Photo: Courtesy of Netflix
Everyone’s favorite sadistic little sis is getting her own TV series. Heading to Netflix soon is Wednesday, a new live-action show all about Wednesday Addams of the Addams Family, from the deliciously twisted mind of Tim Burton.
The fictional Addams Family — who started out in cartoon form back in 1938 — are most known today for their appearances off the page, particularly in the ‘60s television series, the iconic ’90s feature films starring Anjelica Huston (who played Morticia Addams), Raul Juila (Gomez), Christopher Lloyd (Uncle Fester), Jimmy Workman (Pugsley), and Yellowjackets star Christina Ricci in her iconic portrayal of Wednesday, and the 2019 animated film, in which Wednesday is voiced by Chloë Grace Moretz.
Below, we’ve gathered a complete guide to everything we know so far about Wednesday, including the show’s release date, plot details, cast info, the trailer, and more.
What will Wednesday be about?
Luis Guzmán as Gomez Addams, Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams in Wednesday. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix
Wednesday has been called a unique mix of fantasy-horror-mystery-comedy – but has been described first and foremost as a coming-of-age series. The eight-episode first season follows Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy. According to the official synopsis released by Netflix, the show will chart “Wednesday’s attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore.”
Who is in the cast of Wednesday?
Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams. Photo: Courtesy of Netlfix
Jenna Ortega was cast in the show’s titular role back in May 2021. She posted a photo of herself on Instagram holding the pilot’s script, with the caption: “New chapter. Hope I can do Wednesday Addams justice. *snaps twice*.”
A little over a year later, Netflix has finally released a first look at Jenna’s transformation into the character — and she’s terrifyingly unrecognizable as Wednesday Addams. In new photos released by Netflix, Jenna can be seen wearing Wednesday’s signature white-collared, long-sleeve black dress, her long braided pigtails, her strikingly pale complexion, and her apathetically gaunt expression. Jenna’s metamorphosis into the character is so perfect, it’s almost scary. Well, I guess that’s the point, right?
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Chicago star Catherine Zeta-Jones has been cast in Wednesday as Addams Family matriarch Morticia Addams, and Narcos actor Luis Guzmán as Gomez Addams. Isaac Ordonez plays Wednesday’s little brother Pugsley.
Also joining the cast are Thora Birch, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Georgie Farmer, Moosa Mostafa, Emma Myers, Naomi J. Ogawa, Joy Sunday, Percy Hynes White, Gwendoline Christie, and Christina Ricci herself in an undisclosed role that Deadline reports is a “new character not an older version of Wednesday.”
Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams, Issac Ordonez as Pugsley Addams in Wednesday. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix
Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams, Luis Guzmán as Gomez Addams in Wednesday. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix
Is there a trailer for Wednesday?
On Wednesday, August 17, Netflix released the official full-length trailer for Wednesday, and Jenna’s transformation into Wednesday is jaw-dropping.
The two-minute trailer starts off with Wednesday Addams’ dark silhouette parting its way through a bright, cheery, high school hallway. “Ms. Addams, you’ve certainly had a very interesting educational journey,” a woman says via voiceover. “Eight schools in five years.” Soon, it’s revealed exactly why Wednesday can’t seem to stay at one school for long — against ominous music, we see our pigtailed antiheroine unleash two large bagfuls of piranhas into the school pool to attack a water polo team full of bullying jocks.
“I did the world a favor,” says Wednesday. “People like Dalton shouldn’t be allowed to procreate. Getting expelled was just a bonus.” Wednesday’s most recent expulsion sets the series’ plot in motion, as she’s sent to the chilling Nevermore Academy, the school where her parents first met.
“You are going to love Nevermore,” says Gomez, Wednesday’s father as they pull through the iron gates of the school. “It’s a magical place.”
“Finally you will be among peers who understand you. Maybe you’ll even make some friends,” adds Morticia, Wednesday’s mom. Then in a montage of quick clips, we see gothic school uniforms, explosions, spiders, cemeteries, spooky forests, blood, and a school dance.
“Little did I know I was stepping into a nightmare full of mystery, mayhem and murder,” Wednesday says with a smirk. “I think I’m going to love it here.” The trailer ends with Wednesday snapping the iconic Addams Family double-snap from the family’s theme music.
When is Wednesday coming out on Netflix?
Our spookiest wishes are being granted — Wednesday will arrive on Netflix later this year, in fall 2022, as stated in the show’s trailer. There is not yet an exact, confirmed release date for Wednesday‘s premiere, but horror filmmaker Rob Zombie also revealed that the show would air this fall in a recent post shared to Instagram. Rob is the writer, director, and producer of The Munsters, Netflix’s upcoming film reboot of the ’60s sitcom that followed the ordinary lives of a family of monsters.
“This fall we are gonna spook-out like it’s 1964! Yep, THE MUNSTERS and THE ADDAMS FAMILY are returning to the boob tube at the same time courtesy of @netflix,” wrote Rob on Instagram. “It’s been 58 years since this clash of the titans first happened. Perfect entertainment for your pumpkin carving party… Wacky monster fans unite!”
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The news means that Wednesday will probably drop sometime around The Munsters‘ release, which is currently slated for September 2022. Eep!
Originally published in Teenvogue.com
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