Hugh Jackman Knew Zendaya Was Destined For Greatness On Day One Of 'The Greatest Showman'

Hugh Jackman always knew Zendaya was destined for Hollywood royalty. The Marvel superstar recently looked back on their time filming the 2017 blockbuster musical *The Greatest Showman*, revealing that he recognized her generation-defining talent from the very first moment they stepped onto the set together. While chatting with Bilt founder Ankur Jain, the Australian actor opened up about sharing the screen with the future *Euphoria* icon and former Disney star Zac Efron. According to Jackman, Zendaya’s incredible ability was so immediately obvious that it actually prompted a secret intervention behind the scenes with the movie's director.

What did Hugh Jackman say about Zendaya on set?

Jackman recalled watching Zendaya deliver a mind-blowing performance during her very first take on day one. But despite her flawless execution, the director immediately asked her to reset and run through the scene all over again. Confused by the choice, Jackman felt compelled to pull the filmmaker aside and defend his young co-star. He questioned why she was being forced to repeat a moment that had already hit every single mark. That was when the director confessed his true motivation. As Jackman recounted, the filmmaker admitted that her initial attempt was indeed breathtaking. However, he deliberately ordered extra takes simply because he did not want her to completely outshine and embarrass her far more experienced castmates, Jackman and Efron.

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How famous was Zendaya during The Greatest Showman?

When *The Greatest Showman* hit theaters in December 2017, Zendaya was already transitioning from her Disney Channel roots toward major film roles. Playing trapeze artist Anne Wheeler alongside Efron’s character, Phillip Carlyle, she proved her powerhouse vocals and athletic prowess to a massive global audience. The musical went on to become a box office juggernaut, earning hundreds of millions worldwide and spawning a chart-topping soundtrack. Jackman’s initial instinct about Zendaya being the biggest star of her era has proven entirely accurate over the subsequent years. She has gone on to dominate the entertainment industry, taking home multiple Emmy Awards for HBO's *Euphoria* while anchoring major cinematic sagas like *Dune* and the Marvel Cinematic Universe's *Spider-Man* trilogy. Looking back at those early production days, Jackman takes pride in knowing he spotted a superstar before the rest of the world caught up. The anecdote highlights just how magnetic Zendaya was from the beginning of her movie career, leaving veteran performers and crew members stunned by her natural authority on set.