Zendaya is expected to contend for the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in Dune: Part Three, insiders say.
The actress, 30, previously appeared as Chani in Denis Villeneuve's first two Dune films, but her role expands considerably in the third installment.
Set nearly two decades after Timothée Chalamet's Paul Atreides seized the empire, the new movie places Chani at the heart of its unfolding mystery, alongside Jason Momoa, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Javier Bardem and Robert Pattinson.
A source noted, "Zendaya's role is far bigger in the third film and could easily put her in contention for a Best Actress nomination. The team will push for her to be considered by the Academy."
Dune: Part Three has begun breaking box-office records more than a month before its worldwide release on December 18.
During the opening day of pre-sales, 33,000 tickets were sold within 24 hours at London's BFI IMAX, generating £880,000.
This tally eclipsed the previous record held by Zendaya's The Odyssey, which earned £750,000 at the same venue in July.
The film caps a prolific year for Zendaya, who may secure nominations in several Oscar categories in March.
In addition to The Odyssey, she starred in the romantic comedy The Drama and returned as MJ in Spider-Man: Brand New Day with husband Tom Holland, the year's top-grossing film at £1.8billion worldwide.
