Zendaya Produced a Film in Quarantine (& We’re Just Now Finding Out)
The mystery of ‘Malcolm and Marie’, arguably the first feature-film made in isolation.
Quarantine has come replete with its own, quotidian affairs—that is, for everyone besides Zendaya. The actress (read: actress, artist, activist, etc.) has managed to avoid spending the past two-months on TikTok, proving her prowess. Albeit, something she’s done time and time again.
Through Instagram, she recently announced Malcolm and Marie, conceptualized and produced throughout the pandemic. The project is one of the first to do so, undoubtedly a challenging feat, coming with its own set of strict guidelines: the crew was kept to a select few at all times, tested regularly for COVID, and socially distanced when possible. Though, with the film’s location—the Caterpillar House in Monterey County—social distancing becomes all the more assured.
Image by Joe Fletcher
In other words, the show must go on. Indeed, Malcolm and Marie was brought about right as Euphoria had to halt production, spurred by a phone call from Zendaya to director Sam Levinson. The script was written in under a week (as reported by Deadline), written with Zendaya alongside John David Washington in mind, with a storyline resembling that of Marriage Story. At the same time, “while resonating a number of social themes that the world is experiencing right now.”
The proceeds are set to be donated to various non-profit organizations (as Zendaya is ought to do), ensuring the film adequately addresses and responds to the current moment. We, of course, can’t wait to watch.
