Did you catch Jenna Ortega in Iron Man 3? It's easy to miss her brief appearance, where she plays the vice president's daughter, seen in a wheelchair during a Christmas family scene. The now 22-year-old star, known for her roles in Netflix's Wednesday and the upcoming Beetlejuice Beetlejuice movie, made her film debut at the age of 11 in this 2013 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film. In the scene, Miguel Ferrer's character, Vice President Rodriguez, kisses his daughter on the forehead after a tense phone call with Iron Man, revealing her condition as the camera pans down.
Jenna Ortega in Iron Man 3. Image credit: Marvel Studios.
Reflecting on her MCU experience in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Ortega humorously noted that her role was significantly trimmed down. "I did it once," she 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, playfully suggested that Marvel might have bigger plans for her. "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 the possibility, reflecting on her experience: "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 reduced to a fleeting moment in the final cut of Iron Man 3. As Ortega has grown into one of the most recognized actors globally, the prospect of her returning to the MCU is intriguing. If Marvel were to consider a new role for her, she would likely give it serious thought.
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 ranked among the less favored MCU films, it was a massive box office 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 MCU has evolved significantly since Iron Man 3, and today's superhero films face greater challenges in attracting large audiences. If Ortega were to join the current MCU, her star power could potentially help boost its appeal.
