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

Do you remember seeing Jenna Ortega in Iron Man 3? You might have missed her brief appearance in a scene where she plays the daughter of Vice President Rodriguez, portrayed by Miguel Ferrer. In this blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, a very young Ortega, aged 11 at the time, is seen in a wheelchair during a Christmas family gathering. This marked her film debut in the 2013 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie.

Fast forward to 12 years after the release of Iron Man 3, Ortega, now a star known for her roles in Netflix’s Wednesday and the upcoming Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, reflected on her MCU stint in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. She humorously noted how her role was significantly cut down, leaving her with no lines and a fleeting on-screen presence.

“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 well-known for playing Ant-Man in the MCU, playfully suggested that Marvel might be setting the stage for Ortega's return, hinting at the studio's strategy of planting character breadcrumbs for future developments.

“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.”

Ortega, however, expressed a more grounded view on her MCU experience, saying, “They even took my name away,” before adding, “I’m really… but I just… I count that, and then I move on.”

Despite her minor role in Iron Man 3, Ortega's career has soared, making her one of the most recognizable actors today. If Marvel Studios were to offer her a new role in the MCU, it's likely she would consider it seriously.

While Iron Man 3 may not be considered among the strongest entries in the MCU, it was a massive success at the box office, grossing $1.2 billion worldwide and ranking as the ninth highest-grossing superhero film ever, surpassing movies like Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Captain Marvel.

Given the evolving landscape of superhero films and the MCU's current challenges in drawing large audiences, Ortega's potential return could be a significant boost. The question remains: which character would she be a perfect fit for?