Jenna Ortega was 'gutted' she wasn't cast for Tim Burton's fantasy remake 3 years ago Wednesday

Jenna Ortega reflects on not being cast in Tim Burton's live-action remake of Dumbo. The 2019 film was made in the wake of Cinderella, The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beastand other animated Disney films remade in a live-action format. Despite Burton's direction and an impressive cast including Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton and Danny DeVito, Dumbo was not well received at all, resulting in a lousy 46% critical score and 48% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

In A GQ Video with you Beetlejuice co-star, Keaton, Ortega looks back on how disappointed she was to not be able to work with Burton when she auditioned for Dumbo.

Ortega recalls that "I remember Dumbo was one that for weeks, I was just gutted, and I thought, 'Oh, what if I never get the chance to work with him again?'" Despite the disappointment, she has now collaborated with Burton more than once, first as the titular lead of the hit Netflix series Wednesdayand later as Lydia Deutz's daughter Astrid in the Legacy sequel Beetlejuice.

Not being cast in Dumbo was best for Jenna Ortega's career

It made her first collaboration with Burton better for both of them

If Ortega has already thrown in DumboHer first collaboration with the director would be in an ultimately disappointing project, with Burton even admitting that Dumbo Felt like a creative low point in his career. Instead, the actor and director first worked together on WednesdayA creative rewarding project Which has become one of Netflix's most watched original series. with Beetlejuice Ortega's work with him is considered the best film in years, and continues to be strong.

DumboHis disappointment would not necessarily have prevented the partnership from happeningWith Burton still reuniting with Keaton for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Nevertheless, Burton would have started his collaboration with Ortega on a much different and less satisfying note. Between Keaton reprising a character from 1988, and Farrell received an Academy Award nomination for The banshees of Inisherin and leading his own streaming series as The BatmanS. Penguin, the career of DumboHis character has not suffered in the years since the release of the film.

Ortega's career likely wouldn't have suffered had she been cast in the live-action remake, but not in Dumbo Still worked for the best. She has now starred in two of Burton's best projects in years And became one of Hollywood's biggest stars. Ortega has been at the forefront of popular streaming series, blockbuster hits and critically acclaimed films like The FalloutProve your ability to excel in a wide range of stories.

Source: GQ