Most of us were binging Netflix, exercising to workout apps, or just finding ways to stave off boredom during iso. But no matter how productive you were during COVID-19 quarantine, it’ll still likely fall short of what 23-year-old Zendaya did because she decided to use the time to bankroll, produce, and star in a secret new film, titled Malcolm & Marie, with John David Washington.
Speaking of Zendaya and secrets, the GOAT team talk about her secret film set office romance on ‘It’s Been A Big Day For…’ below:
According to Deadline, the idea began when production for Euphoria was shut down due to COVID-19 and Zendaya decided to call up the show’s creator, Sam Levinson, to see if he was keen to make a secret film while in quarantine.
In just six days, the Levinson had finished writing Malcolm & Marie for Zendaya and got Tenet star John David Washington to be her on-screen sparring partner.
Since Hollywood is going through a period of uncertainty due to COVID-19, Levinson, his wife and production partner Ashley, producing partner Kevin Turen, Washington, and Zendaya all decided to bankroll the film themselves rather than wait to see how everything shook out.
As for how Malcolm & Marie was made in the midst of COVID-19 lockdown, it is reported that filming took place in private from June 17 to July 2 at an environmentally conscious house, all while following strict health precautions and social distancing rules. Seriously, the list of rules obtained by Deadline is ridiculous and it’s mindboggling how they managed to pull the film off.
The singular filming location means Malcolm & Marie will be an intimate, smaller scale movie. But while the plot has been kept under wraps, word is that it’ll be like Marriage Story but incorporating a number of social themes the world is going through right now. Alright, that sounds like an absolute winner already.
So in short, Zendaya spent her COVID-19 quarantine producing and starring in a secret new film with the creator of Euphoria that’ll likely sweep up all the statuettes come award season. She’s really raising the bar for all other 23-year-olds out there isn’t she?
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