Jenna Ortega Once Auditioned for a Major Film Role That Went to Zendaya

Several years back, it seems Jenna Ortega and Zendaya were up for the same movie role—but in the end, the part ultimately went to the Euphoria star. 

While promoting her new film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Ortega appeared on Buzzfeed’s Puppy Interview series and revealed that she once read for a part that was seemingly for 2021’s Dune. “I think I auditioned for Dune when I was about 15,” she said while holding a puppy in her arms.

At the time, Ortega didn’t know what role or movie she was auditioning for—a common practice in the entertainment biz. However, the You actress believes she and Zendaya were up for the role of Chani, a Fremen warrior in the Dune universe. 

“I think it was Chani. I think it was Zendaya’s—but they weren’t saying that. Everything was very secret,” Ortega explained. As we all know, the role ultimately went to the Challengers star and she went on to star alongside Timothée Chalamet in Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two, which debuted in theaters back in March. 

When it comes to auditioning for a major movie franchise and not getting the part, Zendaya can relate. Cornelia Frame, a former Vice President of Casting and Talent Relations at Disney, revealed that Zendaya auditioned multiple times for the Descendants franchise—but it didn’t go her way. 

“Zendaya did audition many times for Descendants, and that was a big deal. It was a really big deal that she auditioned over and over,” Frame shared on the Magical Rewind podcast. “She really wanted it and it just ended up not going her way.”