Zendaya’s upcoming romantic black comedy, The Drama, reportedly features a disturbing twist that has left some fans horrified.
The movie, in which the actress, 29, stars as Robert Pattinson’s, 39, fiancée, is being marketed as a wedding flick, but a dark plot twist has caught some early viewers off guard, per TMZ.
Insiders who watched early screenings ahead of the film’s April 3 debut, told the outlet that audiences, expecting a lighthearted flick, were left left blindsided by the bait-and-switch.
Several viewers also thought it crossed a line into ‘problematic’ territory, potentially offering a sympathetic look at an unforgivable act.
In the film, produced by A24, Zendaya stars as Emma Harwood, a bookstore clerk from Baton Rouge, Louisana, who is engaged to Pattinson’s character Charlie Thompson, a museum director from London.
A week before their wedding, they decide to play a game with friends, where they all confess the worst thing they’ve ever done. However, when it’s Zendaya’s turn, she reveals a shocking secret that leaves everyone reeling.
Zendaya’s, 29, upcoming romantic black comedy, The Drama, reportedly features a disturbing twist that has left some fans horrified
The movie, in which the actress stars as Robert Pattinson’s, 39, fiancée, is being marketed as a wedding flick, but a dark plot twist has caught some early viewers off guard, as per TMZ
MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW.
Zendaya’s character tells the group that when she was a teenager she planned a school shooting, but had a last-minute change of heart and didn’t follow through.
The movie then shows Pattinson’s character trying to cope with the revelation, and decide whether he wants to spend the rest of his life with someone capable of planning such a chilling deed.
Some viewers thought the plot twist might be deemed problematic, since it could be interpreted as trying to humanize school shooters – a questionable creative choice given America’s history of gun violence.
The film reportedly does not feature a ‘trigger warning’ despite the subject matter.
Notably, many audience members who have seen the movie praised it on social media, with one calling it ‘So good. So fun. So dark.’
Another called it a ‘perfectly executed exercise in disturbing romantic discomfort.’
Yet another person called it ‘a wildly unconventional rom-com’ that was ‘deeply funny and definitely a little twisted.’
In the poster for the film, the pair beam at each other on their wedding day with Zendaya looking incredible in a classic white gown with a low cut neckline.
Other teaser posters for the film show Zendaya with a worried expression on her face and Pattinson with a bloodied nose.
A week before their wedding, the couple play a game with friends, where they all confess the worst thing they’ve ever done
Zendaya’s character tells the group that when she was a teenager she planned a school shooting, but had a last-minute change of heart and didn’t follow through
The movie then shows Pattinson’s character trying to cope with the revelation, and decide whether he wants to spend his life with someone capable of planning such a chilling deed
The film is directed by Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli and will be released on April 3
Zendaya and Pattinson attended the Los Angeles premiere of the film at the DGA Theater Complex on Tuesday
The Drama was shot in several locations including Boston, New York and Los Angeles and the production also spent $2.9million shooting in Louisiana, according to FastLane.
The film is directed by Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli and will be released on April 3.
On Tuesday, Zendaya re-wore the same custom Vivienne Westwood bridal gown she donned to the 2015 Oscars to the Los Angeles premiere of the film held at DGA Theater Complex.
She also wore a simple gold band on her left-ring finger, beside the $500K Jessica McCormack-designed engagement ring she debuted in January 2025.
Zendaya’s trusted stylist Law Roach told Access Hollywood on March 1 that ‘the wedding already happened’ between her and fiancé Tom Holland.
The news has yet to be confirmed by the couple’s representatives, but they have both been keen to keep their relationship out of the spotlight.
The actress has been engaged to Holland since late 2024.
