See Jenna Ortega As Rogue From X-Men
Jenna Ortega is Rogue in this piece of fan art.
The introduction of the X-Men is a foregone conclusion in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the question is how these characters will be introduced moving forward and which ones will be introduced first. One of the most popular members of the X-Men is the formidable Rogue. According to a recent Instagram post, many fans think that Scream actress Jenna Ortega could be a perfect fit for the role.
Instagram user @Samukarts posted an image of Jenna Ortega as one of the most recognizable X-Men. In it, Ortega sports a purple lip, a green and black bodysuit, and golden shoulder pads with the classic red and black X-Men insignia on them. She also has the characterizing white streak of bangs in her hair, which is cropped at neck-length in a short shag haircut.
This portrayal of the power-stealing superhero hearkens most back to the X-Men: Evolution animated series version of the character. Released in 2000, the animated series focused on the early days of the X-Men and featured many of the core group as teenagers learning how to navigate their powers and responsibilities. Many fans could see Jenna Ortega capturing the demure and sometimes cold personality of the series’ version of Rogue, often referred to as “Goth Rogue,” perfectly.
Although not officially part of the X-Men yet, Jenna Ortega is one of the most recognizable and popular young actors of her generation. She has gained a cult following for her deadpan attitude akin to actresses like Aubrey Plaza.
Jenna Ortega played a young Jane in The CW comedy-drama series Jane the Virgin, Harley Diaz in the Disney Channel series Stuck in the Middle, and Ellie Alves in the second season of the Netflix thriller series You. In terms of film, she starred in the teen drama film The Fallout and has been in the Scream slasher franchise since her role in 2022’s Scream. In 2022, she received nominations at the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards for her starring role as Wednesday Addams in the Netflix series Wednesday.
Rogue and the X-Men’s introduction in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be an impactful one, one that an actress like Jenna Ortega could thrive in. Rogue is known for having a longstanding rivalry with Carol Danvers, which is ignited when she steals the hero’s powers. With Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers already an established hero within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it seems almost inevitable that these two will come into contact and possible conflict at some point in the near future.
Jenna Ortega would be a great choice for Rogue, especially if Marvel chooses to introduce them as younger versions of their characters. This could be prudent, as it provides them space to build the backstory of the X-Men, build on specific character and narrative arcs that happen for the team, and enlist actors that can grow as the franchise grows.
As much as we all love Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, who will be reprising the role in Deadpool 3, it may be time for a new generation of actors to portray the X-Men as they are introduced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Alongside characters like Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel, and Xochitl Gomez’s America Chavez, who are all portrayed in their teenage years, introducing Jenna Ortega as Rogue could be an opportunity for Marvel to continue infusing youth and star power into their roster.
