Casting Jenna Ortega In The MCU: 10 Marvel Roles She Could Play After Her Minor Part Iron Man 3 11 Years Ago

Jenna Ortega is one of the biggest rising stars not to have a major role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, though she graced the franchise with her presence before her career truly took off. Ortega actually starred in Iron Man 3 as a young girl, playing the daughter of Vice President Rodriguez. Now a prolific actress, it would be prescient for Jenna Ortega to return to the franchise as a proper named character.

There’s nothing to say that Ortega wouldn’t technically be playing the same character anyway, as her earlier role could easily be worked into the origin of whatever superhero or villain she may end up as. Even if that weren’t the case, the MCU is no stranger to re-using actors, with a multitude of examples in which the same performer put on multiple roles. Though she’s known for playing more somber and eccentric characters in projects like Wednesday or Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Ortega has a much wider range than most suspect.

10

White Tiger

A mantle hero title that could be passed down to Ortega

Ava Ayala a.k.a. White Tiger teams up with Daredevil

One of the strongest contenders for a Jenna Ortega role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is that of Ava Ayala, a.k.a. White Tiger. A legacy title, White Tiger is actually an identity passed down by a family lineage alongside the magical White Tiger amulet, which grants the wearer superhuman strength, agility, and sharp claws. The recent Daredevil: Born Again trailer showed off Hector Ayala, the previous White Tiger, already confirming the Ayala family to exist in the MCU.

There are a multitude of ways Ava Ayala could come into play in the series, possibly taking revenge after someone like Kingpin kills Hector. Thanks to her connection to the MCU’s mystical side, Shang-Chi and Doctor Strange could also both be great vehicles to introduce the next White Tiger. Thanks to her proficiency with playing serious characters connected to the supernatural and her latin heritage, Jenna Ortega would be a shoo-in for the role.

9

Mockingbird

One of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s strongest assets

Mockingbird with her batons in Marvel Comics

Considering how important S.H.I.E.L.D. is to the Marvel Cinematic Universe mythos, it’s surprising that Mockingbird hasn’t truly appeared in the franchise by now. One of the agency’s most devoted and skilled agents, Bobbi Morse is Mockingbird, a supporting heroine and on-again-off-again heroine who was married to Hawkeye in the comics. Though she has no inherent superpowers, Mockingbird’s skills with a bo-staff and years of espionage and subterfuge experience make her a powerful threat similar to Black Widow.

Mockingbird has often been described as the heart and soul of the Avengers, which makes Jenna Ortega a great choice for her possible portrayal. Ortega’s natural ability to appear wise beyond her years would be great at conveying a version of Mockingbird who has gained a lot of experience in a short amount of time. Her proficiency for sharp-as-a-tack characters like Wednesday also suits her well for such an intelligent character.

8

Black Cat

The Catwoman to Spider-Man’s Batman

Marvel Comics' Black Cat on a window

One of the most hotly-anticipated roles yet to be cast in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is none other than Felicia Hardy, better known as Black Cat. A literal cat burglar and skilled criminal, Black Cat is a Spider-Man villain while also sometimes serving as an anti-hero and an on-again-off-again love interest. She also sometimes exhibits a “probability field” superpower that generates bad luck for her enemies, similar to Domino of Deadpool 2 fame.

Considering it was recently announced that Spider-Man 4 will introduce a new love interest for Peter Parker, Black Cat’s arrival in the MCU seems more sure than ever. Because of how hotly she’s been anticipated, the casting for Black Cat would certainly need to draw on some fresh star power. Few actresses would be more up for the task than Jenna Ortega, whose wildfire popularity and unmitigated acting skill would do the character justice.

7

Moonstone

A devious villainess with gravity powers

Moonstone looking angry in Marvel Comics

Thanks to the likes of Ms. Marvel and The Marvels, the MCU has put a lot of stock in the Kree and Captain Marvel storylines in the more recent installments of the series. A character ripe for incorporation into this world from the comics is Moonstone, who gets her powers from an experimental Kree device just like Carol Danvers did. By absorbing this gem, Moonstone has access to all sorts of incredible powers, including gravity manipulation, force field generation, energy projection, portal creation and more.

Despite occasionally serving as more of an anti-hero, Moonstone is a twisted villain, killing her own mother and psychologically torturing many patients to death while working as a therapist. As Generation Z’s premiere scream queen and an amazing actress when it comes to disturbed characters, Jenna Ortega would be absolutely stunning as Moonstone. If Captain Marvel ever gets a third dedicated movie, Jenna Ortega as Moonstone would certainly be a far more compelling villain than Yon-Rogg or Dar-Benn.

6

Kitty Pryde

A perfect audience vessel for the X-Men

Split Image of X-Men's Kitty Pryde yelling next to her younger self saying 'Professor Xavier is a jerk!'

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s task of incorporating the X-Men will likely necessitate a more relatable hero that audiences can use as a viewpoint character from which to delve into the world of mutants. The X-Man Shadowcat, better known by her real name Kitty Pryde, would be more than up for the task. Previously played by Elliot Page in the Fox X-Men continuity, Kitty has the mutant powers of intangibility, allowing her to phase herself and others through solid objects with a touch.

