Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s upcoming film The Drama hasn’t even hit theaters yet—but it’s already generating intense conversation.
The A24 black comedy, directed by Kristoffer Borgli and set for release on April 3, has found itself at the center of controversy following reports of a major plot twist that began circulating online after early screenings. What was intended to be a carefully guarded reveal has instead become the focal point of debate, raising questions about tone, subject matter, and audience reception.
********MOVIE SPOILERS BELOW THIS LINE.********
According to reports, the film centers on a seemingly stable engaged couple—Zendaya’s Emma and Pattinson’s Charlie—whose relationship begins to unravel after a game in which friends share the worst things they’ve ever done. It’s during this moment that Emma allegedly reveals she once planned a high school shooting but never followed through, a confession that forces Charlie to reevaluate everything he thought he knew about her.
The reaction has been swift—and, in some cases, deeply critical.
Tom Mauser, whose son Daniel was killed in the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, spoke out after learning of the film’s twist. His response underscores the sensitivity of the subject matter and the weight such narratives carry.
At the same time, Zendaya had previously hinted at the film’s complexity during a late-night appearance. Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, she described the project as layered and potentially divisive.
“It is a romantic comedy, but it’s also a drama…everybody has their own kind of feelings leaving the theater especially with the big twist,” she said.
She also acknowledged the risk of spoilers and the importance of experiencing the story firsthand: “I really hope that people don’t spoil it for each other so they’re allowed to go into it just unknowing and really experience the drama.”
When Kimmel suggested the film could spark strong reactions, Zendaya agreed: it’s “very possible” that the movie could cause “a lot of problems for a lot of people.”
“Those conversations can go many ways,” she added.
Critics who have seen early screenings have also weighed in. Grace Randolph, known for her Beyond the Trailer platform, shared her reaction on social media, writing, “Oof…. I like Robert Pattinson & Zendaya but…I think #TheDrama might be in bad taste… Am going to skip reviewing. For those of you that didn’t see my previous tweet, I saw #TheDrama this evening and I feel the extremely delicate subject matter is handled so poorly, it makes it impossible to discuss.”
When asked if the controversy centered on the twist itself, she responded, “It’s like…the whole movie.”
“I think … there’s a serious concern here about normalizing this behavior, and maybe even glamorizing it,” she added.
The film’s official synopsis is more restrained, describing the story as follows: “A happily engaged couple is put to the test when an unexpected turn sends their wedding week off the rails.”
But as the conversation around the film continues to build, it’s clear that The Drama is entering theaters with expectations—and scrutiny—already firmly in place.
