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 missing her brief appearance, as the young actress had a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scene in the film. The now-22-year-old star, known for her roles in Netflix’s Wednesday and the upcoming Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, made her film debut at the tender age of 11 in this 2013 Marvel blockbuster.

In Iron Man 3, Ortega played the daughter of Vice President Rodriguez, portrayed by Miguel Ferrer. The scene unfolds during a Christmas family gathering where Rodriguez kisses his daughter on the forehead. The camera then pans down to reveal Ortega's character in a wheelchair, having lost a limb.

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

Now, over a decade after Iron Man 3 hit theaters, Ortega was asked by Entertainment Weekly about her experience with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). She humorously remarked on her brief role, noting that Marvel Studios significantly reduced her screen time.

“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 plays Ant-Man in the MCU, joined in the jest, suggesting that Marvel might still have plans for her character.

“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.”

Originally, Ortega’s role might have been intended as a subplot, but it was trimmed down to almost nothing in the final cut. Despite this, Ortega has since become a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. If Marvel were to offer her a new role in the MCU, it's likely she would consider it.

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

While Iron Man 3 is often considered one of the weaker entries in the MCU, it was a massive box office success, grossing over $1.2 billion worldwide. It ranks as the ninth highest-grossing superhero film, surpassing films like Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Captain Marvel.

The MCU landscape has changed significantly since then, and superhero movies now face greater challenges in achieving similar financial success. If Ortega were to return to the MCU, her star power could potentially boost the franchise's box office performance.