Could Jenna Ortega Play Joan of Arc in Baz Luhrmann's Next Historical Biopic Movie?
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If Wednesday Addams seems like a role Jenna Ortega was born for, then can you imagine how well she'd fit into her dream role? Well, thanks to Baz Luhrmann, she might just have an opportunity to cross it off her bucket list and go from Jenna to Joan.
On Tuesday, director Baz Luhrmann revealed his next feature film with Warner Bros. with the working titles Jehanne or Jehanne d'Arc. Per Deadline, the movie will be another historical biopic — the filmmaker's follow-up to his 2022 blockbuster Elvis starring Austin Butler — and will tell “the epic story” of Joan of Arc, the teen peasant-turned-heroine who led an army during the Hundred Years' War to defend her nation of France.
According to Deadline, the film has officially begun casting in active search of the young actress who will lead what the cast breakdown calls “the ultimate teenage girl coming-of-age story, set in the Hundred Years’ War."
Joan of Arc at the Coronation of Charles VII in Reims Cathedral by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres
Here is where Jenna Ortega could come in. In a recent interview with Letterboxd while promoting Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the Wednesday star named the 1928 silent film The Passion Of Joan Of Arc as one of her favorites. “Renée Falconetti’s performance in that is absolutely insane," Ortega gushed in the video. “I feel like a dream character for me would be Joan Of Arc.”
Talk about the power of literal dream casting and manifestation, right? Though Ortega is 21 years old, she's created a unique lane for herself in Hollywood by portraying teens with grit and complexity throughout her career. And what role could be more complex and transformative than a 15th century teen martyr?
Related: Jenna Ortega Reveals She Auditioned for Zendaya’s Role in Dune
If Ortega were to go out for the role, she could potentially skyrocket into a new chapter of her career. Luhrmann's Elvis earned 8 Academy Award nominations, 9 BAFTA nods, 3 Golden Globe noms, and 1 SAG Award nomination — Austin Butler earned recognition for Best Actor at each of those four ceremonies, ultimately taking home the BAFTA and the Golden Globe for his performance.
Joan of Arc as a feminist icon is a classic reference point in both fashion and culture, becoming especially popular within the past few years. No one can forget Zendaya's Joan of Arc-inspired Met Gala look at the 2018 ball, or, more recently, Chappell Roan's “Roan of Arc” performance at the 2024 VMAs. Luhrmann sadly declined to comment on the film or its casting process to Deadline, but we can surely expect more updates on the movie's development soon.
Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
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