Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Mike Redmond | News | March 18, 2025
Despite being a massive nerd and an ardent defender of the film as top-tier Marvel — Lethal Weapon by way of robot suits, how do you lose? — I genuinely had no idea that Jenna Ortega starred in Iron Man 3. Who played her father, the vice president? Well, that I can instantly tell you: The late, great Miguel Ferrer. But until very recently, I did not know that Ortega was the wheelchair-bound little girl used to blackmail her dad into helping Guy Pearce trap the president in the Iron Patriot suit. — I really need to go outside more.
For those of you versed in math thanks to your teachers (who are not cops), obviously, this role occurred when Ortega was very young and still a few years away from becoming a Disney Channel star with Stuck in the Middle. Needless to say, Marvel had no qualms about treating Ortega like a disposable prop, and she never forgot.
When Entertainment Tonight asked about her possibly joining the MCU, Ortega made it clear she’s still salty and that Marvel can eat sh*t. Via THR:
“I did it once,” Ortega responded. “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.”
Thanks to co-starring in Death of a Unicorn with Ortega, Paul Rudd was on-hand and did his best to coax her into returning, which is weird coming from the guy who should still be crying in the shower after Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. They say Rudd never ages. He looks goddamn ancient in that movie. I didn’t think it was possible.
“They even took my name away,” Ortega responded before slamming the door shut. “I count that, then I move on.”
As a strong believer in grudges, I respect the hell out of this move. Freaking Ant-Man tried to lure her back into the sewers, and Jenna Ortega flicked him right under the grate. They took her wheelchair girl lines, you d*ck!
