The Series
Wednesday
Wednesday is a genre-blending series that mixes dark comedy, mystery, fantasy, and a touch of horror. Based on the beloved character created by Charles Addams, the show was developed by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar and brought to life with a distinctive visual style by executive producer and director Tim Burton.
Starring Jenna Ortega in the title role, the cast also features standout performances from Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Percy Hynes White, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Georgie Farmer, Naomi J. Ogawa, Christina Ricci, and Moosa Mostafa.
Season one consists of eight episodes, with four directed by Tim Burton himself. The story follows Wednesday Addams as she enrolls at Nevermore Academy—a mysterious school for outcasts with supernatural abilities—and finds herself at the center of a chilling murder mystery.
Visually striking and narratively rich, Wednesday infuses the Addams Family legacy with fresh energy. Burton, long associated with gothic storytelling, finally stepped into the Addams world after years of interest, having once been considered to direct earlier adaptations. His involvement brings a unique blend of whimsy and darkness to the series.
Jenna Ortega’s portrayal of Wednesday offers a sharp, modern twist on the iconic character—balancing deadpan wit, emotional depth, and fierce independence. Her casting also reflects a thoughtful evolution of the character, highlighting a more inclusive and layered representation. In a meaningful connection to the franchise’s legacy, Christina Ricci—who famously portrayed Wednesday in the 1990s films—returns in a new, pivotal role crafted by Burton.
Filmed in Romania between September 2021 and March 2022, the series premiered globally on Netflix on November 23, 2022. It received widespread acclaim from both audiences and critics, with particular praise for Ortega’s performance and the series’ inventive tone.
Wednesday earned Golden Globe nominations for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress for Jenna Ortega. It was also nominated for multiple Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actress.
In January 2023, Netflix officially renewed Wednesday for a second season.
Production
The making of Wednesday is a story of artistic timing, creative persistence, and the long-awaited arrival of Tim Burton into the world of the Addams Family.
Burton was originally considered to direct The Addams Family film in 1991, but scheduling conflicts with Batman and Batman Returns led him to step away, and the project went to Barry Sonnenfeld instead.
Years later, in March 2010, Illumination Entertainment acquired the rights to Charles Addams’ original drawings and began developing a stop-motion animated feature. Tim Burton was attached to co-write, co-produce, and potentially direct. However, in July 2013, the film was officially canceled—primarily due to the studio's preference for computer animation over stop-motion, which conflicted with Burton’s signature style.
It wasn’t until 2019 that a new opportunity emerged. Showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar began developing Wednesday, a character-driven series centered on Wednesday Addams. After securing the rights, they wrote a pilot script and sent it to Burton. To their surprise, he responded almost immediately. Burton connected with Wednesday’s perspective—her alienation, her complicated relationship with her parents, and her outsider status resonated with his own experiences. He signed on to direct and produce the project.
The series was officially announced in October 2020 as an untitled Addams Family series helmed by Burton. Produced by Amazon MGM Television, with Gough and Millar serving as both showrunners and executive producers, the project quickly gained momentum. Netflix picked up the series in February 2021, commissioning eight episodes for its first season.
Burton directed four of the eight episodes, and brought in longtime collaborator Colleen Atwood to design the show’s distinctive costumes. The production team also included executive producer Kayla Alpert, along with several other creative partners.
Filming took place in Romania, which provided the perfect atmospheric backdrop for Nevermore Academy and the surrounding town of Jericho.
From the beginning, the creators envisioned Wednesday as a multi-season narrative. Gough and Millar have confirmed that Season 2 will deepen the relationship between Wednesday and Enid, and explore the complex dynamic between Wednesday and her mother, Morticia.
The second season is currently in development following the acquisition of MGM by Amazon. It was officially confirmed in January 2023, with Jenna Ortega not only returning in the lead role but also stepping into the role of producer—further shaping the creative direction of the series.
Wednesday is a genre-bending blend of supernatural comedy, gothic horror, and teen drama—all filtered through the unique lens of Tim Burton. With a visionary team behind the scenes and a stellar cast in front of the camera, the series continues to enchant, disturb, and delight a growing global audience.
The Cast
From the very beginning, the creative team behind Wednesday aimed to cast a Latina actress in the lead role—honoring the heritage of Gomez Addams, which had been thoughtfully incorporated into the script. In May 2021, Jenna Ortega, of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, was selected to play Wednesday Addams. According to the creators, it became instantly clear—during their very first Zoom meeting—that Jenna was the perfect choice to bring the character to life.
Initially, Ortega was hesitant to accept the role, as she had just begun focusing on a transition from television to film following her Disney Channel career. However, after a conversation with director Tim Burton, she was inspired to take on the challenge.
