Robert Downey Jr. received massive love for bringing the narcissistic and billionaire personality of Tony Stark on-screen inIron Man (2008). Since then, the first MCU superhero has become a beloved one among fans worldwide, and his standalone films were major successes at the box office. In fact, at the height of the franchise’s popularity, starring in such massive movies, even in a smaller role, would have been a great opportunity and exposure for any actor.
Jenna Ortega’s acting career commenced at a very young age. Like many actors, she began with guest appearances in TV shows likeRobandUnspoken, and, eventually, her talent earned her a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role inIron Man 3. The film shattered box office records by grossing over $1.2 billion. Indeed, Ortega has earned immense fame today, all thanks to her versatility and determination to portray fascinating roles.
Smaller roles do have an impact on the overall storyline, and they also give a chance to new actors to showcase their captivating performances. It’s fair to say that her limited screen time inIron Man 3kick-started her career, as she later got offered roles in renowned films and series likeInsidious: Chapter 2, Rake, Richie Rich,andDisney’s Stuck in the Middle. Nevertheless, her minor role in the MCU has become a topic of discussion on the internet even today, so here is a detailed view of Ortega’s character and the future possibilities of her returning to the MCU.
Jenna Ortega’s Popular Movies and TV Shows
Many popular stars in the industry, particularly young actors, started their careers in Disney projects, and even Ortega’s initial years in acting began there. After doing a couple of small roles in TV shows, she also played major and supporting roles inInsidious: Chapter 2(Annie), Rake(Zoe Leon), Jane the Virgin(young Jane), Richie Rich(Darcy),and others. She joined anold Disney showcalledStuck in the Middle, where she played the main role of Harley Diaz for three years. Harley is the middle child of the family with an inventive, pushy, and caring mindset.
Ortega’s second Disney project was an adventure series calledElena of Avalor, a story about a crown princess who defeated an evil sorceress and saved the kingdom. With the aid of her formed council and loved ones, Elena has to learn to put her leadership and political skills to use to become a good ruler. Aside from her TV series and Disney ventures, Ortega has also starred in music videos.
Related:Jenna Ortega’s Best Performances, Ranked
She has also been a part of Netflix projects like the popular seriesYou(Season 2), where she played Ellie, the younger sister of Delilah, whose interest lies in films and business, andYes Day, the Jennifer Garner-led movie where she portrayed Katie, the oldest child of the Torres family. Of course, the Tim Burton seriesWednesdaybrought her a meteoric rise to fame and success as she took on the role of Wednesday Addams, who is a popular member of the Addams family and is known for her dark and mysterious persona, death stares, and witty sarcasm.
According to Ortega (viaTeen Vogue), it was an exciting and challenging experience for her to take on the role of a beloved character, and she wanted to do justice to it. She also underwent astriking physical transformation, from cutting her hair and dyeing it black to perfecting her expressions and mannerisms. It’s fair to say that Ortega did portray Wednesday impeccably and was also lauded for her performance worldwide, with her receiving a Best Actress Golden Globe Award nomination for Season 1. Ortega’s other breakthrough roles also includeScream(2022)and Scream VI, X, Studio 666, The Fallout, The Babysitter: Killer Queen,andAmerican Carnage.
What Role Did Jenna Ortega Play in Iron Man 3?
Iron Man 3sees an anxiety-ridden Tony Stark facing off against a formidable antagonist called Mandarin, who is a proxy of a well-known terrorist and a puppet of Aldrich Killian to cover up his illegal activities. Angered by Tony’s rejection to join his research on Extremis (a healing and regenerative virus) and goal of taking over the U.S.’s control for his personal use, Aldrich comes back in full form and causes trouble for Tony in the hope of getting his Extremis defects fixed by him. Aldrich’s mission was also to kill President Ellis and include Vice President Rodriguez as his pawn in this conspiracy.
But why did the Vice President shake hands with Aldrich, and what is he getting out of it? Well, sometimes characters make trades to protect their loved ones, and Vice President Rodriguez did just that. Ortega, a 10-year-old at the time, portrays the role of the VP’s daughter, who is an amputee and an innocent girl. Aldrich makes a deal with her father to take on the President’s mantle after Ellis' execution, but the control of the White House will lie in his hands. In exchange, he offered Rodriguez Extremis that would help him “cure” his daughter. Even though Ortega’s role was limited, it was of significance to the plot, as Aldrich takes advantage of a father’s love and desperation for his daughter in order to make him contribute to his sinister activities.
Related:10 Movies and TV Shows You Might Have Forgotten Jenna Ortega Was In
Will Jenna Ortega Return to the MCU?
Marvel Studios is good at picking up the best talent from the industry to play its intriguing characters. Many actors like Chris Evans, Paul Bettany, Gemma Chan, Alfre Woodard, Laura Haddock, and others also got lucky toplay multiple charactersin a Marvel movie. Even though Ortega’s screen time inIron Man 3was just for a minute or two, her return still stands a chance. She might not reprise the same role as the Vice President’s daughter, but she can come back to the MCU to play a new character and give it a fresh perspective. The internet is already filled with discussion about what character would be suitable for her (perCollider). Some of the fan picked roles are X-23, Gwenpool, Rogue, Mockingbird, and White Tiger.
In fact, Ortega isrumored to play White Tigerin the upcoming Disney+ seriesDaredevil: Born Again. As of now, there is no official confirmation from Marvel Studios, but it would be great to see her don a superhero costume. Created by Christos Gage and Tom Raney, White Tiger is popularly known for her martial arts skills, strength, and endurance. The character made her debut in the 20th issue of theAvengers Academyseries. The mantle of White Tiger has passed on to different characters, and as of now, it’s not yet confirmed which version will be seen in theDaredevilseries.
Throughout her existence, White Tiger has been a part of the New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, and had comic ties with the Defenders. The White Tiger has also frequently collaborated with Matt Murdock. For instance, she sought legal aid from Matt when she was framed for murder and also once volunteered in an investigation after his secret identity was revealed. So, the appearance of the character seems right, and it would be a great opportunity to set up her place in the MCU. Currently, theDaredevil: Born Againcast is revealed to be Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Niki M. James, Sandrine Holt, Margarita Levieva, Arty Froushan, and Jon Bernthal.Daredevil: Born Againwill make its way to Disney+ in Spring 2024.
