Did you catch Jenna Ortega's blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo in *Iron Man 3*? It's easy to forget, but the now-22-year-old star of Netflix's *Wednesday* and the upcoming *Beetlejuice 2* made her film debut at age 11 in the 2013 Marvel film. Her scene shows Miguel Ferrer's Vice President Rodriguez kissing his wheelchair-bound daughter—Ortega—during a Christmas gathering. The camera briefly focuses on Ortega, who plays the daughter, having lost a limb.
Recently, Ortega jokingly reflected on her *Iron Man 3* experience with *Entertainment Weekly*, mentioning how Marvel significantly cut her role: “I did it once,” she 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 (Ant-Man), playfully suggested a future MCU role for her, hinting at Marvel's habit of strategically planting character seeds.
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Ortega, however, lightheartedly acknowledged the extensive cuts, stating, “They even took my name away… but I just… I count that, and then I move on.” Her initial role, likely a larger subplot in early drafts, was significantly reduced by the time the film premiered. This minor role, however, now holds a unique place in her career, showcasing her journey from child actor to global star.
Despite being considered one of the weaker entries in the MCU, *Iron Man 3* was a box office triumph, grossing over $1.2 billion worldwide—making it the ninth highest-grossing superhero film ever. The MCU landscape has significantly shifted since then, with superhero films facing greater challenges in achieving similar financial success. A return for Ortega could potentially revitalize the franchise's box office performance.
The question remains: which MCU character would be the perfect fit for Jenna Ortega?
