WYHS Quick Sack

Jen Underdahl is the Vice President of Visual Effects and Stereo at Marvel Studios. Born in Pullman, Washington, she spent part of her childhood in Portland and Okinawa before her family settled in Seattle, where she developed a passion for visually rich films and participated in sports such as basketball, volleyball, and rowing throughout high school and into her time at UCLA.

Her career began outside the film industry—after college, she spent five years teaching English. In her early thirties, Underdahl redirected her path toward creative craftsmanship, initially working as a miniature builder on commercials and films such as The Day After Tomorrow. She then transitioned into digital visual effects at Digital Domain, contributing to projects such as Bedtime Stories and Stealth, where she learned both practical effects fabrication and the digital pipeline, working under the guidance of figures like Michael Owens and the Wachowskis.

Underdahl joined Marvel Studios alongside visual effects supervisor Christopher Townsend and producer Mark Soper, taking the role of Visual Effects Production Manager for Captain America: The First Avenger. She steadily rose through the ranks, holding titles such as visual effects executive on The Avengers and visual effects producer on Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. She also held producer credits on Infinity War and Endgame and appeared in the Assembled behind-the-scenes documentary series.

Her work has garnered critical acclaim, including a nomination from the Visual Effects Society—alongside her team—for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature for Endgame.