Jenna Ortega as Kitty Pryde could be the perfect window into the new version of the X-Men audiences need. In Wednesday, the actress proved she’s great in fish-out-of-water stories showing a unique youngster entering a strange new academy for the first time. Ortega could even remain as the same character, adding another layer of strife to the plight of the mutants by being the daughter of a powerful political figure.

5

Polaris

The daughter of a powerful mutant

Polaris glowing green with power while Magneto is standing behind her.

Speaking of the X-Men, one interesting character the Fox movies never managed to find a true place for is Magneto’s daughter, Polaris. Born with similar powers of magnetism to her mutant father, Lorna Dane ends up as part of the X-Men despite her heritage, carving out her own inspirational story outside his shadow. Despite not having a movie version, Polaris does appear in the seldom-known spin-off X-Men series The Gifted.

Between Scream VI and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Jenna Ortega has gotten something of a reputation as a legacy sequel star. In a way, this makes her perfect for a heroine that is a legacy sequel in and of herself while still maintaining her own personality and goals. Considering that the MCU missed out on Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver being Magneto’s children like in the comics, Polaris would be a great opportunity for the franchise to take by way of Jenna Ortega.

4

Rogue

The Southern belle with a tragic mutation

Rogue looking worried with the X-Men: The Animated Series team

Custom image by Yeider Chacon

Rogue has always been one of the most tragic X-Men characters, serving as the audience’s vehicle in the very first X-Men movie. Cursed with the mutant ability to absorb the life-force of anyone she touches, Rogue is a powerful X-man whose personal life is tragically impacted by her condition. Despite her lot in life, Rogue is usually a cheerful and independent character known for her signature Southern charm, as well as her on-again-off-again romance with fellow mutant Gambit.

Jenna Ortega might not be most fans’ first choice for Rogue, but all the pieces are there for a wonderful opportunity to embody the character. Ortega manages to pull off a believable Southern accent in her performance in X, nailing an important aspect of Rogue’s dialogue. She also actually dressed as a parody of the character called Zena in a Saturday Night Live skit featuring a clear X-Men parody, and she doesn’t look half-bad in Rogue’s costume.

3

Squirrel Girl

The chipper, unbeatable heroine

Squirrel Girl Punching in Marvel Comic Art by Lucas Werneck

Another one of the most highly-requested Marvel heroines yet to appear in a live-action project is the unbeatable Squirrel Girl. A young woman with a genetic anomaly that gives her squirrel-like characteristics, including a bushy tail, buck teeth, and the ability to talk to squirrels, Doreen Green saves lives as the unbeatable Squirrel Girl. Her title comes from her status as a gag character, as she single-handedly defeats powerful characters like Thanos off-screen despite her goofy powerset.

At first glance, Jenna Ortega’s knack for quiet, brooding characters wouldn’t seem to make her a good fit for Squirrel Girl. But Ortega’s range deserves more credit, playing a much more upbeat and chipper character in Stuck in the Middle. Casting Jenna Ortega as Squirrel Girl would be a great way for her to return to form as a less edgy role, keeping her from being pidgeonholed into characters similar to Wednesday for the rest of her career.

2

Spider-Girl

Another web-swinger to give Spider-Man some competition

Aña 'Anya' Corazón AKA Spider-Girl Araña in madame web

Considering how popular Sony’s Spider-Verse series have become, it’s about time that the Marvel Cinematic Universe added another web-swinger to their superhero roster. Aña Corazón is a gymnast who gains Spider-Man-like powers after getting involved with the ancient and mysterious Spider Society, which gives her a mystical arachnid tattoo. Corazón appeared in live-action once before as one of the 4 Spider-Women in Madame Web, Sony’s ill-fated Spider-Man spin-off.

Once again, Aña Corazón is another more upbeat character that could help Ortega break out of being typecast as a moody Goth girl. Spider-Girl’s introduction would be a great way to introduce the more mystical side of Spider-Man’s mythology to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not only that, but the series would have many options for outfitting her with powers and costumes, two things Aña Corazón has had many variations of over the years.

1

Bombshell

One half of a mother-daughter duo

Bombshell Marvel comics

If there’s one thing that hasn’t been done before in superhero movies, it’s a mother-daughter supervillain duo, something the MCU could adapt thanks to Bombshell. Bombshell is a supervillain identity used by two women, Lori and Lana Baumgartner, the latter of which inherited her powers at birth after her mother gained them through experimentation. Both Bombshells are able to generate powerful explosions, using them to rob banks and make a living as career criminals.

From Wynona Rider in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice to Courtney Cox in Scream VI, Jenna Ortega has demonstrated a knack for connecting superbly with legacy actresses in big movies. Of course, her affinity with temperamental and hot-headed characters also make her a good choice for the underrated villainess. Pairing her with a Catherine Zeta-Jones or a Salma Hayek to carve a path of destruction as Bombshell would be a welcome sight in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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