Zendaya Auditioned ‘Many Times’ for ‘Descendants,’ Says Former Disney Channel Exec: ‘She Really Wanted It,’ but It ‘Ended Up Not Going Her Way’

As a film enthusiast with a keen eye for talent and a heart full of nostalgia for Disney Channel classics, I must say that it’s always fascinating to learn about the paths not taken by our beloved stars. The revelation that Zendaya auditioned for a role in “Descendants” but didn’t quite make the cut is a testament to her determination and passion for acting.


Initially, Zendaya gained fame as a teen star on Disney Channel shows like “Shake It Up” and “K.C. Undercover”. Later, she landed leading roles in blockbusters such as “Dune: Part Two” and Marvel’s “Spider-Man” trilogy. Interestingly, it was reported that a former Disney Channel casting executive believed Zendaya could have also been cast in the “Descendants” franchise, another Disney project.

In a recent chat on the “Magical Rewind” podcast, I, as a die-hard movie fan, learned something truly exciting: Cornelia Frame, who used to be Disney Channel’s casting and talent relations VP, casually dropped that Zendaya once auditioned for an unnamed role in “Descendants.” Quite the revelation!

“Frame stated that Zendaya auditioned for the role in ‘Descendants’ multiple times, which was quite significant. To be precise, it was a massive opportunity that she tried out repeatedly. She was incredibly determined to get the part, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out for her.”

Frame acknowledged that Zendaya had poured an immense amount of dedication and hard work into her auditions, yet concluded that sometimes such outcomes are simply beyond our control, saying, “It’s just one of those situations.”

She added: “Now that I reflect, I find myself wondering, ‘Could ‘Spider-Man’ have coincidentally emerged around the same period?’ Sometimes events occur for a purpose, and you often secure another opportunity when you miss out on something else.”

Despite not securing the part for “Descendants,” Zendaya had previously worked on two Disney Channel original movies – “Frenemies” in 2012 and “Zapped” in 2014. Later, she contributed her voice to songs in the 2017 musical film “The Greatest Showman,” where she acted alongside Hugh Jackman and fellow Disney star Zac Efron.

In the initial “Descendants” film series, Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, and Cameron Boyce played the roles of teenagers who were offspring of well-known Disney villains. The first movie was launched in 2015, with two subsequent films following in 2017 and 2019 respectively.

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2024-07-31 09:46