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

Did you catch Jenna Ortega in Iron Man 3? It's understandable if you missed her fleeting moment 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 with a minor role in the 2013 blockbuster. In the movie, Ortega portrays the Vice President's daughter, played by Miguel Ferrer, during a Christmas family scene. The camera briefly shows her in a wheelchair, revealing a lost limb.

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

Reflecting on her MCU stint 12 years later, Ortega humorously recounted her experience to Entertainment Weekly. She mentioned that her lines were cut from the final film, leaving her with a very brief appearance. "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 as Ant-Man in the MCU, playfully suggested that her brief role could lead to bigger opportunities. "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, cast doubt on a potential return, jokingly noting, "They even took my name away," and concluded, "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 significantly reduced in the final cut of Iron Man 3. As Ortega has since risen to global fame, it's intriguing to consider what might happen if Marvel Studios were to offer her a new role in the MCU.

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 massive commercial success, grossing $1.2 billion worldwide and ranking as the ninth highest-grossing superhero film ever, surpassing films like Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Captain Marvel.

The landscape of superhero movies has evolved significantly since Iron Man 3, with newer films facing greater challenges in achieving similar box office success. If Ortega were to join the current MCU, her star power could potentially boost Marvel's fortunes.

So, which character would Jenna Ortega be a perfect fit for in the MCU?