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What will be Jenna Ortega’s next ambitious roles after Wednesday?
The 22-year-old American actress Jenna Ortega is making a series of appearances on the big screen. The star of the series Wednesday, recently seen in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and in Sabrina Carpenter’s music video for Taste, will soon be sharing the spotlight with some of the biggest names in the industry. Among them are Robert De Niro, Natalie Portman and Samuel L. Jackson. As the season 2 of Wednesday was released on August 6th, 2025, here’s an overview of the ambitious projects awaiting for one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses.
par Alexandre Chevarin.
Published on 2 September 2025. Updated on 15 September 2025.
You, The Babysitter, 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 general 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 second season has just been released on August 6th, 2025.
The Netflix series appears as a spinoff of The Addams Family universe and has quickly become a global phenomenon. Her collaboration with the Corpse Bride (2005) director was a success, since the latter cast her as the star of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024), alongside Monica Bellucci and Winona Ryder. And judging by what’s ahead, Jenna Ortega will be very busy in the upcoming months.
From J.J. Abrams to a film with The Weeknd… Jenna Ortega’s promising career
Jenna Ortega’s name now ranks among Hollywood’s most sought-after young talents, alongside Anya Taylor-Joy and Jacob Elordi. The actress is set to appear in numerous feature films in the coming years.
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 major projects? The American actress will also appear in Alex Scharfman‘s feature Death of a Unicorn, alongside Paul Rudd and Will Poulter, available in VOD on August 16th. The premise of the film is rather strange: “Riley and Elliot, a father and daughter, accidentally hit and kill a unicorn while en route to a weekend retreat, where his billionaire boss seeks to exploit the creature’s miraculous curative properties.” Besides, Jenna Ortega will also star alongside Amy Adams in Klara and the Sun directed by Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit). This film adaptation of the novel of the same name tells the story of an artificial being designed to support a grieving family.
Robert De Niro and Natalie Portman as Jenna Ortega’s future co-stars
Moreover, Jenna Ortega is set to play a role in the reboot of a cult 1090s 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.
According to the media Deadline, the actress will soon star opposite Robert De Niro (Taxi Driver), who recently received the a 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.
Finally, Jenna Ortega will join the cast of J.J. Abrams’ upcoming, and still mysterious, film. The star-studded cast will also include Samuel L. Jackson, Emma Mackey, and Glen Powell. She will also appear alongside Natalie Portman in The Gallerist, an ambitious drama directed by Cathy Yan (Birds of Prey).
Wednesday season 2 (2025), streaming on Netflix. Death of a Unicorn (2025) by Alex Scharfman will be available in VOD on August 16th, 2025.
