Did you know that Jenna Ortega, the star of Netflix's Wednesday and the upcoming Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, made a fleeting appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? At just 11 years old, Ortega debuted in Iron Man 3 in a minor role that saw her as the wheelchair-bound daughter of Vice President Rodriguez, played by Miguel Ferrer. The scene, which takes place during a Christmas family function, captures a brief moment where Rodriguez kisses his daughter on the forehead, revealing her condition as the camera pans down.
Jenna Ortega in Iron Man 3. Image credit: Marvel Studios.
Now, a decade later, Ortega humorously reflected on her MCU cameo in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. She quipped about how her lines were cut, leaving her with a mere blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance. "I did it once," Ortega shared. "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 his role as Ant-Man in the MCU, playfully suggested that Marvel might create a larger role for Ortega in the future. "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, remains skeptical about returning to the MCU. "They even took my name away," she remarked, indicating her brief stint was more of a subplot that was significantly reduced in the final cut of Iron Man 3. Despite this, Ortega has since risen to become a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
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 massive commercial success, grossing over $1.2 billion worldwide and ranking as the ninth highest-grossing superhero film of all time. The landscape of superhero movies has changed significantly since then, and Ortega's potential return could be a boost for Marvel's current box office performance.
So, if Jenna Ortega were to return to the MCU, which character would she be perfect for?
