Spider-Man star Zendaya says she wants to work with Black Panther director Ryan Coogler: "He means so much to the world, but he also means so much to us"
There are few bigger stars in the world right now than Zendaya, and few filmmakers at the level of 2026 Oscar winner Ryan Coogler. But if the Spider-Man and Euphoria star has her way, she’d like to work with Coogler as a career goal.
“Oh goodness. You know, I would love to work with Ryan [Coogler],” Zendaya tells Jennifer Hudson on her podcast (around the 5 minute mark). “Because, it’s been for years that I felt this way, since Fruitvale Station, because I thought that was such a beautiful and powerful film.”
“But I’m from Oakland too, and I remember when that happened,” she continues, referring to the 2009 murder of Oscar Grant, which is the basis of 2014’s Fruitvale Station. “And so he means so much to the world, but he also means so much to us. And I always joke, ‘I don’t know, but I feel like you’re my cousin,’ you know what I mean? He sounds like my family. His accent is so strong, and so, so Oakland. And he just makes beautiful work, absolutely beautiful work. So talented. So yeah.”
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Zendaya and Coogler share a big industry connection through the MCU, with the actress appearing as MJ in the Spider-Man franchise, including the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Coogler currently working on his third Black Panther film. Coogler is also fresh off a record-breaking number of Academy Award nominations for his film Sinners, which wound up bringing home four wins, including a Best Actor trophy for Michael B. Jordan, who first worked with Coogler on Fruitvale Station.
Zendaya will return in Spider-Man: Brand New Day which hits theaters on July 31. For more Spidey, get up to speed on the rest of Marvel Phase 6 with our guide to the other upcoming Marvel movies and shows. For more cinema, check out our list of movie release dates.
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