Jenna Ortega has survived masked killers, supernatural mysteries, and the peculiar social nightmare of sharing a dormitory with Wednesday Addams. Her résumé stretches from Jane the Virgin and You to Scream, X, and Netflix's gothic juggernaut Wednesday.

Apparently, the next item on her Hollywood checklist involves more stretching. Ortega is training for Nasty, a gymnastics drama that has left her dreaming of full-blown action stardom. And because modest ambitions are clearly overrated, she has begun measuring her athletic prowess against Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Cruise.

The resulting comparison could send Mission: Impossible's stunt department straight into a nervous sweat.

On the latest episode of Happy Sad Confused, Jenna Ortega revealed she's been deep in training for Nasty, her upcoming action film, and she is not shy about where she sees herself in the action-star hierarchy.

"I think it's me and Tom going neck and neck," Ortega said, placing herself alongside Tom Cruise as the only two performers currently operating at that athletic level.

Ortega explained on Happy Sad Confused that she has been actively trying to break into action movies, with the Nasty training regimen demanding significant physical growth and commitment. She has been making the process enjoyable by studying the greats, citing Arnold Schwarzenegger as a particular influence and admitting she still needs to watch Pumping Iron before shooting begins.

Her comparison to Cruise is bold given his reputation for performing his own stunts, but it signals how seriously Ortega is taking this career pivot. Coming off Wednesday and a string of horror roles, Nasty represents her most physically demanding project yet, and her confidence suggests she is ready to prove she belongs in the action conversation.

Jenna Ortega Reveals She Went All Day Without Food or Water as a Child Star

Her training, however, belongs to a real production with a decidedly intense premise.

Despite Jenna Ortega's action-star jokes, Nasty is officially a sports drama, with gymnastics providing the physical challenge. The stakes revolve around a young athlete chasing a place on the Olympic team while confronting an intimidating obstacle: her coach.

Rose Byrne will star alongside Ortega. Margot Robbie is involved through her production company LuckyChap, which is producing the film with Ortega, but Robbie has not been announced as a cast member. The difference matters, especially when Hollywood casting rumors spread faster than a speedster through the multiverse.  

Mary Bronstein directs from Isabella Jarosz's screenplay, which appeared on the 2024 Black List of admired unproduced scripts. Bronstein previously directed Byrne in If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, earning the actress an Oscar nomination. Filming is scheduled for autumn 2026, and an official release date remains unannounced.

That leaves Ortega with more time to master her routines, finish her Schwarzenegger marathon, and perhaps finally meet Ethan Hunt on screen.

Jenna Ortega Had Some Tiny Teachers to Thank for Her Clumsy Antics in ‘Klara and the Sun'

Could Jenna Ortega become Hollywood's next action powerhouse? Let us know in the comments.