Jenna Ortega doesn't want men's roles to be relegated
Another actress has expressed her displeasure with the way Hollywood writes female leads in modern movies. A few years ago, Emily Blunt spoke out How she threw away scripts that featured the words “strong female lead,” preferring more complex, challenging and entertaining roles. Now, rising star Jenna Ortega, who appears in the Tim Burton sequel this week, Beetlejuice BeetlejuiceIn an interview with MTV, she revealed that she is tired of Hollywood replacing traditionally male characters with female characters. This came after interviewer Josh Horowitz asked Ortega if she would like to star in Burton's sequel Edward Scissorhands has replaced Johnny Depp as himself in the lead role. (Overall, the interview is very interesting, especially some insight into Catherine O'Hara's first film Beetle JuiceBut sometimes it seems like these interviewers go out of their way to be annoying.) You can watch the clip below:
I don't have a great opinion about Jenna Ortega yet because I've only seen her in those movies Terrifying Modern Scream Sequels (and she was the best of the new actors, so I guess that's a point in her favor) and XBut I like what you have to say here. It's immediately disappointing when a movie takes a male protagonist and replaces him with a female protagonist. (I'd say “and vice versa,” but it never happens; for the record, I don't want John C. Reilly to play Black Widow.) And it's the same with race swapping or making a straight character gay; it's being done with a purpose, and then they tell you it's you who drives too much car. It seems like Jenna Ortega is specifically talking about movies in which the lead role is replaced with another female character, as Kathleen Kennedy was clearly trying to do with Indiana Jones and Phoebe Waller-Bridge's character, which, thankfully, will never happen because Indie send-off film Bombed so badly. This makes it even better because it's a mild example, rather than just saying Indy is now a girl, and that's also insulting. Ortega is making the point that it's also insulting to the actress, as if you're telling her she can't stand on her own in an original role.
Jenna Ortega gives the example of James Bond and a fictional “Jamie Bond,” which points to another point. If you want to make a female spy fantasy film, instead of making James Bond a girl, why not adapt something like Modesty Blaise? If you've never heard of this character, Modesty Blaise is a former criminal and freelance spy who appears in a long-running series of novels, short stories, and comics. A movie was made in 1966 (and a direct-to-video one in 2003), but otherwise, the character has remained on the page. She would be perfect for a fun series of spy movies to showcase a new movie star like Jenna Ortega (though Modesty Blaise should be British, but you know what I mean). The motivation they have for changing classic and beloved characters rather than introducing a new character in a new series suggests that the lofty theories they espouse are not their true motivations. They would prefer to discard the cultural symbols of the past and mold them into an acceptable modern-day image that is consistent with their traditions. critical drinker Rather than giving the people what they want, let's call it a “message.” And in this case, I believe one of the things people want is great new characters – at least new characters on the screen – that they can love like James Bond or Superman or Indiana Jones.
I'm glad that an emerging celebrity like Jenna Ortega is saying this. She's making a big name for herself right now; why should she get involved in a worker's attempt to reinvent a character that no one will approve of? This is something that could stall a rapidly rising career. She's smart to wait for better roles that she can use to win over audiences, as she did Wednesdaywhich is supposed to be a really good show. He's in it Beetlejuice BeetlejuiceBut she's not playing Betelgeuse or Lydia; she's a new character who isn't appearing in the movie, if the trailer is a good indication. It's like Emily Blunt doesn't want to be stuck in “strong female lead” roles. (I had read somewhere Blunt played her character The Fall Guy (Her role has been recast in a way that makes her seem more human, vulnerable, and likable, rather than an overbearing Nutcracker; we don't deserve that.) Maybe this is the beginning of actresses demanding better from Hollywood; in that case, we all win.
Let us know in the comments what you think of Jenna Ortega’s perspective on female roles!
