Zendaya is reportedly set to campaign in the Best Actress category at the upcoming Academy Awards for her performance as Chani in Dune: Part III. This represents a notable change from the first two installments of the film series, where she was positioned in the supporting actress category.
According to Variety, this decision reflects Chani's significantly expanded role in the narrative of Dune: Part III. This enhanced presence for the character has been noted, with IGN's Jesse Schedeen observing that Chani appears to be playing a vastly different role compared to her depiction in Frank Herbert's original novel, Dune Messiah. Schedeen highlights that Chani's status quo is altered, positioning her as someone who has rejected Paul and his ideals, choosing instead to live as a free Fremen.
While both previous Dune films received nominations in technical categories, none of the actors earned Oscar or Golden Globe nominations for their roles. Zendaya has had a successful year, receiving acclaim for her role in The Drama and starring in two of the highest-grossing films of 2026, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey. However, prognosticators at GoldDerby do not currently list Zendaya as a contender for an Oscar in any actress category for her 2026 film work. They do, however, anticipate potential Golden Globe nominations for her roles in The Drama and the final season of Euphoria, as well as a potential Screen Actors Guild nomination for her work on Euphoria.
The Academy recently updated its rules for the upcoming Oscars, including adjustments regarding AI and allowing actors to receive multiple nominations in the same category. The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled to air on March 14, 2027, with Conan O'Brien returning to host for the third consecutive year.