What’s the plot twist in Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s new film, The Drama?
Are we the drama? Since it looks like we aren’t invited to Zendaya’s wedding to Tom Holland, this will have to do: Getting to watch her walk down the aisle (or maybe not?) with Robert Pattinson.
A24 continues to be the indie-film house that makes dreams come true, and their latest offering, The Drama, is a modern rom-dram-com about Z and RPatz on the verge of tying the knot. If that sounds vague, well, yeah. To make matters worse, the trailer dropped earlier today (3 February) and left us with more questions; namely: What did Zendaya’s character do?!
The trailer, which you can watch below, shows Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as a loved-up couple, Emma and Charlie, in the run-up to their wedding. In one scene, the pair are enjoying drinks with another couple – played by Alana Haim and Mamoudou Athie – when the conversation takes one hell of a turn. They each share ‘the worst thing they’ve ever done’ – and judging by their reactions to Zendaya’s disclosure, her character did something pretty outrageous.
Naturally, we’re all wondering what this twist entails. Read on for some of the truly twisted theories…
What is the plot of The Drama?
The same link describes the plot as follows: “Days before their wedding, a couple’s relationship is shaken when one partner discovers unsettling truths about the other.” The official synopsis reads, “A happily engaged couple is put to the test when an unexpected turn sends their wedding week off the rails.”
The Drama is written and directed by Kristoff Borgli, a Norwegian filmmaker whose most recent project, Dream Scenario, starred Nicolas Cage.
What is the twist in The Drama?
Let’s get into it. Ever since the first poster for The Drama dropped, fans have suspected a twist of heroic proportions. And the trailer – featuring a tantalisingly omitted disclosure by Zendaya’s character – has only cranked up the speculation. Let’s take a look at the main theories – brace yourself; they’re not all suitable for work.
The school shooting theory
One X user tweeted, “Spoiler alert for ‘The Drama’ (2026). The alleged ‘twist’ is that Zendaya’s character admits to Robert Pattinson that she planned a school shooting but didn’t go through with it.” This interpretation has also popped up a fair bit on Reddit and various film forums.
The transphobic theory
Elsewhere on X, some fans are concerned that ‘the twist’ will be that Zendaya is transgender – we sincerely hope this is not the case as 1) Zendaya is cisgender and 2) There’s nothing wrong with being transgender! One user wrote, “People keep saying the twist in the movie The Drama is transphobia and I trust Zendaya so I personally KNOW that’s not true, but everyone won’t stop saying it ughhh.”
The ‘psychopath’ theory
This one goes that Zendaya is a ‘psychopath’ – a medically contentious and potentially ableist phrase, mind you – whose crimes have been covered up by her father, who is high up in the military.
Who’s in the cast of The Drama?
Expect to see Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie (Jurassic World: Dominion), Michael Abbott Jr. (Killers of the Flower Moon), Sydney Lemmon (Succession), and Hailey Gates (Challengers).
They knew what they were doing with this. They knew if they put Pattinson in a T-shirt and glasses and rumpled his hair and posed the two of them casually in a grainy photo that people would think, for a millisecond, that he might be Tom Holland. The two actors don’t really look alike, but still. A24, of all companies, enjoys a lil stunt, or did you miss the Marty Supreme blimp?