Credit: NetflixJenna Ortega has been a key player in multiple franchises, but don’t expect to see her return to one any time soon.
In recent years, Jenna Ortega has quickly become one of Hollywood’s most in-demand young actors, seamlessly transitioning from a Disney Channel star to a leading force in horror and beyond.
After first gaining recognition as a child actor with roles in Jane the Virgin and Stuck in the Middle, Ortega’s breakout came with You on Netflix.
Her turn in Scream (2022) and X (2022) cemented her as a modern scream queen, while Wednesday – the Netflix series focused on Wednesday Addams, starring Ortega in the title role – made her a global phenomenon, earning her a Golden Globe nomination and a dedicated fan base.
Beyond horror, Ortega has balanced blockbuster franchises with auteur-driven projects, working with directors like Tim Burton in last year’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice while securing roles in upcoming prestige dramas.
Though she’s stepped away from Scream VII, she remains booked and busy, with Wednesday season two on the way and a film with Paul Rudd, Death of a Unicorn, due for release later this month.
Jenna Ortega Rejects Marvel Return
While it may seem like Ortega is everywhere right now, there’s one kind of film where you likely won’t see the actress any time soon: a superhero film.
To be specific, Ortega reportedly has zero plans to star in a Marvel Cinematic Universe film. Well, not again. Ortega actually had her big screen debut in Iron Man 3 (2013). She may not have shared screen time with Robert Downey Jr. himself, but she did play the daughter of the vice president (played by Miguel Ferrer) – a small but significant role that explained the character’s motivations for supporting Extremis.
Despite recent rumors that Marvel is eyeing Ortega for a role, the actress has claimed that this stint in Iron Man 3 was enough for her.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Ortega said, “I did it once. But it was one of the first jobs I ever did, and they took all my lines out. They even took my name away. I’m really, I’m just, I count that, and I move on.”
Who Would Ortega Play in the MCU?
Pretty much every actor is rumored to join the MCU at some point. In Ortega’s case, the internet has recently been abuzz with the rumor that Marvel wants her to play Kitty Pryde, AKA the mutant known as Shadowcat with the ability to phase through solid objects.
Of course, actors can (and do) lie about their connections to the MCU. The studio famously commands high levels of secrecy around its projects. However, with Ortega already having starred in the franchise – and openly declaring her disinterest – we’ll admit that this feels like a dead end.
Fortunately, Wednesday season two is nearly upon us (by which we mean, at some point by the end of the year). The plot for the upcoming season has been kept under wraps, but we do know that Lady Gaga is joining the cast in an undisclosed role, with Ortega describing her as “one of the most talented individuals I’ve ever worked with.”
Would you like to see Jenna Ortega in the MCU?