Zendaya stuns fans by revealing her director crush

Zendaya has spilled the beans on the filmmaker she’s secretly been hoping to work with for years.

Most importantly, it’s none other than Ryan Coogler, the mind behind Black Panther and Creed.

Appearing on The Jennifer Hudson Show, the 26-year-old actress revealed her admiration has been brewing since Coogler’s powerful 2013 debut Fruitvale Station.

“For years I’ve felt this way, since Fruitvale Station, because I thought that was such a beautiful and powerful film,” she said.

Adding warmly, “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, so Oakland, and he just makes beautiful work.”

Zendaya’s comments show just how much Sinners director’s storytelling resonates with her personally, especially the real-life story of Oscar Grant, which left a lasting impression on the star.

But as much as she’s dreaming of future projects, the Euphoria star is bracing for a hectic year. 

With Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Dune: Part Three, The Odyssey, The Drama, and multiple other 2026 films lined up, she admits she’s worried fans might hit overload. 

“I just hope people don’t get sick of me,” she told Fandango.

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