Jenna Ortega on Her Small MCU Role: 'They Cut All My Lines'

Do you remember seeing Jenna Ortega in Iron Man 3? You’d be forgiven for forgetting her blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo. In this brief scene, a very young Ortega appears in a wheelchair, marking her film debut at the age of 11 in the 2013 Marvel Cinematic Universe film.

In Iron Man 3, Ortega's character is the daughter of Vice President Rodriguez, played by Miguel Ferrer. The scene captures a tender moment where Rodriguez kisses his daughter on the forehead during a Christmas family function. The camera then pans down to reveal that Ortega's character is wheelchair-bound due to a lost limb.

Now, 12 years after Iron Man 3 hit the theaters, Ortega reflected on her brief MCU appearance in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. She humorously noted that her lines were cut significantly, saying, “I did it once. 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, known for playing Ant-Man in the MCU, playfully suggested that Marvel might still have plans for her character, saying, “And so it might very well be that you come back, 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 of a return, Ortega added, “They even took my name away. I’m really… but I just… I count that, and then I move on.” Despite her minor role being significantly reduced, Ortega's career has soared since, making her one of the most recognized actors globally.

In truth, Ortega was initially cast in what might have been a more substantial subplot, but her role was minimized in the final cut of Iron Man 3. As a child actor, she couldn't have anticipated the fame that awaited her over a decade later. If Marvel Studios were to offer her a new role in the MCU, it's likely she would give it serious consideration.

While Iron Man 3 is often ranked among the weaker entries in the MCU, it was a massive box office success, grossing $1.2 billion globally and ranking 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 films facing greater challenges in achieving blockbuster status. Should Ortega return to the MCU, her star power might just be the boost Marvel needs. The question remains: which character would she be a perfect fit for?