After Wednesday, what are Jenna Ortega’s next ambitious roles?

By Alexandre Chevarin, 

and Ambra Flora.

Published on 2 September 2025. Updated on 22 May 2026.

You, Wednesday… Netflix propelled Jenna Ortega

Like Selena Gomez or Ryan Gosling, it was on Disney Channel that audiences first discovered American actress Jenna Ortega. One of her earliest projects dates back to 2016, when she appeared in the series Stuck in the Middle.

But it wasn’t until 2019 that she landed a major role in season 2 of the hit Netflix series You. Jenna Ortega played the nosey neighbour of the psychopath Joe Goldberg, portrayed by the charismatic Penn Badgley.

Following the enthusiastic response to her performance, she embarked on a string of collaborations with the streaming platform. She landed roles alongside Samara Weaving in The Babysitter: Killer Queen(2020) and Jennifer Garner in the feel-good comedy Yes Day (2021).

A scream queen embraced by Gen Z and Tim Burton

Jenna Ortega quickly established herself as the new scream queen adored by Gen Z. She landed leading roles in several horror films, including X (2022) by Ti West, starring Mia Goth. That same year, she became one of the protagonists of the new Scream. A role hailed by critics as one of the film’s standout performances, alongside breakout stars Melissa Barrera and Mikey Madison.

However, the actress truly won over the public by the end of 2022. Jenna Ortega landed the lead role in Netflix’s series Wednesday, directed by Tim Burton, and rose to international stardom. The Netflix series, inspired by The Addams Family universe, quickly became a global phenomenon. The collaboration with the director of Corpse Bride (2005) continued with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024), starring Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, and Winona Ryder.

2025, a landmark year for the actress

Jenna Ortega’s name now ranks among Hollywood’s most sought-after young talents, alongside Zendaya, Anya Taylor-Joy and Jacob Elordi. The actress starred in several feature films in 2025.

One of her most intriguing projects is undoubtedly Hurry Up Tomorrow, directed by Trey Edward Shults (It Comes At Night). Released on May 16th, the film was conceived as an extension of The Weeknd’s album of the same name, released earlier this year. It stars the artist, alongside Barry Keoghan and Jenna Ortega, who takes on one of the lead roles in this psychological thriller. She plays the role a fan of The Weeknd caught up in a tumultuous relationship with him…

Other projects in 2025? The actress co-starred in Death of a Unicorn by Alex Scharfman, alongside Paul Rudd and Will Poulter, available in VOD since August 16th, 2025. The pitch for this wild film? “Riley and Elliot, a father-daughter duo, hit a unicorn with their car and bring it to the remote retreat of a wealthy pharmaceutical CEO.”

Jenna Ortega isn’t stopping there, as Netflix has confirmed a third season of Wednesday. The actress could also appear in 2026 in a spin-off centered on Uncle Fester, currently in development, starring actor Fred Armisen. While waiting for her return to Nevermore Academy, fans will be able to catch the actress in several upcoming film projects.

Taylor Russell, Robert De Niro and Natalie Portman as future co-stars

Moreover, Jenna Ortega is set to play a role in the reboot of a cult 1990s thriller. She will be in the remake of Single White Female (1992), alongside Taylor Russell (Bones And All). The pair follow in the footsteps of Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh, who originally portrayed two roommates whose friendship spirals into obsession.

For now, we only know the title of the film, Single Female, and the name of the screenwriter. It will be the infamous Sarah DeLappe, who made a name for herself writing the script for Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022). The name of the film’s director or roles assigned to the two actresses remain under wraps.

According to the media Deadline, the actress will soon star opposite Robert De Niro (Taxi Driver), who recently received the Honorary Palme d’Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. The two will headline a new project directed by David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook), playing a pair of pool hustlers. Robert De Niro embodies a kind of mentor figure who fuels Jenna Ortega’s character’s boundless ambition. Yet, the student may well surpass her master…

The actress’s upcoming projects for 2026

Also in 2026, Jenna Ortega will star in The Gallerist, for which a first image has just been released, alongside Natalie Portman. This dark comedy directed by Cathy Yan (Birds of Prey and Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey) satirizes the world of contemporary art through a wild story about a gallerist willing to do anything to make a splash at Art Basel in Miami… Even going so far as to pass off a corpse as a work of art.

Jenna Ortega will also star alongside Amy Adams in Klara and the Sun, directed by Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit). Adapted from a novel of the same name, it tells the story of an artificial being created to help a grieving family. The young actress is also part of the cast of J.J. Abrams’s upcoming mysterious film Ghost Writer, which boasts a prestigious cast, including Samuel L. Jackson, Emma Mackey, and Glen Powell.

Finally, she will collaborate with a French director for the very first time… And not just any director, since Leos Carax chose her to star in his upcoming feature Lily May B, scheduled for release in 2027. The filmmaker is making his long-awaited return five years after Annette, his rock opera that acclaimed at the Cannes Film Festival. Scheduled for release in 2027, the new project will take the form of a post-apocalyptic road movie.

Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025) by Trey Edward Shults is available on Canal VOD and Amazon Prime Video.
The Gallerist (2026) by Cathy Yan does not have a release date yet.
Lily May B, by Léos Carax is scheduled for release in 2027.