Disney Channel fans, get ready for a delightful piece of trivia! Before Zendaya swung through the Marvel Cinematic Universe as MJ in the Spider-Man series, she was auditioning for a different Disney franchise. Cornelia Frame, former VP of Casting and Talent Relations at Disney Channel, recently revealed that Zendaya had her sights set on a lead role in the much-loved Descendants series.
On the Magical Rewind podcast, Frame shared insights about Zendaya’s journey, saying, “Zendaya did audition many times for Descendants, and that was a big deal. She auditioned over and over and really wanted it. It just ended up not going her way.” While Frame didn’t specify the exact role, it’s speculated that Zendaya aimed for the parts of Mal or Evie—characters that eventually went to Dove Cameron and Sofia Carson.
Directed by Kenny Ortega, Descendants became a massive success for Disney, portraying the lives of the teenage offspring of iconic villains like Maleficent and the Evil Queen. The movie’s premiere drew in 6.6 million viewers and it boasts a stellar 90% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This movie’s success sparked a vast franchise that includes sequels, an animated series, novels, and even a musical.
Interestingly, while Descendants didn’t work out for Zendaya, her career trajectory was far from derailed. Around the time Descendants premiered, Zendaya was making waves with her roles in Shake It Up and K.C. Undercover. Her persistence paid off when she landed the iconic role of MJ in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Reflecting on this, Frame mused, “Things happen for a reason, and you do often book this other thing that’s amazing when you don’t get something else.”
Since being cast in Spider-Man, Zendaya’s career has skyrocketed, featuring in blockbusters like The Greatest Showman and the Dune series, as well as starring in the critically acclaimed HBO series, Euphoria. Meanwhile, the Descendants franchise continues to thrive, with the latest installment, Descendants: The Rise of Red, premiering on Disney+.
What are your thoughts on Zendaya’s career journey? Could you see her as a part of the Descendants universe? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this intriguing tidbit with your fellow Disney fans!
Source: Lee Freitag
