Ortega’s Forgotten MCU Moment

Jenna Ortega may be one of Hollywood’s most in-demand young stars today, thanks to her breakout role in Wednesday and the highly anticipated Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. But years before she became a household name, Ortega had an early brush with the Marvel Cinematic Universe — one that was so minor, even her most dedicated fans might have missed it.

During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Ortega was asked about the possibility of joining the MCU. To the surprise of many, she revealed that she had already been part of it, albeit in a role that went largely unnoticed.

“It was one of the first jobs I ever did,” the 22-year-old actor shared. “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.”

Despite its brief nature, the role placed Ortega in one of Marvel’s biggest early hits. Iron Man 3, which starred Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ben Kingsley, grossed over $1.2 billion at the global box office. However, it didn’t serve as a launching pad for the young actor, and she quickly moved on to other opportunities.

Paul Rudd, Ortega’s co-star in the upcoming film Death of a Unicorn and Marvel’s Ant-Man, chimed in on the subject, suggesting that her time in the MCU might not be over. “Marvel is very good at like, kind of laying those breadcrumbs,” he said. “And so it might very well be that you come back.”

But Ortega didn’t seem too interested in revisiting the franchise. “They even took my name away,” she added, suggesting that she doesn’t dwell on her lost Marvel moment.

Though her time in Iron Man 3 was fleeting, Ortega has since carved out her own place in Hollywood—one that doesn’t rely on superhero films to define her success.