Did you know that Jenna Ortega, the breakout star of Netflix's Wednesday and the upcoming Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, made her film debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? At just 11 years old, Ortega appeared in Iron Man 3 in a brief scene where she played the daughter of Vice President Rodriguez, portrayed by Miguel Ferrer. In the movie, her character is seen in a wheelchair after losing a limb, kissed on the forehead by her father during a Christmas family gathering.
Jenna Ortega in Iron Man 3. Image credit: Marvel Studios.
Reflecting on her cameo in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Ortega humorously noted that her role was significantly trimmed down. "I did it once," she said. "It was one of the first jobs I ever did. They took all my lines out. I'm in Iron Man 3 for a quick second. I take up the frame, I have one leg and I'm the vice president's daughter."
Her Death of a Unicorn co-star Paul Rudd, who plays Ant-Man in the MCU, playfully suggested that Marvel might still have plans for her character. "And so it might very well be that you come back," Rudd said, "that they are going to create something for you, 'cause they should be so lucky to have Jenna Ortega in their franchise."
Ortega, however, seemed skeptical about a return to the MCU. "They even took my name away," she added. "I'm really… but I just… I count that, and then I move on."
Despite her minor role, Iron Man 3 was a massive success at the box office, grossing $1.2 billion worldwide and ranking as the ninth highest-grossing superhero film of all time. It's interesting to think about how the MCU has evolved since then, and whether Ortega's rising star could help boost the franchise's current performance at the box office.
If Jenna Ortega were to return to the MCU, which character would she be best suited to play? The possibilities are endless, given her talent and popularity.
If Jenna Ortega did return to the MCU, which character should she play? Photo by Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty Images.
