Jessica Medina has built a career that most performers can only dream of. After performing stunts and acting in over 130 productions, she has fought John Cena, doubled superhero Cyclone (Maxine Hunkel) in the Dwayne Johnson film “Black Adam,” improvised a Spanish song that James Gunn kept in “The Suicide Squad,” and most recently threw down in a fight scene with Liam Neeson in “The Naked Gun.” Now, Medina says her focus is on producing — using her experience across stunts, acting, and coordination to shape meaningful projects from behind the camera.
From “The Suicide Squad” to “Black Adam”
Medina’s time on “The Suicide Squad” put her directly under the direction of James Gunn, the filmmaker behind “Guardians of the Galaxy” and the 2025 summer hit “Superman.” What started as a routine rehearsal became an expanded role when Gunn overheard Medina singing. “The director heard me and said, ‘What are you doing, Jess? Can you speak and sing?’” she recalled. “So in the movie, I just improvised a whole song in Spanish, and they left it. Six months later the composer called me because he thought it was from a real artist. But it was just me improvising in the moment.”
That moment turned Medina into a memorable presence in the film. “It was such a big movie, with Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, and John Cena all around, but James Gunn still gave me space to bring myself into it. That’s something I’ll never forget.”
Her scene opposite Cena also stands out. “It was so cool to finally meet him in person. He was so polite, so nice, and actually very funny,” she said.
In “Black Adam,” Medina doubled for Cyclone on one of DC’s most expensive productions. The level of secrecy was extreme: “I had to be covered just to walk to the restroom so fans couldn’t see the costume,” she said. But what audiences didn’t see was the toll on her body. “I did a hero landing and tore my hip bone. That was my first day. I was insured, of course, because those landings are very dangerous, but the intensity is real. You put your entire body on the line.”
Despite the injury, Medina’s passion kept her pushing through. “That shot made it into the movie. And honestly, even with the pain, I was grateful. You don’t get called to do stunts like that unless they trust you completely.”
Marvel, Liam Neeson and Mentors Like Forest Whitaker Who Inspire
GettyWorking in the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduced Medina to the fanbase that comes with it. On “WandaVision,” she appeared alongside Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany. “That’s when I got all my followers. Marvel fans are loyal. They even made blogs about me,” she said.
Most recently, Medina leaned into comedy on “The Naked Gun,” trading blows with Liam Neeson. “When I got the call, I couldn’t believe it — the Taken guy. I was so excited,” she said. “I almost broke a finger doing the fight scene, but it was amazing.”
But one of her most powerful stories comes from her early days, working with Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker. Medina met him on only her second project, the thriller “Vipaka.” “Imagine being new, and suddenly your scene is with Forest Whitaker. Inside I was dying. He told me, ‘Hey kid, just breathe, and let’s go and do it.’ Afterward, he said, ‘I think you’re very talented. Move to California and really pursue this career.’”
That advice changed her life. “I followed it. I moved to LA. And 133 movies later, I still see him as a mentor. He checks in, inspires me, and reminds me to keep going. Having someone like Forest Whitaker believe in you early on — that stays with you forever.”
A Latina Voice Focused on Producing
Now Medina is turning her attention to producing. Having acted, performed stunts, and coordinated second-unit shoots, she is drawing on every skill. “When you’ve been a stuntwoman, actor, and director, you know what each piece of the puzzle requires. Producing is a recipe that uses all of it,” she explained.
For Medina, producing also means opening doors. “I definitely want to create stories that people can relate to. I want to bring people that maybe don’t get a lot of opportunities. For me as a woman, a woman of color, Latina, I want to bring more of our kind and give opportunities to females. We can be as good as the guys are.”
One of her current projects tackles human trafficking, which she calls urgent and deeply personal. “As a Latina, I think it’s important to put a real message out there. Not just entertainment — but something meaningful,” she said.
Jessica Medina has already proven herself alongside stars like Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Dwayne Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Liam Neeson, and Forest Whitaker. Her next chapter may not involve falling through the air or risking injury for the perfect stunt, but it carries the same intensity. This time, she’s putting that passion into producing the stories that matter.