In early August, Luis Guzmán was cast as Gomez Addams, and shortly afterward, Catherine Zeta-Jones joined as Morticia Addams—though her role was still undisclosed at the time.
Later that month, a large portion of the main ensemble was revealed: Thora Birch, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Georgie Farmer, Moosa Mostafa, Emma Myers, Naomi J. Ogawa, Joy Sunday, and Percy Hynes White. Notably, Emma Myers originally auditioned for the title role but was instead cast as Enid Sinclair, Wednesday’s vibrant and werewolf-leaning roommate—a role that would become a fan favorite.
In September, Gwendoline Christie and Victor Dorobantu were added in key roles. The supporting cast also expanded to include Isaac Ordonez, George Burcea, Tommie Earl Jenkins, Iman Marson, William Houston, Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo, Oliver Watson, Calum Ross, and Johnna Dias Watson, each playing recurring characters in the rich world of Nevermore Academy and beyond.
In December 2021, Thora Birch departed the production due to personal reasons, leaving the fate of her character, dorm mother Tamara Novak, unresolved.
In March 2022, it was officially announced that Christina Ricci, who famously portrayed Wednesday Addams in the 1991 and 1993 films, had joined the cast in a regular role. She replaced Birch in a new character arc and expressed her excitement to return to the Addams universe—especially under the direction of Tim Burton, with whom she had previously worked on Sleepy Hollow. Scheduling conflicts with her other series, Showtime’s Yellowjackets, nearly prevented her involvement, but she ultimately made it work.
Then in October, a trailer revealed that Fred Armisen would take on the role of Uncle Fester, and Christina Ricci’s character was confirmed as Marilyn Thornhill, Nevermore’s enigmatic botany teacher.
The cast of Wednesday is a dynamic mix of screen veterans and rising stars—each bringing a fresh perspective to these iconic characters. Their chemistry, talent, and distinctive interpretations contribute to the show’s dark charm and emotional resonance, making Wednesday a truly unforgettable addition to the Addams Family legacy.
Filming
Wednesday was filmed between September 2021 and March 2022 in Romania, primarily in and around the city of Bușteni, nestled in the Southern Carpathian Mountains. The country's dramatic landscapes and historic architecture provided the perfect gothic backdrop for the eerie world of Nevermore Academy and its surrounding town, Jericho.
The iconic Cantacuzino Castle served as the real-world location for Nevermore Academy, the series' central setting. Other key filming sites included the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Sinaia train station, Bucharest Botanical Garden, Casa Monteoru, and the historic Olga Greceanu Mansion in Dâmbovița County, which doubled as the Gates family estate.
To enhance the atmosphere, several scenes at Cantacuzino Castle were supplemented with CGI, blending physical and digital elements to fully realize the eerie grandeur of Nevermore. The fictional town of Jericho and additional interior sets were constructed at Buftea Studios, one of Romania’s leading production facilities.
Production designer Mark Scruton drew heavily from Charles Addams’ original cartoons for visual inspiration, while also referencing classic Tim Burton films like Beetlejuice and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to create a surreal yet grounded visual world.
Lead actress Jenna Ortega committed herself deeply to the role of Wednesday Addams. To fully embody the character, she trained in a wide range of disciplines—including cello, canoeing, fencing, archery, and even German. Canoeing proved especially demanding, with the cast and over a dozen stunt performers participating in early morning training sessions and staged races that began as early as 5:30 a.m.
The result of this immersive production process is a world that feels both fantastical and authentic—moody, mysterious, and entirely unforgettable.A
Soundtrack
In December 2021, it was announced that acclaimed composer Danny Elfman—a longtime collaborator of Tim Burton—would join the creative team of Wednesday to compose the original main theme and score the series alongside fellow composer Chris Bacon.
The soundtrack blends haunting original compositions with a curated selection of classical and pop music, adding texture and emotional depth to the series' gothic tone. Among the most memorable musical moments are cello covers of iconic songs such as “Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones, “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica, and “Physical” by Dua Lipa—all performed with a dark, elegant twist that fits seamlessly into the world of Nevermore.
The score also features several classical masterpieces, including:
The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi
The Cello Concerto by Edward Elgar
The Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns
Gnossienne No. 1 by Erik Satie
Flight of the Bumblebee by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
These pieces are woven into the narrative with striking effectiveness, elevating key scenes with emotional resonance and a sense of timeless drama.
The full 48-track Wednesday original soundtrack was released by Lakeshore Records on November 23, 2022, the same day the series premiered on Netflix. A special four-track EP, featuring classical and pop covers, followed shortly after on November 30.
Whether through eerie orchestral swells or reimagined rock ballads, the Wednesday soundtrack plays a vital role in shaping the show’s unique atmosphere—moody, mysterious, and undeniably stylish.
