Netflix Plans More Addams Family Content Beyond Wednesday

Netflix has released the first look at Billie Piper in the upcoming second season of Wednesday. The gothic comedy series is a dark spin on the story of Wednesday Addams and stars Jenna Ortega in the title role. At 42 years old, Billie Piper plays Isadora Capri, who is described as an enigmatic figure and head of music at Addams’ school, Nevermore Academy.

In a brief statement on her new role, Piper said that she was a “massive fan” of the series. “A dark, dangerous place full of characters who have the potential to be gloriously mean, I always assumed I was in.” Piper is no stranger to gothic or supernatural roles. Best known for her portrayal of Penny Dreadful’s Brona Croft/The Bride of Frankenstein, Piper also appeared in other genre titles such as Doctor Who, Black Mirror, The Feed, and Torchwood. Isadora Capri was described in a statement from Wednesday as “an ex-child prodigy who will be particularly invested in Wednesday’s musical talents”. Capri also mentors another student at Nevermore, werewolf Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers).

Netflix shared the first look at Piper in the role as it also unveiled details on the future of Wednesday, which originally premiered on the platform in November last year. The series became a major hit for Netflix, becoming the most-watched original English-language series in the streamer’s history with 252 million global viewers. The show was quickly renewed for a second season in January 2023, which is now confirmed to arrive in August this year.

Wednesday stars Jenna Ortega as the eponymous Addams. Following her family’s move to New England, Wednesday starts at Nevermore Academy, a school for the supernaturally misfits. While attempting to fit in with other students and experience her first romance, Wednesday is forced to come to terms with her darkness while uncovering the secrets of her family. A dark comedy that drew on the conventions of teen horror and coming-of-age series, Wednesday blended the filmography of its co-creator, Tim Burton, and Jenna Ortega’s natural rebelliousness to become a hit with audiences and critics alike. The show received an Emmy nomination and has a dedicated fan base.

Wednesday season three confirmed, spin-off series in development.

The news of Billie Piper’s addition to the cast was accompanied by another massive update from Netflix. Wednesday was officially renewed for a third season, and a spin-off series is in development. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the unnamed spin-off is being considered by Netflix and is in the early stages of discussion. “It’s something we’re noodling; there are other characters we can look at,” said co-creator Alfred Gough.

In addition to the confirmation of two more seasons for Wednesday, some cast members themselves also took to social media to confirm the return of the series. Catherine Zeta-Jones, who plays the role of Wednesday’s mother, Morticia Addams, confirmed season three’s renewal in an Instagram post of her own. “When Wednesday comes, a better day. Wednesday season three. It’s official… we shall return,” she wrote, along with a list of emojis. The comment section was soon filled with the excited comments from fans who reacted to the news, including one fan who simply wrote, “And for many more seasons,” as well as “I can’t wait to see the second season, I’m waiting for it with great curiosity… and the third is already official, fantastic news!”

Fans also lamented about the amount of time it may take for production to resume on the next two seasons. While Wednesday season two has been confirmed to be released this year, no production dates have been made public yet. Fans commented on the delay between the renewal and production for the second season, which took place back in January 2023, hoping that filming for the new season could take place more quickly. The third season will also be more than two years away from the second, which prompted some fans to ask for the wait to be reduced in the future. “I’ll be gripping the sheets in agony waiting, but please…don’t let us wait three years again.”

Tim Burton is back as an executive producer and occasional director. Burton, 66, has returned to help develop the sequel to Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and will also work with Ortega on the upcoming CGI series Digby in The Deep. In addition to Billie Piper, Wednesday season 2 also features Lady Gaga, Steve Buscemi, Joanna Lumley, and Thandiwe Newton. Returning cast members include Gwendoline Christie as headteacher Larissa Weems and Luis Guzmán as Wednesday’s father, Gomez Addams.

In other news, Ortega is also taking on a new role with the upcoming second season. After the release of an interview in which Ortega spoke about her experience with the production and the need to “put her foot down” over her character, the actress has now taken on the title of producer. Burton also shared his support for Ortega, who had previously expressed some discontent over the way her comments had been reported. Co-creator Alfred Gough defended Ortega, noting that Ortega had been taking on the duties of a producer and was therefore right to take on that role. “We don’t look at it as a job title as much as a person who is as deeply involved as you can be,” he said of Ortega’s new position.

New cast member Joanna Lumley shared her excitement about joining the show in a statement released by Netflix, “There’s always something thrilling about working for Tim Burton. His whole mind takes him to a different world, and the world that they’ve created here for Wednesday and Nevermore and the family is just intoxicating.”

With the addition of Billie Piper, renewal of a third season, and a spin-off series in development, it looks like the Wednesdayverse is just getting started.