Jenna Ortega Jokes About Tiny MCU Role in Iron Man 3: 'They Took All My Lines Out'

You might do a double take recalling Jenna Ortega’s role in *Iron Man 3*—and for good reason. The now-22-year-old star of Netflix's *Wednesday* and *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice* actually made her feature film debut at just 11 years old in the 2013 blockbuster. Her appearance, however, was so fleeting that it’s easy to miss. In a scene that lasts mere seconds, Ortega plays the daughter of Vice President Rodriguez (played by Miguel Ferrer), who is seen receiving a kiss on the forehead from her father after his tense phone call with Tony Stark. As the camera pans down, viewers catch a subtle but impactful reveal—Ortega’s character uses a wheelchair due to having a missing limb.

Jenna Ortega in Iron Man 3. Image credit: Marvel Studios.

Now, over a decade later, Ortega reflected on that early role during an interview with *Entertainment Weekly*, where she joked about how minimal her presence ended up being in the final cut of the film. “I did it once,” Ortega recalled. “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 himself plays Scott Lang/Ant-Man in the MCU—also chimed in with humor, referencing Marvel’s known strategy of planting subtle character hints that often lead to bigger story arcs. “And so it might very well be that you come back,” Rudd quipped. “That they are going to create something for you, ’cause they should be so lucky to have Jenna Ortega in their franchise.”

Could Jenna Ortega Return to the MCU?

Despite the lighthearted banter, Ortega herself seems less convinced about a potential return. “They even took my name away,” she added with a laugh. “I’m really… but I just… I count that, and then I move on.”

In reality, Ortega was cast as a young actor in what may have initially been a more substantial subplot. However, by the time *Iron Man 3* hit theaters, her role had been trimmed down to nearly nothing. Little did anyone know that this child actress would grow up to become one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars.

What’s Next for Ortega in the MCU?

While *Iron Man 3* isn’t always hailed as one of the strongest entries in the MCU catalog, its box office performance was undeniably massive—grossing over $1.2 billion worldwide and ranking as the ninth highest-grossing superhero film of all time. That kind of reach could certainly open doors for returning talent, especially someone like Ortega whose popularity has skyrocketed since her cameo.

If Marvel were to seriously consider bringing Ortega back into the fold, fans would undoubtedly be eager to see which character she’d portray. Given her acting range and growing star power, there’s no shortage of roles she could bring to life within the expanding Marvel universe.

[ttpp]