Jenna Ortega’s Dune audition for Chani sparks comparisons to Zendaya among fans

Jenna Ortega has quickly become one of the most prominent stars today, with her breakout role in Netflix's Wednesday and an upcoming part in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Interestingly, her rise almost included a role in another major franchise. In a BuzzFeed Celeb interview on YouTube, Ortega revealed she auditioned for a part in Denis Villeneuve's Dune when she was about 15. Though she wasn’t certain which character it was for, she suspects it might have been Chani, the role ultimately played by Zendaya.

Despite missing out on Dune, Ortega's career has flourished. Wednesday became a massive success, with a second season on the way. Horror fans also recognize her from her roles in Scream and Ti West's X. As for future projects, Ortega is rumored to be starring alongside Glen Powell in a new J.J. Abrams movie. Her role as Astrid Deetz in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice might be her most significant film part yet.

Describing her character, Ortega told Vanity Fair that Astrid is "weird, but in a different way" and highlighted the importance of the relationship between Astrid and Lydia, played by Winona Ryder. Reflecting on filming the Beetlejuice sequel, Ortega recalled the "super-weird energy" during the last week on set but noted it was "probably the happiest I had ever seen Tim [Burton] on a set, where he’s clapping at the monitor and shouting and laughing, which was really, really endearing." Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is set to hit theaters on September 6, 2024.

Fans quickly compared the two actresses, with one commenting, “They made the right choice; Zendaya was fantastic.” Another fan praised Ortega's talent, saying, "It should have been her." Others speculated that Ortega could still join the franchise in a different role, such as the “moody, rebellious, charismatic Sonia.”