Readers of The Boston Globe were thrown for a loop on Monday after spotting what appeared to be an engagement notice announcing the upcoming wedding of Hollywood stars Zendaya and Robert Pattinson.
The polished portrait and formal layout seemed legitimate at first glance – until a closer read revealed the names Emma Harwood and Charlie Thompson, signaling that something else was at play.
Engagement Notice Revealed as Promo for New A24 Film The Drama
The announcement was actually a cleverly disguised advertisement for the pair’s upcoming A24 movie *The Drama*. The ad replaced the newspaper’s usual TV Critic’s Corner column to accommodate the surprise placement.
Once the ruse became clear, fans realized the “notice” was just a reproduction of the film's official poster. Both A24 and Zendaya later shared the faux announcement across social media.
According to IMDb, Zendaya and Pattinson star as an engaged couple whose relationship unravels when an unexpected disruption derails their wedding week. The film’s trailer is scheduled for release on Wednesday, and additional plot details remain tightly under wraps.
Fake Biographies Add Flavor to the Film’s Teaser
The notice included tongue-in-cheek biographical details to flesh out the fictional couple.
Zendaya’s character, Emma Harwood, is described as the daughter of a decorated veteran from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She’s portrayed as a Boston University honors graduate working at a local bookstore called Mission Books.
Pattinson’s character, Charlie Thompson, is listed as the son of Londoners Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson, a 2004 Eton College graduate, and the director of the Cambridge Art Museum. The notice even claims he holds a PhD in Art History from Tufts – though the university does not offer one, as The Globe dryly noted.
Editors reportedly agreed to run the fake notice because the film was both set and shot in Boston.
The faux wedding date – April 3, 2026 – doubles as the film’s official release date. Directed and written by Kristoffer Borgli, The Drama also co-stars Mamoudou Athie, Alana Haim, and Hailey Gates.
Pattinson Previously Praised Zendaya’s Help During Filming
Earlier this year, Pattinson revealed in an interview with French publication Premiere that he became obsessed with deciphering one of the movie’s scenes, spending days analyzing every line.
He eventually called Zendaya the night before filming to discuss his confusion. Her calm reassurance – that the line simply meant what it said – helped ground him. “I was going crazy for three days,” he joked.
Pattinson has spoken highly of his co-star, Zendaya. Credit: Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images.
More Zendaya-Pattinson Collaborations Ahead
The pair will reunite again in Dune: Part Three and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, both slated for release in 2026. Their unexpected Boston Globe wedding announcement only heightened anticipation for The Drama, blending clever marketing with star power to deliver one of 2025’s most memorable film promos.