A new behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming Netflix series, Wednesday, pulls back the curtain on the Addams Family show and discusses why director Tim Burton is so perfect for the project. Released courtesy of IGN, the sneak peek reveals snippets of footage from the series, which is described as "an extended Tim Burton movie." A description that should come as beautifully gothic organ music to the ears of Addams Family fans.
"This show is not a TV series, this is an extended Tim Burton movie,” Wednesday showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar state. Set to debut on Netflix, Wednesday will be a coming-of-age supernatural mystery comedy focusing on Wednesday Addams and her years as a high school student at Nevermore Academy, where she attempts to master her psychic powers, stop a monstrous killing spree of the town citizens, and solve the supernatural mystery that affected her family 25 years ago—all while navigating her new relationships.
Iconic gothic director Tim Burton is also on hand, with the filmmaker behind such delights as Beetlejuice, Batman Returns, Edward Scissorhands, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street on board as both a director and executive producer. Burton will direct several of the eight episodes in Wednesday’s first season and opinion is unanimous that Tim Burton is the perfect filmmaker to craft a tale centered on Wednesday Addams, with Burton himself explaining why he is so drawn to The Addams Family.
"The Addams Family is very symbolic of how I feel about families… I think all families are strange," Burton says in the footage before adding, “I particularly love Wednesday because she shares my worldview on things, and that was fun to explore.”
Jenna Ortega Leads Wednesday Alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia & Luis Guzmán as Gomez
Wednesday will be led by Scream and X star Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams, with the series exploring her teenage years and how she adapts to high school. The series has amassed a stellar cast alongside Ortega, with Wednesday set to star Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams, Luis Guzmán as Gomez Addams, Isaac Ordonez as Pugsley Addams, George Burcea as Lurch, and Victor Dorobantu as Thing. The likes of Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Georgie Farmer, Hunter Doohan, Georgie Farmer, Moosa Mostafa, Gwendoline Christie, and Christina Ricci make up the rest of the supporting cast.
The casting of Addams Family member Uncle Fester had been closely guarded until recently when it was finally revealed that Saturday Night Live alumni Fred Armisen will sport the bald head and pale skin of the beloved character. Armisen has since discussed his role in Wednesday, describing Uncle Fester as "someone on the run, but he has a strong link to the family and to Wednesday.” It certainly sounds like Fester will play a crucial part throughout the show, with the comedian adding, "They have a really good time together, and they help each other. It’s a real family thing, but they’re friends as well.”
Wednesday is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on November 23, 2022.