Jenna Ortega on Her Small MCU Role: 'All My Lines Were Cut'

Did you catch Jenna Ortega's fleeting appearance in Iron Man 3? It's understandable if you missed it; the now 22-year-old star of Netflix's Wednesday and the upcoming Beetlejuice Beetlejuice movie had a blink-and-you'll-miss-it role in the 2013 film. At the tender age of 11, Ortega made her film debut in this minor part, playing the daughter of Vice President Rodriguez, portrayed by Miguel Ferrer. In the scene, Rodriguez kisses his daughter on the forehead during a Christmas family event, and the camera then pans down to show that she is in a wheelchair due to a missing limb.

Jenna Ortega in Iron Man 3. Image credit: Marvel Studios.

Fast forward 12 years, and Ortega humorously reflected on her MCU stint in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. "I did it once," she remarked. "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 is well-known for his role as Ant-Man in the MCU, joined in on the jest, suggesting that Marvel might have bigger plans for Ortega. "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."

However, Ortega remained skeptical about a potential return to the MCU, adding, "They even took my name away," she interjected. "I’m really… but I just… I count that, and then I move on." It seems her brief role, which might have started as a subplot, was significantly reduced in the final cut of Iron Man 3. Yet, as Ortega has grown into a globally recognized actor, the idea of her returning to the MCU in a more substantial role is intriguing.

If Jenna Ortega did return to the MCU, which character should she play? Photo by Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty Images.

Despite being considered one of the weaker entries in the MCU, Iron Man 3 was a box office juggernaut, grossing over $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 landscape has evolved significantly since then, and with superhero films facing tougher competition at the box office, Ortega's involvement could potentially boost Marvel's fortunes.

So, if Jenna Ortega were to make a comeback to the MCU, which character would she be a perfect fit for?