Do you remember seeing Jenna Ortega in Iron Man 3? You'd be forgiven for missing her blink-and-you'll-miss-it scene, where a very young Ortega appears in a wheelchair. The 22-year-old star of Netflix's Wednesday series and the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice movie actually made her film debut at the age of 11 in a minor role in the 2013 film Iron Man 3. Ortega's brief appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) features Miguel Ferrer's Vice President Rodriguez kissing his daughter on the forehead during a Christmas family function. The camera then pans down to reveal that the daughter, played by Ortega, is in a wheelchair due to a lost limb.
Now, 12 years after Iron Man 3 was released, Ortega was asked by Entertainment Weekly about her experience in the MCU. She jokingly remarked on her brief appearance and how Marvel Studios significantly cut down her role.
"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, also humorously suggested that Marvel might create a larger role for Ortega in the future.
"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." Ah well.
In truth, Ortega was cast as a child actor in a role that was likely intended as a subplot but ended up being significantly reduced in the final cut of Iron Man 3. However, this child actor grew up to become one of the most famous actors on the planet. If Marvel Studios had a new MCU role for Ortega in mind, she would certainly consider it.
While Iron Man 3 is often considered one of the weaker entries in the MCU, it was a massive hit at the box office, grossing $1.2 billion globally. It ranks as the ninth highest-grossing superhero film of all time, surpassing films like Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Captain Marvel.
The MCU landscape has evolved significantly since then, with superhero movies facing greater challenges in achieving blockbuster status. If Ortega were to join the current MCU, she might just help Marvel boost its box office performance.
But which character would she be a perfect fit for?
