Without a doubt, Dune: Part Three has a perfect role for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice star Jenna Ortega. To make matters even more interesting, Ortega previously auditioned for a role in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part One over six years ago. Although she lost out on the role, Ortega hasn’t completely missed her chance to join the epic sci-fi franchise. A modern-day scream queen thanks to her roles in Scream (2022), Scream VI, and Ti West’s X, Ortega is one of Hollywood’s hottest stars thanks in large part to her Emmy-nominated breakout role as the title character in Netflix’s Wednesday.
Recently, Ortega recalled losing a Dune role to none other than Zendaya. Ortega revealed that she had, seemingly, tried out for the part of Chani when she was just 15 years old. “Everything was very secret,” Ortega said of the Dune audition process. “I remember just being a big fan of that film and the franchise.” The actor went on to add that Villeneuve is one of her favorite filmmakers. Needless to say, it would be great to see Ortega land a role in the upcoming Dune 3 — and one pre-existing character seems to fit the bill.
Jenna Ortega Could Play Lichna In Dune 3
Ortega Could Still Land A Role In Villeneuve’s Dune Saga After Losing Out On Chani
With Anya Taylor-Joy already playing Alia Atreides in Dune 3, Jenna Ortega would be a great fit for an equally unique character: Lichna. The daughter of Otheym, a renowned Fremen warrior who pledges his loyalty to Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), Lichna plays a minor-yet-crucial role in Dune‘s sequel novels. In fact, Lichna’s role is very much tied to her father’s position within Paul’s empire. During the Muad’dib’s Jihad across the Known Universe, Otheym serves as a high-ranking commander, which puts him — and, by extension, his daughter — in proximity to Paul.
[In Dune Messiah], the Bene Gesserit, Spacing Guild, and Tleilaxu conspiring to dethrone Paul…
In Frank Herbert’s Dune books, Lichna appears in Dune Messiah. A direct sequel, Dune Messiah will serve as the key source material for Dune 3. Set 12 years after the events of Dune 2‘s ending, the story sees the Bene Gesserit, Spacing Guild, and Tleilaxu conspiring to dethrone Paul. Addicted to semuta — a narcotic derived from the burned residue of the elacca wood, native to the planet Ecaz — Lichna is betrothed to a fellow Fremen. Notably, a Bene Tleilax Face Dance (shapeshifter) called Scytale) kills and impersonates Lichna as part of the scheme to kill Paul.
Why Jenna Ortega Would Be A Great Fit For Lichna In Dune 3
Ortega’s Track Record Proves She Could Nail The Scytale Impersonation Of Lichna
From Wednesday to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Jenna Ortega has proven that she can take big swings — and make them successful. The actor often plays offbeat characters and has excelled in the horror genre in particular. All of these factors make her a great choice for Lichna, a character who weathers addiction to a powerful sci-fi narcotic and, ultimately, meets her end at the hands of an identity-stealing shapeshifter. Crucially, Ortega could convincingly play the murderous Scytale impersonating Lichna — a Dune 3 feat that seems right up the genre actor’s alley.
Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two are streaming on Hulu and Max, respectively.
