Jenna Ortega's Next Chapter

TL;DR. Jenna Ortega just landed on Esquire's 2026 Mavericks of Hollywood list, and the accompanying interview gave a real look at what's coming next for her, Wednesday Season 3, currently filming, and The Great Beyond, J.J. Abrams' new sci-fi film costarring Glen Powell, due out November 13, 2026. Here's what's actually confirmed about both, and why I think this is a genuinely interesting stretch of her career to watch unfold.

What did Jenna Ortega actually say in the new interview?

Esquire featured Ortega as part of its September "Mavericks of Hollywood" issue, and the interview happened over Zoom while she was on set filming Wednesday's third season. She spoke about the show's evolving tone now that the kids at Nevermore are seniors, saying the season deals with "more confrontational feelings regarding family and what it means to be an adult." That's a genuinely different emotional register than the first two seasons, which leaned harder into mystery and Wednesday's outsider dynamic with the school around her.

What can we actually expect from Wednesday Season 3?

Not a huge amount of plot detail yet, since the season is still filming, but the framing Ortega gave is worth paying attention to. The characters aging into their final year at Nevermore naturally shifts the show's stakes toward questions about identity and what comes after school ends, rather than just another mystery of the week. Ortega also touched on how she relates to her own character, saying she and Wednesday "mesh pretty well" at this point, which tracks given how many years she's now spent inside this specific character.

What is The Great Beyond, and what's Ortega's role in it?

The Great Beyond is a new J.J. Abrams sci-fi film, currently scheduled for release on November 13, 2026 through Warner Bros. Glen Powell stars alongside Ortega, with Emma Mackey and reportedly Samuel L. Jackson also part of the cast. Ortega described her character as "a lost young person in a new city," and specifically praised Abrams for how intentional he is as a director, saying "he's very intentional with everything." Details on the plot are still fairly guarded, which tracks with how Abrams has historically handled his projects before release.

Why does this particular stretch of her career feel like a real turning point?

Because it's the first time she's genuinely straddling two very different registers at once. Wednesday has defined her career so far, and she clearly still has real affection for the character, but The Great Beyond is a completely separate creative lane, an original sci-fi concept with a director known for tightly controlled mystery box storytelling, not an established IP. My honest take is that this combination, closing out a defining role while simultaneously stepping into something built entirely from scratch, is exactly the kind of pairing that tends to define whether a young actor's career has real range beyond the role that made them famous.

Is there a release date for Wednesday Season 3 yet?

Not a confirmed one as of this interview, since the season is still in production. Given the show's previous release patterns, expect more concrete scheduling details once filming wraps and Netflix moves into its marketing cycle for the season.

Frequently asked questions

When does The Great Beyond come out? November 13, 2026, in the United States, through Warner Bros. Pictures.

Who stars in The Great Beyond alongside Jenna Ortega? Glen Powell leads, with Emma Mackey also confirmed and Samuel L. Jackson reportedly in talks or cast.

Is Wednesday Season 3 currently filming? Yes, as of this Esquire interview, production was actively underway.

What did Jenna Ortega say about Wednesday Season 3's tone? She described it as dealing with more confrontational feelings around family and adulthood, given the characters are now seniors at Nevermore.

Want something to watch while you wait for both of these?

Our series recommendation quiz and movie recommendation quiz can help you find something in the meantime, whether you're after more Wednesday-style mystery or something completely different.