Zendaya will campaign in the Best Actress category for her role as Chani in Dune: Part III, reflecting what industry coverage describes as an expanded central role for the character, Variety reported Oct. 24.
The move represents a departure from the awards positioning used for the first two Dune films, in which Zendaya was campaigned as a supporting actress. Variety said the decision ?reflects Chani?s expanded role in the story.?
The report noted release plans for some Middle East markets, saying that for audiences in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Dune: Part Three is slated for a December 2026 release and that the Liwa Desert in Abu Dhabi appears in a first-look teaser released in March 2026.
Zendaya?s recent year and awards context
Variety and other outlets point to the larger scope of Chani?s part in the new film as the rationale for the campaign shift. Zendaya has had a prominent year, with leading roles in Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey, which were among the top-grossing movies of 2026, and a noted performance in The Drama.
- No actor from the previous two Dune films has received an Oscar or Golden Globe nomination for those movies; the films did receive nominations in technical categories.
- Entertainment prognosticator GoldDerby did not list Zendaya among current Oscar contenders in its public tallies, according to the report.
The industry positioning of lead and supporting categories is a common strategic choice in awards seasons. In this instance the reported campaign change aligns with commentary from critics and journalists who have highlighted differences between Chani?s portrayal in Dune: Part III and her role in Frank Herbert?s later novels.
Publicity and awards campaigns typically unfold over months leading up to the Academy Awards, with studios and representatives confirming formal submissions and category preferences to awards bodies as required.
