Tim Burton's Wednesday, the new adaptation of The Addams Family, has dropped a new featurette that dives into Jenna Ortega's take on the character. The inside look confirms that fans can expect to see a slightly older Wednesday Addams as she attempts to navigate a social life with peers her own age.
Hype for the series has been building since the Wednesday trailer dropped. Fans also got a glimpse of Ortega's take on Wednesday Addams, as well as Morticia and Gomez Addams, who are played here by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzman, respectively. Netflix's Wednesday will follow its titular character as she’s enrolled in Nevermore Academy, a school for “outcasts,” where Wednesday must solve a mystery that has haunted the school since her parents attended 25 years prior.
The Wednesday featurette offers a deeper look into Ortega's version of the character. She acknowledges that the character has had some iconic portrayals in the past, but also articulates wanting to put her own spin on the character. She identifies Wednesday as “socially awkward” among her peers, but with a quiet confidence that will make itself known. Burton, who also features in the video, confirms that the cast and crew wanted the series to be more dramatic when compared to previous adaptations.
Further, the video paints Wednesday as an aspiring writer, whose abilities will be tested as she faces monsters, murderers, and mysteries. Ortega also briefly touches on her portrayal of Wednesday as a Latina character, which is highlighted by a short clip where Wednesday discusses the Addams family celebrating Día de los Muertos year-round. Ortega explains that it was important to her, personally, that this aspect of the character be highlighted.
Overall, the clip promises an interesting ride for fans of The Addams Family. It appears that there will be plenty of fan service for those on the lookout. For instance, Addams Family movie star Christina Ricci, known for her iconic portrayal of Wednesday in the '90s adaptations, has already been cast in the show. Burton's gothic style certainly hews close to what fans expect out of The Addams Family.
There are certainly some detractors, however. Netflix has a history of cancelling promising projects, which has made it slightly harder for fans to commit to a series. And, of course, there’s a steady contingent who feel Burton may not be up to the task - a common criticism of his work is that it has declined in quality in recent years. But Ortega is clearly passionate about the role, and the show appears to be a fun, unique take on the source material.
Wednesday will premiere on Netflix sometime in late 2022.
Source: Netflix/YouTube