Photo Credit: Getty Images
Jenna Ortega believes she might have tried out for a role in Dune. In a recent interview with BuzzFeed, published on Monday, August 26th, the 21-year-old Beetlejuice Beetlejuice actress shared her thoughts on possibly being considered for a part in the 2021 movie that ultimately went to Zendaya.
During the interview, which lasts nearly 12 minutes, the young actress (who interacted with a group of dachshund puppies throughout the conversation) was asked to reveal a role she auditioned for that would surprise people. "I think I auditioned for Dune when I was about 15," Ortega said with a grin.
She explained that she was a huge fan of the series and was "really thrilled" about the opportunity because Denis Villeneuve is "one of my favorite directors."
The You star confessed that while there weren't many details available at the time, she's fairly certain that both she and the Challengers star, 27, were vying for the same role. "I think it was Chani. I think it was Zendaya's role — but they weren't disclosing that. Everything was very hush-hush," Ortega recalled.
In some productions, it's not unusual for actors to be unaware of the specific role or film they're auditioning for; they may be given a completely unrelated scene or character to perform. The original Dune was released in December 1984, directed by David Lynch, and featured actors like Patrick Stewart and Sting, with Sean Young portraying Chani in the sci-fi drama.
The 2021 reboot saw Zendaya take on the role of Chani, alongside Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides. The two reprised their roles for Dune: Part Two, which hit theaters in March 2024, grossing $711.8 million at the box office.
Later in the BuzzFeed interview, Ortega shared her fondest memory from working on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice — the sequel to Tim Burton's 1988 film Beetlejuice.
In the sequel, Ortega plays Astrid Deetz, the daughter of Winona Ryder's character, Lydia. "I really enjoyed filming the climax in the third act, especially because it involved a big scene in a church. It was such a chaotic scene. We filmed it over three weeks, and everyone was involved," she said. "It was a lot of fun to shoot, but also visiting the underworld for the first time and realizing we had to walk at an angle was quite an experience."
Ortega also admitted that she felt "oddly shy" when meeting the film's lead actor, Michael Keaton, for the first time. "But he's so kind, so funny, so charismatic, and so professional — I feel like I learned a lot just by watching him," she said. "It was surreal to watch him transform into Beetlejuice because he was completely unrecognizable."
She continued, "It was the first time I had ever really seen someone fully disappear into a role. There was no trace of him left, and that was something truly special."
