'Wednesday' actor Jenna Ortega prepares to direct long-awaited Film

Jenna Ortega, the celebrated star of the hit series "Wednesday," has revealed her aspirations to step behind the camera and embark on a directing career. In a recent interview, the young actress shared her long-held ambition to helm a project, disclosing that she has been diligently working on a script she conceived nearly a decade ago. Ortega expressed that she believes the current moment in her career provides the opportune time to bring this deeply personal project to fruition.
Speaking with V Magazine, Ortega elaborated on the script's lengthy development, stating, "I have a script that I’ve known that I was going to make for almost 10 years. It’s weird because it’s something that I thought of when I was younger and when I first started out in this field, and it’s only now that I’m actually starting to take the steps to get it made, which is really interesting." She further explained her patient approach to the project, adding, "I’m just putting the puzzle pieces together in my head. So I think I needed a few years of that under my belt to understand the order of doing things."
Ortega's vision for this particular script extends beyond merely starring in it. She emphasized her strong desire to take on the directorial role, stating, "This one in particular, I see myself in it, but I really want to direct. That’s probably the main thing that I want to do. I see that for myself. I just feel that’s the way my brain wants to work and think, and that’s how I even view my acting sometimes." This perspective suggests that Ortega's approach to acting is already imbued with a director's analytical and creative mindset.

While Ortega has yet to make her directorial debut, she has already gained experience in a leadership capacity on set, having been credited as an executive producer on projects such as "Death of a Unicorn" and the highly anticipated upcoming season of "Wednesday." Furthermore, she is set to star in and executive produce the thriller "Hurry Up Tomorrow," directed and written by Edward Shults, where she will share the screen with notable artists like The Weeknd and Barry Keoghan. These experiences behind the scenes are likely providing her with valuable insights into the complexities of film production and the multifaceted role of a director.
Looking ahead to her future creative endeavors, Ortega articulated her long-term vision, stating, "I don’t want to be in the things that I create in the future, but starting out, because I’ve created more leverage for myself with a name as an actor, I may as well use that as a stepping stone." This strategic approach indicates her understanding of the industry dynamics and her willingness to leverage her current platform as a well-known actress to facilitate her transition into directing. Ortega's decade-long dedication to this specific script and her clear directorial aspirations signal a significant and exciting potential new chapter in her burgeoning career, one that could see her contribute to the film industry in a more comprehensive and visionary capacity.