Zendaya has bright blue eyes in the upcoming Dune movie, which is a part of her character's history. Long-time franchise fans already know the basics; however, newcomers may be curious about who Zendaya is playing and why she's integral to the story. Zendaya's Chani was originally portrayed by Sean Young in David Lynch's 1984 adaption of Frank Herbert's iconic novel, and actress Barbora Kodetová later portrayed Chani during an early 2000s miniseries.

The Dune 2020 trailer prominently features Zendaya as Chani, a woman who lovingly gazes at the protagonist Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet). Their undeniable bond thematically connects to the original novel, though it's unclear if director Denis Villeneuve will stay true to the original source material in this regard. In the Dune trailer, Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) relocates his family to the planet Arrakis, which is home to a mind-bending and life-altering drug called Spice. There, House Atreides must deal with all kinds of enemies, prompting Paul to prepare for a Great War. Along the way, he seemingly finds peace of mind through interactions with Chani while trying to rid himself of fear.

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In the Dune movie , Zendaya's bright blue eyes signify Chani's excessive use of Spice. Importantly, however, Spice is the most important commodity on Arrakis, and so blue eyes are symbolic of wealth and special powers. For example, the drug allows users to extend their lives, and some can also see both the past and the future, along with events that are transpiring elsewhere in the present. A Spice relapse will cause death, and so users embrace the drug and everything good that can transpire from taking it, like superhuman clairvoyance. In Dune 2020, Spice will be central to the core conflict because it means something different to everybody. Based on Zendaya's demeanor as Chani in the Dune 2020 trailer, it seems that she's able to metaphysically connect with Paul, and will most likely help him identify looming threats.

Zendaya as China in Dune 2020 Trailer

Chani's eyes are also specific to her culture. She's a member of the Fremen community, people who have inhabited Arrakis for a thousand years and are known for their warrior mentalities. They value water as a commodity, and their cultural use of Spice makes them stand out with their bright blue eyes. In the original Dune novel, Paul sees Chani in his dreams; the result of Spice-induced prescience or psychic abilities. Later, Chani helps the Atreides leader when he essentially overdoses on the drug. The imagery in the Dune 2020 trailer implies that Chani's Fremen ways will somehow influence Paul's actions.

In August 2020, Zendaya admitted that her Dune role is rather small. She hasn't said much beyond that, but did state that "It is a big deal to even be a small part of something with such a massive cast. And I love sci-fi stuff too. It's fun to escape into another world." Based on the Dune trailer, Zendaya's Chani will be intrinsically linked to the primary conflict, and her performance as the Fremen character will undoubtedly inspire her existing fanbase to explore the franchise as a whole. Perhaps she'll return in the sequel movie that is being planned as well.

More: Dune Story & World Explained: Characters, Spice & Sandworms