zendaya Reportedly Targets Best Actress Oscar Campaign for Dune: Part Three

LOS ANGELES, October 25, 2026

Zendaya is reportedly set to pursue Best Actress consideration at the 2027 Academy Awards for her performance as Chani in Dune: Part Three, marking a change from the supporting actress category associated with her work in the franchise’s first two films. The reported campaign, first detailed by Variety on October 23, puts a spotlight on Chani’s place in the upcoming film, but it does not mean Zendaya has secured an Oscar nomination.

According to Variety, which cited multiple sources familiar with the plans, Zendaya will be positioned in the lead actress category for the third instalment of director Denis Villeneuve’s science-fiction saga. The publication reported that Warner Bros. and Zendaya’s representatives declined to comment.

The distinction matters. An awards campaign is a bid to persuade Academy voters to consider a performance in a particular category; it is not an official nomination or a guarantee of recognition. Whether the strategy translates into a place on the final ballot remains to be seen.

Key Points

• Zendaya is reportedly targeting Best Actress consideration at the 2027 Oscars for Dune: Part Three.
• The reported campaign marks a shift from the supporting actress category associated with her earlier Dune awards campaigns.
• Zendaya plays Chani, whose role is central to the story of the upcoming film.
• An awards campaign does not guarantee an Oscar nomination; Academy voters will determine the final nominees.
• Dune: Part Three is scheduled for theatrical release on December 18, 2026.

Why Zendaya’s Dune role is being positioned differently

Zendaya plays Chani, a Fremen warrior whose relationship with Paul Atreides, portrayed by Timothée Chalamet, becomes increasingly complicated as he consolidates power.

The first two films positioned Zendaya in the supporting actress category for awards campaigning. The reported change for Dune: Part Three reflects Chani’s expanded importance to the final chapter, according to Variety.

The film’s story is set years after Paul’s rise to power, with the consequences of his rule driving the conflict. Chani is central to the unfolding story, according to the film’s published synopsis.

That gives the campaign a clear narrative: the character is being presented as a leading figure in the concluding instalment rather than primarily as a supporting presence. However, category placement alone does not establish how the Academy will assess the performance, and the film has not yet opened in cinemas.

An Oscar campaign is not the same as an Oscar nomination

The reported move is significant for Zendaya, whose screen career spans television and major film franchises, but the outcome is uncertain.

The earlier Dune films received substantial Academy recognition, particularly in technical categories. Neither film established an acting nomination for Zendaya. A Best Actress nomination for the third film would therefore represent a new milestone for her in the Academy Awards race.

The competition is another consideration. Lead actress campaigns bring together performances from films released across the eligibility year, and the strength of a campaign does not determine the final nominees. Voters ultimately decide which performances advance.

Zendaya also has other major projects in the awards conversation. Variety has reported that she is expected to seek lead actress consideration for A24’s The Drama and supporting actress consideration for her role in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Those reported plans illustrate how an actor’s awards strategy can vary from one performance to another.

What happens next?

Dune: Part Three is scheduled for theatrical release on December 18, 2026, according to published industry coverage. Its release will give audiences and awards voters an opportunity to assess Zendaya’s performance in the completed film rather than relying on campaign positioning or promotional footage.

For now, the key development is the reported category change, not a confirmed Oscar breakthrough. The decision places Chani at the centre of Zendaya’s awards push for the science-fiction sequel, while leaving the ultimate question—whether the performance earns a nomination—unanswered.

Sources: Variety’s report on Zendaya’s reported Oscar campaign (original reporting by Variety); Gizmodo’s coverage of the campaign; Variety’s Dune: Part Three coverage.