" She put so much effort into it . "

A formerDisneyexec is sharing details aboutZendayaand the huge movie series she auditioned for, but didn’t get.

During a recent episode of theMagical Rewindpodcast, ex-VP of Casting and Talent Relations at Disney Channel, Cornelia Frame, revealed theChallengersstar had hopes of joining theDescendantscast.

“Zendayadid audition many times forDescendants, and that was a big deal,” Cornelia said. “It was a really big deal. She auditioned over and over and really wanted it. It just ended up not going her way.”

Filming officially began in 2014, and it premiered exactly nine years ago today, in 2015. Around this time, Zendaya was still starring in her hit Disney Channel seriesK.C. Undercover, and her Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM)Zappedhad made its debut.

Cornelia added that Zendaya put “so much effort and so much work” into her auditions, but it just didn’t work out. But that might’ve played in her favor, because if she did end up landing a role in the film, she might not have been able to make her feature film debut alongside her boyfriendTom Hollandin 2017’sSpider-Man: Homecoming.

Casting began in 2015, and in March 2016, it was announced that Zendaya would be playing Michelle, aka MJ.

“Now that I think about it, I’m like, ‘WouldSpider-Manhave happened right at that same time?’ Things happen for a reason, and you do often book this other thing that’s amazing when you don’t get something else,” Cornelia said.

Although theDescendantsrole Zendaya auditioned for was never disclosed in the interview, you can learn more by listening to the fullMagical Rewindepisodehere.

And be sure to check outDescendants : The Rise of Red , the late installment in the moving-picture show franchise , when it dispatch Disney Channel on Aug. 9 , or stream it now on Disney+ .

Zendaya in a sleeveless black gown, holding a small handbag, posing outdoors on a lit pathway at a nighttime event

Zendaya sitting in an audience, wearing a stylish pinstripe shirt with a dark tie and white blazer. She appears focused, with people seated around her

Zendaya wearing a floral-print dress with thin straps, smiling, and walking outside with security and onlookers in the background

Cast of Disney's Descendants in character costumes: Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, Mitchell Hope, Melanie Paxson, Kathy Najimy, and Kristin Chenoweth

Zendaya playfully holds a frying pan in a restaurant kitchen, wearing a stylish blue dress, while a chef in white attire looks on, also holding a pan

Zendaya embraces someone in a Spider-Man costume, posing on a city sidewalk in front of a glass building

Zendaya and Spider-Man in an action scene with a cityscape background. Zendaya looks worried while Spider-Man extends his arm protectively

Zendaya smiling and sitting on a couch during a talk show appearance, wearing a stylish sleeveless white top