Robert Pattinson and Zendaya's New Film 'The Drama' Balances Dark Humor and Controversy

Kristoffer Borgli's latest movie explores a couple's relationship after the bride-to-be reveals a shocking secret from her past.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:23pm

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An abstract close-up image featuring a shattered, glittering texture of glass and sequins, conveying a sense of fragility and high drama.The dramatic reveal at the center of 'The Drama' exposes the cracks beneath the surface of a seemingly perfect Hollywood romance.Boston Today

In the new film 'The Drama,' Robert Pattinson and Zendaya star as a couple whose relationship is upended when the bride-to-be, Emma, reveals that as a teenager she had planned a school shooting that she ultimately did not carry out. The film navigates the complex emotions and moral questions that arise as Charlie, Pattinson's character, grapples with whether he can still marry Emma in light of her past.

Why it matters

The film tackles the sensitive and timely issue of school shootings in America, exploring how such tragedies can impact and influence young people. By centering the perspective of a British character, the film provides a detached lens through which to examine these difficult topics with a mix of dark humor and dramatic tension.

The details

In the film, Charlie and Emma's seemingly picture-perfect relationship progresses quickly, with the couple moving in together and planning their wedding. But at the rehearsal dinner, Emma reveals that as a 14-year-old, she had planned to carry out a school shooting, though she ultimately did not follow through with the attack. This shocking revelation sends Charlie into a spiral as he tries to reconcile his feelings for Emma with the knowledge of her past.

  • The film 'The Drama' is currently in theaters.
  • The story is set in the present day in Boston, Massachusetts.

The players

Robert Pattinson

An English actor who stars as Charlie, the male lead in 'The Drama.'

Zendaya

An American actress who stars as Emma, the female lead in 'The Drama.'

Kristoffer Borgli

The Norwegian writer and director of 'The Drama.'

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What they’re saying

“The question – would you still marry someone who had once planned mass murder? – is so compelling that it could threaten to derail a film. Thankfully, the performances keep you on track.”

— Henry Wong, Reviewer

“Zendaya builds on her performance from 2024's tennis flick Challengers to deliver a layered, hard-to-read character. Pattinson meanwhile fully channels Hugh Grant's bumbling Notting Hill energy, which heightens the vertigo-inducing weirdness of his character's dilemma.”

— Henry Wong, Reviewer

What’s next

The film 'The Drama' is currently in theaters and available for audiences to see and form their own opinions on the complex moral issues it explores.

The takeaway

By balancing dark humor and dramatic tension, 'The Drama' provides a thought-provoking examination of how the trauma of school shootings can impact young people, and the difficult questions that arise when someone's past actions challenge our notions of who they are.