Jenna Ortega beyond Wandinha: upcoming projects and transformations of the star. At just 22, Jenna Ortega has transcended the boundaries of a typical teen star. Catapulted into global fame by her hauntingly magnetic performance as Wednesday Addams in Netflix’s Wednesday, Ortega is now one of the most closely watched young actors in Hollywood.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: A Big-Screen Return to Gothic Fantasy
The most buzzed-about project in Ortega’s slate is undoubtedly Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024), the long-awaited sequel to Tim Burton’s cult 1988 classic. Ortega will play Astrid Deetz, the daughter of Winona Ryder’s Lydia, reuniting the twisted Deetz family in a new chapter filled with ghoulish mischief and macabre humor.
This casting isn’t just a gimmick. Ortega’s chemistry with Burton was a cornerstone of Wednesday‘s success, and bringing her into the Burton-verse proper seems almost predestined. Her ability to command dark, emotionally layered roles makes her the ideal heir to the surreal legacy of Beetlejuice.
Could This Be the Role That Defines Her Cinematic Era?
If Wednesday made her an icon of streaming, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice may turn her into a big-screen star in the truest sense.
A Scream Queen No More? Ortega Steps Away From the Franchise That Reignited Her Career
One of the most controversial headlines surrounding Ortega in recent months was her exit from Scream VII, despite playing a central role in revitalizing the horror franchise.
So why walk away? The official story is scheduling conflicts with the second season of Wednesday, but Hollywood insiders point to a deeper motivation: Ortega is ready to diversify. Staying locked into horror could limit her evolution as a performer—and she knows it.
Is This the End of Her Horror Era?
Not necessarily. Ortega has always had a strong affinity for horror—something she once described in an interview with Dread Central as “the most honest genre, where actors can’t fake it.” But her departure from Scream signals a pivot, not a farewell. She’s not running from horror—she’s choosing to elevate beyond it.
Death of a Unicorn – A24’s Surreal Allegory
In this upcoming A24 dark comedy, Ortega stars opposite Paul Rudd in a film that promises absurdist satire and biting environmental commentary. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film’s storyline involves a unicorn accidentally killed by a father-daughter duo, unleashing chaos in a corporate wellness retreat.
Winter Spring Summer or Fall – Indie Romance Gets a Gen Z Twist
Ortega is also starring in and executive producing Winter Spring Summer or Fall, a seasonal coming-of-age romance co-starring Percy Hynes White (also from Wednesday). The film follows two high school seniors falling in love over four seasons, tapping into emotional nuance and narrative minimalism, à la Before Sunrise.
By taking on producer duties, Ortega is exerting more creative control over her brand—pushing herself beyond the screen and into the storytelling process itself.
Reinvention in Progress: How Jenna Ortega Is Reshaping Her Public Persona
Hollywood has a long history of locking young stars into a single archetype—especially when their breakout role becomes a cultural phenomenon. Ortega is aware of that trap and is moving swiftly to avoid it.
Her decisions following the show reflect deliberate range: playing a comedy lead in a surrealist A24 film, producing a romantic drama, and leaving behind the slasher franchise that made her a Gen Z scream queen. This is not a rebrand—it’s an evolution.
Rather than riding the wave of Wednesday indefinitely, Ortega is taking the agency to craft her next era. Her management team has reportedly turned down multiple scripts that “lean too closely into Wednesday-esque aesthetics,” according to a report by Deadline.
Is Ortega the Future of the “Multi-Hyphenate” Hollywood Star?
Actress, producer, and perhaps soon director—Ortega is actively building a portfolio that mirrors the path of stars like Greta Gerwig or Margot Robbie, who transitioned from leading roles into behind-the-scenes powerhouses.
Her role as an executive producer in Winter Spring Summer or Fall marks her first official step into production, but it likely won’t be her last.
Style, Symbolism, and the Shift in Ortega’s Image
Her fashion has evolved from heavily gothic tones into something far more genre-fluid and avant-garde.
Styled by Enrique Melendez, Ortega has made waves with appearances at events like the Met Gala, where she opted for designs that blend modern femininity with edgy theatricality—reminiscent of icons like Helena Bonham Carter but with the fresh lens of Gen Z influence.
Social Media as a Mirror of Her Shift
Her digital presence reflects this duality. While Jenna has scaled back from oversharing, she still uses platforms like Instagram and TikTok to engage directly with fans—but now through a more curated lens. Fewer memes, more behind-the-scenes snippets. Less trend-chasing, more intentionality.
What Makes Her Journey So Unique?
Unlike many child stars-turned-Hollywood-hopefuls, Ortega’s rise feels grounded and intentional. She’s not following fame—she’s navigating legacy. Every move she makes seems to say: I know the narrative you’re writing about me, and I’m already two chapters ahead.
New Challenges on the Horizon: Breaking Genre Expectations
Following the monumental success of Wednesday, Ortega is returning to collaborate with Tim Burton for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice—a sequel to the 1988 cult classic. But this time, she’s not a gothic caricature in a high school setting; she’s playing Astrid, the daughter of Lydia Deetz, Winona Ryder’s character from the original.
This role demands a delicate balance between homage and originality. And judging by the film’s early press coverage, Ortega is handling that expectation with skill and nuance.
The Romantic Side of Ortega: Winter Spring Summer or Fall
In a shift from supernatural thrillers, Ortega stars alongside Percy Hynes White in the upcoming romantic drama Winter Spring Summer or Fall. The story follows two teens who meet over the course of four seasons and explore their connection during different life stages. It’s intimate, slow-burning, and very different from her previous roles.
What makes this project particularly meaningful is that Ortega is also an executive producer. She was involved in casting decisions and reportedly helped refine the script’s emotional tone. This kind of creative influence at her age is rare—even more so for women of color in Hollywood.
Real-World Influence: Cultural and Social Impact
Ortega is among a new wave of Latina actresses carving space in Hollywood without being typecast by ethnicity. She’s Mexican and Puerto Rican by heritage but refuses to be pigeonholed into stereotypical roles or used as token diversity.
Instead, Ortega speaks about her background candidly in interviews, like this conversation with Elle, but lets her work show her depth, rather than relying on identity alone.
That duality—being proudly Latina without letting it define her entire persona—is part of what resonates so strongly with younger audiences navigating their own layered identities.
Advocacy Without Spectacle
Ortega has also become an emerging voice on mental health and social justice. She’s spoken openly about anxiety, the pressures of child stardom, and the responsibility she feels toward young fans. However, she does this with a level of groundedness that avoids the “celebrity virtue-signaling” trap.
She’s walked in rallies, supported campaigns for marginalized communities, and used her influence to amplify important issues—but without turning her activism into a branding exercise.
As she matures, this side of Ortega may become even more central to her public identity, much like stars such as Natalie Portman or Emma Watson, who transitioned from actors to cultural figures.
