Everything We Know About Zendaya's Secret Lockdown Movie With John David Washington

As Hollywood starts to reopen and productions start to get underway following the coronavirus shut down, one project had been quietly filming while we were all quarantining—and Euphoria fans are in for a treat.

Zendaya has reunited with Euphoria creator Sam Levinson for a new movie in which she stars opposite BlacKkKlansman actor, John David Washington in Malcolm and Marie.

While most of us were baking banana bread or feeding a sourdough starter during quarantine, Zendaya reportedly called up Levinson and asked him to write a movie for her to star in, and thus Malcolm and Marie was born.

Details about the feature-length film have largely been kept under wraps but one photo has been released which shows the two in a romantic setting.

Malcolm & Marie pic.twitter.com/99RWzgLFbD

— Zendaya (@Zendaya) July 8, 2020

Deadline reports that producing is largely completed having taken place from June 17 to July 2 at the Caterpillar House, an environmentally conscious glass architectural structure in Carmel, California.

According to architecture group, Rammed Earth Works the property has been "excavated earth was repurposed for the construction of the walls. These rammed earth walls gently curve in response to the site's contours and also act as a thermal mass, regulating temperatures from day to night."

For two weeks during filming cast and crew are said to have worn masks, socially distanced had their own separate accommodation, as well as abiding by stringent hygiene standards.

No more than 12 people are said to have been allowed on set at any given moment, temperature checks were taken daily and no crew member was permitted to be in close contact with cast without the proper personal protective equipment.

While plot details remain scarce, Deadline suggests rumors place it in a category similar to Netflix's Marriage Story, along with a number of socially relevant themes.

Zendaya
Zendaya attends the Bvlgari B.zero1 Rock collection event at Duggal Greenhouse on February 06, 2020 in Brooklyn, New York. Steven Ferdman/Getty Images
John David Washington
John David Washington attends the Virtuosos Award Presented By UGG during the 34th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 5, 2019 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SBIFF) Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SBIFF

So perhaps we're looking at what could be the first COVID-genre movie. Marriage Story meets Contagion? A couple ending their relationship but forced to quarantine together? We'll have to wait and see, but there will certainly be a lot of hype around the first completed feature film in the age of corona.

Executive producers for the film include Sam Levinson, his wife Ashley Levinson, Aaron L. Gilbert, Will Greenfield, Zendaya, John David Washington, Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer of New Regency, and oddly, rapper Kid Cudi, who was involved in financing the project.

Amid the excitement for Malcolm and Marie however, there are some rumblings about the age differences between the two stars.

Zendaya, at 23, is 12 years Washington's junior, and some Twitter users are making it known that they do not approve.

zendaya looks younger than her age and john david is almost 40 its gonna be weird for me i think 🥴 https://t.co/qjna56SaPk

— Olwethu 🌸 (@terrencemalikk) July 8, 2020

Of course, I'll have to wait to see it before offer full judgment, but why cast Zendaya as a married woman to a man 10 years older than her? Obviously there are marriages with age gaps, but I feel Hollywood celebrates the older man, young wife trope way too much. https://t.co/rLca0AtQHX

— 25thandSouth (@25thandSouth) July 9, 2020

Malcolm and Marie has no release date yet.

Editor's pick

Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
  • Unlimited access to Newsweek.com
  • Ad free Newsweek.com experience
  • iOS and Android app access
  • All newsletters + podcasts
Newsweek cover
  • Unlimited access to Newsweek.com
  • Ad free Newsweek.com experience
  • iOS and Android app access
  • All newsletters + podcasts