Jenna Ortega is stepping into heavyweight territory, the 22-year-old Wednesday and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice star has officially signed on to star opposite Robert De Niro in David Russell’s new film, Shutout, and this one’s shaping up to be a gritty, high-stakes drama with serious Oscar energy.
The movie follows Jake Kejeune, a battle-hardened pool-hall hustler played by De Niro, as he mentors Mia, a naturally gifted newcomer played by Ortega. As Mia sharpens her skills and starts racking up wins, the dynamic between them shifts. Jake begins to question whether he’s guiding her to greatness, or if she’s outgrowing everything he’s taught her. Think The Hustler meets Whiplash, with a modern twist.
Jeff Kirschenbaum of RK Films, the studio backing the project, couldn’t be more hyped. “It’s a rare and thrilling opportunity to support such a high-caliber team coming together to tell a compelling story,” he said in a statement. “A line-up so precise, it feels like the perfect break.” Yep, they’re leaning into the pool metaphors already.
The script comes from Alejandro Adams, and the film will be directed by David O. Russell, known for Silver Linings Playbook, The Fighter, and American Hustle. That alone puts Shutout on a lot of people’s must-watch radar, and with Joe Roth, Mark Bomback, and Jeff Kirschenbaum producing, this isn’t just a quirky indie. It’s a prestige drama with some serious bite.
For Jenna Ortega, Shutout another bold move in a career that’s already on overdrive. After Scream, Wednesday, and her turn in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, she’s quickly proven she can hold her own with Hollywood legends, and this film will be her first major screen time opposite De Niro.
Ortega has admitted that the whole fame machine still feels surreal sometimes. “It’s definitely an adjustment,” she told MTV, reflecting on her rapid rise. While filming Beetlejuice, she leaned on co-star Winona Ryder for advice about staying grounded through it all. “It was just so nice to speak to someone who actually understood me,” Ortega said. “You can turn to your family who loves and supports you, but they don’t know. You know?”
Ryder, for her part, has been open about how much she sees herself in Jenna. “I felt like I was seeing a younger version of myself, only she’s 100 times cooler,” she told The Sun. “I loved what Jenna brought so much. She just blows me away.”
With that kind of support behind her and a role opposite De Niro in a David O. Russell film, Ortega isn’t just riding the wave, she’s building a legacy. And if Shutout delivers what it promises, it might just be the performance that takes her to the next level.
No release date has been announced yet, but production is expected to begin later this year in the U.S.
