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

Do you remember seeing Jenna Ortega in Iron Man 3? You’d be forgiven for forgetting the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scene in which a very young Ortega appears in a wheelchair.

The 22-year-old star of Netflix’s Wednesday series and the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice movie actually made her film debut aged 11 in a minor role in 2013’s Iron Man 3. Ortega’s brief Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance sees Miguel Ferrer’s Vice President Rodriguez, who's just had a stark conversation with Iron Man over the phone, kiss his daughter on the forehead during a Christmas family function. The camera then pans down to reveal said daughter is wheelchair-bound as a result of a lost limb.

Now, 12 years after Iron Man 3 was released, Ortega was asked by Entertainment Weekly about her experience with the MCU. She humorously recounted her brief appearance in Iron Man 3 and how Marvel Studios had significantly reduced her role.

“I did it once,” Ortega 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 is famously known for playing Ant-Man in the MCU, chimed in with a light-hearted remark about Marvel’s strategy of laying character breadcrumbs that could lead to something more substantial.

“And so it might very well be that you come back,” Rudd continued, “that they are going to create something for you, ’cause they should be so lucky to have Jenna Ortega in their franchise.”

Casting doubt on the possibility, Ortega concluded her reflection on Iron Man 3: “They even took my name away,” she interjected. “I’m really… but I just… I count that, and then I move on.” Ah well.

In truth, Ortega was cast as a child actor in a role that was likely intended to be a subplot but was reduced to almost nothing by the time Iron Man 3 hit theaters. It's fascinating that this particular child actor grew up to become one of the most renowned actors globally over a decade later. If Marvel Studios had a new MCU role for Ortega in mind, there's no doubt she would seriously consider it.

While Iron Man 3 is often ranked among the weaker entries in the MCU, it was a massive hit at the box office, grossing a staggering $1.2 billion globally. Iron Man 3 ranks 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 modern superhero films face greater challenges in achieving similar financial success. Should Ortega ever be reintroduced to the current MCU, her involvement could potentially boost Marvel's box office performance.

But which character would she be a perfect fit for?