Denis Villeneuve‘s Dune is looking to become one of the biggest sci-fi films ever. And he will need some major talent to match those high expectations. We already know that the film will star Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides. He will be joined by Charlotte Rampling, Dave Bautista, Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, and Stellan Skarsgard.

And now the adaptation has made another huge addition to the cast. According to a new report, Zendaya is in talks to play Chani, Paul Atreides’ love interest. More on the report below.

Collider was the first to break the news on the latest Dune casting. Zendaya, who we’ve seen in films like Spider-Man: Homecoming and The Greatest Showman, will play Chani, who is described as “the girl of Paul’s dreams who takes on a leading role as his proper love interest.”

Remember, Villeneuve has said that his reboot of Frank Herbert‘s classic science fiction novel, which was adapted before by David Lynch in 1984, would be split into two parts. A very ambitious plan, but I’d expect nothing less from a filmmaker who brought us films like Arrival and Blade Runner 2049.

Additionally, the report says that Zendaya was one just a handful of non-white actresses who were up for this role.

As previously reported, the film will be set in the distant future, when Paul Atreides’ family assumes control of the desert planet Arrakis. As the only producer of a highly valuable resource, jurisdiction over Arrakis is contested among competing noble families. After Paul and his family are betrayed, the story explores themes of politics, religion, and man’s relationship with nature, as Paul leads a rebellion to restore his family’s reign.

Isaac is in talks to play Duke Leto Atreides, Paul’s father; while Ferguson will play Lady Jessica, Leto’s wife and Paul’s mother. As for SkarsgÃ¥rd, he will play the villainous Baron Harkonnen, who will be aided by Bautista’s Beast Rabban, Baron Harkonnen’s nephew. Meanwhile, Rampling will play the Reverend Mother Mohiam, a high-powered cleric.

Zendaya can next be seen in Spider-Man: Far From Home, where she will reprise her role as Michelle aka MJ, a possible love interest to Peter Parker. She also has a role in Euphoria, an HBO TV series that takes a look at life for a group of high school students as they grapple with issues of drugs, sex, and violence.

No release date for Dune has been set as of yet, but filming is expected to begin later this summer.

[Source: Collider]