Jenna Ortega is an advocate for celebrating and elevating the stories of women. In an interview with MTV, the Beetlejuice 2 actress expressed her strong desire for women to lead their own franchises rather than leading spinoffs.
Jenna Ortega Prefers Seeing Original Female-Led Franchises
Jenna Ortega. Image Credit: Warner bros. Pictures
In the dynamic landscape of Hollywood, Jenna Ortega has emerged as a strong voice advocating for original female-led franchises, rather than spinoffs that merely reimagine existing male characters with a gender swap.
During a promotional interview with MTV for her latest project, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Ortega was posed with a question about the possibility of reprising the role of Edith Scissorhands, a gender-flipped version of Tim Burton’s iconic character, Edward Scissorhands. Her response highlighted a growing sentiment in the industry: the need for fresh, original narratives that center around female protagonists.
Ortega expressed her admiration for the increasing presence of female leads in films, describing it as “special.” However, she emphasized that women deserve their own stories, rather than being cast in roles that were originally created for male characters.
“I love that there’s a lot more female leads nowadays, I think that’s so special. But we should have our own,” Ortega said. “I don’t like it when it’s like a spinoff — I don’t want to see like ‘Jamie Bond.’ You know? I want to see another badass.”
This viewpoint echoes sentiments shared by Barbara Broccoli, the longtime producer of the James Bond franchise. Broccoli has been adamant that James Bond will remain a male character, aligning with Ortega’s belief that women should not simply take over roles created for men.
“I don’t think there are enough great roles for women, and it’s very important to me that we make movies for women about women,” she said in a Hollywood Reporter interview from 2021.
“I think [the next James Bond] will be a man because I don’t think a woman should play James Bond,” Broccoli told The Hollywood Reporter. “I believe in making characters for women and not just having women play men’s roles. I don’t think there are enough great roles for women, and it’s very important to me that we make movies for women about women. He should be British, so British can be any [ethnicity or race].”
This perspective underlines a broader industry need for more substantial and original roles for women, rather than relying on reimagining male-dominated franchises.
Female Characters Should Be Celebrated in Their Own Right
Jenna Ortega. Image Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Ana de Armas, who starred alongside Daniel Craig in No Time to Die, also shares this perspective. She has voiced her opinion that there is “no need for a female Bond,” reinforcing the idea that female characters should be celebrated in their own right, without the need to borrow from established male characters. De Armas emphasized the importance of developing female roles within the Bond universe that are more significant and nuanced, rather than simply changing the gender of the lead character.
“There shouldn’t be any need to steal someone else’s character, you know, to take over. This is a novel, and it leads into this James Bond world and this fantasy of that universe where he’s at,” she told The Sun.
“What I would like is that the female roles in the Bond films, even though Bond will continue to be a man, are brought to life in a different way,” de Armas added. “That they’re given a more substantial part and recognition. That’s what I think is more interesting than flipping things.”
Ortega’s comments during the interview also touched on the unique qualities of certain iconic characters. When asked about the potential of continuing the story of Edward Scissorhands, she noted the delicate nature of such a character. According to Ortega, “The sensitivity of Edward’s character makes his story different from others.” In contrast, Beetlejuice, another of Burton’s creations, is seen by Ortega as a character who can be more easily adapted or expanded upon, given his timeless and eccentric nature.
Ortega’s advocacy for original female-led franchises rather than gender-swapped versions of male roles reflects a broader cultural shift in Hollywood. As audiences continue to demand more diverse and authentic representations on screen, the call for original female characters is growing louder. By championing new stories and characters, rather than simply reimagining old ones, Ortega and others in the industry are helping to pave the way for a more inclusive and innovative future in film.
