In a fascinating reveal during a recent episode of the Magical Rewind podcast, Cornelia Frame, the former VP of Casting and Talent Relations at Disney Channel, shared an intriguing tidbit about Zendaya’s early career ambitions. Known for her stellar roles in HBO’s Euphoria and as MJ in the Spider-Man franchise, Zendaya once had her eyes set on a different path within the Disney universe. She auditioned extensively for a part in the hit musical fantasy franchise, Descendants.
The Descendants series, beloved by Disney fans for its imaginative take on the lives of the children of Disney’s most iconic heroes and villains, could have had Zendaya as part of its cast. “Zendaya did audition many times for Descendants, and it was a really big deal,” Cornelia Frame noted. “She put so much effort and work into those auditions, but it just didn’t go her way.”
At the time Zendaya was eyeing Descendants, she was already a Disney Channel darling, captivating audiences with her role in K.C. Undercover and making waves with the Disney Channel Original Movie, Zapped. Despite missing the Descendants boat, fate had other plans for her.
Just a year after casting for Descendants began, Zendaya landed the role of Michelle (aka MJ) in Sony and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, marking her feature film debut alongside Tom Holland. Frame reflected on this serendipitous turn of events: “Things happen for a reason, and you often book something amazing when you don’t get another.”
While the exact role Zendaya auditioned for in Descendants remains a mystery, fans can catch her brilliance in numerous other works and also look forward to the latest Descendants installment, Descendants: The Rise of Red, streaming now on Disney+ and celebrating the franchise’s legacy on Disney Channel.
Share your thoughts about Zendaya’s career journey and what role you think she auditioned for in the comments below! Don’t forget to share this story with fellow Disney and Zendaya fans.
Source: BuzzFeed
