Wednesday star Jenna Ortega has opened up about her failed audition for Dune.
Speaking to BuzzFeed, the actor revealed that she was only 15 when she went to interview for a role in Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi blockbuster.
"I think it was Chani. I think it was Zendaya's [character]," she recalled. "But they weren't saying that – everything was very secret."
Ortega shared that she was "really excited" to audition for Villeneuve because he is one of her "favourite filmmakers".
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Dune, which is based on the first half of Frank Herbert's novel of the same name, premiered in 2021 to critical acclaim. Dune: Part Two debuted in March and has grossed a staggering $711.8 million globally.
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Following the success of the first two films, a third movie was greenlit by Warner Bros last month, with Villeneuve reportedly set to adapt Herbert's 1969 novel Dune Messiah.
The threequel is scheduled to be released on December 18, 2026.
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As for Ortega, the actor will next appear in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice alongside the returning Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O'Hara – who play Betelgeuse, Lydia and Delia Deetz, respectively.
The sequel, which sees Tim Burton return to the director's chair, follows Lydia and her family – husband Rory (Justin Theroux) and daughter Astrid (Ortega) – as she comes into contact with Betelgeuse once again.
In a recent interview, Keaton teased the long-awaited follow-up, sharing that the sequel has improved upon its predecessor with its character building.
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"[It has] a stronger story," he said. "There's more of a connection for the audience in terms of the other characters. There's things in here that I wasn't ready for, that are beyond delightful."
It's been a busy year for Ortega. Earlier this year, she appeared in divisive thriller Miller's Girl alongside Martin Freeman and in romantic drama Winter Spring Summer or Fall.
She is also set to reprise her breakout role as Wednesday Addams in the second season of Netflix's Wednesday, which is currently in production.
Dune 3 is set to be released on December 18, 2026.
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Sara is an entertainment journalist who specialises in TV and film. After studying journalism at the University of Roehampton, Sara joined Digital Spy in 2023, writing news (and the occasional feature) on all things entertainment. She has also written for the culture desk at The Evening Standard. A lover of all things TV and film, Sara can wax lyrical about everything from Bridgerton to The Witcher. She can also recite entire episodes of New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Parks and Recreation. In her spare time, Sara loves to knit, crochet and cross-stitch. Also a musical theatre aficionado, Sara counts Samantha Barks as one of her heroes and is a loyal fan of Jodie Comer.
