Trading Nevermore for the Balance Beam
Jenna Ortega is stepping off the gothic set of “Wednesday” and onto the Olympic stage. The actress will lead the upcoming sports drama “Nasty” opposite Oscar nominee Rose Byrne.
The film shifts away from Ortega’s supernatural wheelhouse to focus on the grueling, high-stakes reality of elite athletics. According to Deadline, the plot centers on a fiercely talented gymnast aiming to secure a spot on the Olympic team. Her most daunting obstacle isn’t the physical toll of the sport, but a toxic rivalry with her own coach.
A Heavyweight Hollywood Production
The project boasts serious industry pedigree both in front of and behind the camera. Isabella Jarosz penned the screenplay, which previously earned a coveted spot on the Blacklist—a compilation of Hollywood’s top unproduced scripts.
“Nasty” will be directed by Mary Bronstein. This marks a reunion for Bronstein and Byrne, who previously collaborated on “If I Had Legs I’d Kick Kick You,” a film that landed Byrne her first Academy Award nomination.
Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley are backing the project through their powerhouse production company, LuckyChap. Ortega is expanding her footprint in the industry by signing on as one of the film’s producers.
“If You Don’t Hate It, You Don’t Love It”
Ortega confirmed the news directly to her fans on Instagram, sharing a visceral teaser poster marred by bloodstains and athletic bandages.
“If you don’t hate it, you don’t love it,” Ortega wrote in the caption. “NASTY. Starring Jenna Ortega & Rose Byrne. Directed by Mary Bronstein. Written by Isabella Jarosz. In theaters 2027. Art by Mary Bronstein.”
An Unrelenting Schedule
The gymnastics thriller is just one piece of Ortega’s rapidly expanding resume, solidifying her status as one of Hollywood’s most in-demand stars. Over the last year alone, she wrapped the second season of “Wednesday” and appeared in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” “Death of a Unicorn,” and “Hurry Up Tomorrow.”
She is currently set to star in Taika Waititi’s “Klara and the Sun,” adapted from Kazuo Ishiguro’s acclaimed novel. Following that, she will share the screen with Glen Powell and Samuel L. Jackson in JJ Abrams’ “The Great Beyond.”
Rumors are also swirling that Ortega will star opposite Taylor Russell in a remake of the classic thriller “Single White Female,” tracking a woman whose new roommate slowly transforms into a terrifying stalker.
“Wednesday” Heads to Paris
As for the smash-hit series that launched her into global superstardom, a third season of “Wednesday” is eyeing a late 2027 or early 2028 release date on Netflix.
The upcoming season will reportedly relocate the story to Paris. The cast is expanding alongside the scenery, bringing in massive talent including Eva Green, Lena Headey, and Ortega’s “Beetlejuice” co-star, Winona Ryder.
