Former Disney Exec Reveals Zendaya Auditioned For Descendants ‘Many Times,’ But It Didn’t Go ‘Her Way’; Deets Inside

One of Disney’s highly praised and cherished series, “The Descendants,” has garnered both critical acclaim and box office success, culminating in a fourth installment. The films reimagine traditional fairy tales by focusing on the offspring of famous villains who transform into heroes through determination and hard work.

Lately, it came as a shock to viewers that Zendaya had to audition several times before ultimately not landing the role. During an appearance on Sabrina Bryan’s Magical Rewind podcast, Cornelia Frame, a former Vice President of Casting and Talent Relations at Disney Channel, looked back on Zendaya’s initial audition and her successful career trajectory now.

Cornelia shared that the 27-year-old actress deeply wanted to be part of the franchise. She underwent multiple audition sessions, but unfortunately, things didn’t work out in her favor.

Cornelia mentioned that Zendaya had auditioned numerous times for the role in “Descendants“, which was quite significant. Despite her persistence and strong desire for the part, it ultimately didn’t work out for her.

As someone who has spent years in the entertainment industry, I can attest to the fact that things often happen for a reason. When I didn’t get a certain role, I may have been disappointed at first, but then something even better came my way. This was definitely true in the case of Zendaya. She lost out on the Descendants role, but it ultimately led her to getting the coveted role as Spider-Man’s love interest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So when I hear someone say that things happen for a reason, I wholeheartedly agree. It may not always be clear at the time, but looking back, you can often see how one opportunity paved the way for something even greater.

Cornelia Frame praised Zendaya for her dedication and flourishing profession. In fact, Frame mentioned that ‘one of the factors’ wasn’t enough to land the role in the Descendants film, despite all her effort.

In 2015, the movie “Descendants” was released, featuring Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, China Anne McClain, and the late Cameron Boyce. This film focused on the teenage offspring of famous Disney villains like Cruella de Vil, Maleficent, Jafar, and the Wicked Queen. A second part came out in 2017, with a third one following in 2019.

In July 2024, the fourth installment of the Descendants series, titled “The Rise of Red,” debuted as a reboot on Disney Plus.

Currently, Zendaya has recently appeared in the sports drama film “Challengers” and the upcoming sequel to “Dune Part 1,” directed by Denis Villeneuve.