A24 Drops Explosive Trailer for 'The Drama' Starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson
When two of Hollywood's most magnetic stars collide in an A24 psychological rom-dramedy, you know wedding bells are about to ring for all the wrong reasons. The studio has just unleashed the official trailer for "The Drama," and it's already clear that director Kristoffer Borgli's latest feature is set to be one of the most talked-about films of spring 2026.
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson star as Emma Harwood and Charlie Thompson, a supposedly happily engaged couple whose picture-perfect romance begins to crumble during what should be the most joyous week of their lives. The trailer opens with an awkward engagement photoshoot that immediately signals something's amiss beneath the surface of their relationship.
The tension explodes during a seemingly innocent dinner party with married friends, played by Mamoudou Athie and Alana Haim, when the group decides to play a game of confessing "the worst thing they've ever done." While Charlie and their friends' admissions are met with nervous laughter, Emma's revelation sends shockwaves through the group, triggering a cascade of events that threaten to derail the wedding entirely.
What follows in the trailer is a montage of escalating chaos: cars crashing into trees, heated arguments at the ceremony, chairs being thrown, and in one particularly jarring moment, Emma brandishing a knife at Charlie. Pattinson's understated delivery of "It's just, there's some drama" as the trailer fades to black is the perfect darkly comedic punctuation to the mayhem.
"We had a scene together that was driving me crazy," Pattinson revealed in a 2025 interview with Premiere magazine. "I ended up calling Zendaya the night before shooting the scene. I shared my doubts with her, I spoke for two hours, and after a while, very calmly, she made me understand that the line just said what it meant to say, that there was no hidden meaning."
This collaborative dynamic between the leads speaks to the complexity of Borgli's script, which clearly operates on multiple levels of psychological intrigue. The Norwegian director, who earned a Golden Globe nomination for Nicolas Cage with his previous A24 effort "Dream Scenario," has built a reputation for crafting narratives that subvert audience expectations while maintaining a pitch-black sense of humor.
The character details that have emerged through A24's creative marketing campaign add fascinating layers to the story. Emma is a bookstore clerk from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with a Boston University English degree, while Charlie is a British museum director with an art history doctorate from Tufts University who oversees the Cambridge Art Museum. These biographical details were cleverly revealed through a fictional engagement announcement the studio placed in the Boston Globe, showcasing A24's continued commitment to innovative film promotion.
Cast & Crew
Director/Writer: Kristoffer Borgli
Producers: Ari Aster, Lars Knudsen, Tyler Campellone (Square Peg)
Starring: Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Mamoudou Athie, Alana Haim, Hailey Gates, Zoë Winters
For Zendaya, "The Drama" represents another bold career move following her critically acclaimed performance in Luca Guadagnino's "Challengers." The two-time Emmy winner continues to prove her versatility, balancing her upcoming return as Rue in "Euphoria" Season 3 with major film projects including Marvel's "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" and Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey."
Pattinson, fresh off his work in Lynne Ramsay's "Die My Love" opposite Jennifer Lawrence, continues his streak of selecting challenging, auteur-driven projects that showcase his range far beyond his blockbuster roles.
What makes this pairing particularly exciting is that "The Drama" marks the first of three collaborations between Zendaya and Pattinson hitting screens in 2026. After their April rendezvous in Borgli's psychological playground, audiences will see them reunite in Nolan's "The Odyssey" in July before they both appear in "Dune: Part Three" this December. It's a cinematic triple threat that film fans have been eagerly anticipating.
"The Drama" arrives in theaters April 3, 2026
The supporting cast brings serious dramatic weight to the ensemble. Mamoudou Athie has proven his range across television and film, while Alana Haim made a stunning acting debut in Paul Thomas Anderson's "Licorice Pizza." The addition of "Succession" alum Zoë Winters as the wedding photographer adds another layer of prestige to the production.
With Ari Aster's Square Peg production company backing the project, "The Drama" carries the pedigree of other boundary-pushing A24 releases like "Midsommar" and "Beau Is Afraid." Aster's involvement as producer suggests audiences should prepare for a film that will challenge conventional rom-com expectations while delivering genuine emotional impact.
As awards season conversations typically begin ramping up in late fall, the April 3 release date has raised some eyebrows in industry circles. However, A24 has never been a studio to follow traditional patterns, and an early-year release could position "The Drama" as a sleeper contender that builds momentum throughout the year.
What's most compelling about this trailer is what it doesn't reveal. Beyond the central premise of a secret threatening to destroy a relationship, the specific nature of Emma's confession remains tantalizingly obscure. This restraint in the marketing suggests confidence that audiences will be drawn to theaters not just for the star power, but for the psychological complexity that Borgli has woven into the narrative.
In an era where so many trailers give away entire plot points, "The Drama" wisely keeps its cards close to the chest, offering just enough chaos and intrigue to hook viewers while preserving the mystery that will undoubtedly drive the film's emotional core. If the trailer is any indication, April can't come soon enough for those of us hungry for intelligent, unsettling, and deeply human storytelling.
Kathia Woods is an entertainment journalist and Tomatometer-approved critic serving as Arts & Entertainment Co-Chair for the National Association of Black Journalists. She is a voting member of the Critics Choice Association and hosts the Cup of Soul Show, featuring challenging conversations with A-list talent about representation and cultural impact in entertainment.