Did you know that Jenna Ortega, the star of Netflix's "Wednesday" and the upcoming "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," made her film debut in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it role in "Iron Man 3" at the tender age of 11? In the 2013 Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Ortega briefly appears as the daughter of Vice President Rodriguez, played by Miguel Ferrer. The scene captures a tender moment where Rodriguez kisses his daughter on the forehead during a Christmas family gathering, only for the camera to pan down and reveal that she is in a wheelchair due to a lost limb.
Jenna Ortega in Iron Man 3. Image credit: Marvel Studios.
Reflecting on her MCU cameo 12 years later in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Ortega humorously recounted her experience. "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, known for playing Ant-Man in the MCU, playfully suggested that Marvel might create a bigger role for her in the future, saying, "And so it might very well be that you come back, that they are going to create something for you, 'cause they should be so lucky to have Jenna Ortega in their franchise."
Ortega, however, cast doubt on the possibility, jokingly adding, "They even took my name away. I'm really... but I just... I count that, and then I move on." Despite her brief appearance, Ortega's role was likely intended to be a subplot that was significantly reduced in the final cut of "Iron Man 3." Given her rise to fame over the past decade, it's intriguing to consider what might happen if Marvel Studios offered her a new role in the MCU.
If Jenna Ortega did return to the MCU, which character should she play? Photo by Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty Images.
"Iron Man 3," while considered one of the weaker entries in the MCU, was a box office juggernaut, grossing $1.2 billion worldwide and ranking as the ninth highest-grossing superhero film of all time, surpassing films like "Captain America: Civil War," "Spider-Man: Far From Home," and "Captain Marvel." The MCU has evolved significantly since then, and superhero films now face stiffer competition at the box office. If Ortega were to return to the MCU, her star power could potentially boost ticket sales.
So, which character would Jenna Ortega be perfect for in the MCU?
