Tim Burton and Jenna Ortega Talk Wednesday’s Future and Growth

Netflix has released the first glimpse of Billie Piper in her new role for Wednesday season 2. The 42-year-old actress joins the gothic comedy series starring Jenna Ortega as Isadora Capri, a mysterious and genius new character and head of music at Nevermore Academy.

Piper is best known for her gothic and supernatural role as Brona Croft/The Bride of Frankenstein in Penny Dreadful and has described her latest character as “self-described former child prodigy”. Isadora Capri has a special interest in Wednesday’s musical talent and is also Enid Sinclair’s werewolf mentor, played by returning cast member Emma Myers.

Netflix also shared the first images of Piper in character when it announced the future of the record-breaking series. Wednesday first premiered on Netflix in November 2022 and quickly became a worldwide hit. Gaining 252 million viewers globally, it became Netflix’s biggest English-language series of all time. It was officially renewed for a second season in January 2023, with release now confirmed for August this year.

Wednesday is a dark reboot of the Addams Family universe following 22-year-old Wednesday Addams, as she begins her senior year at Nevermore Academy, a school for supernatural misfits. The show was a huge hit with viewers and critics alike, blending horror, humor, and teen rebellion. It has earned Emmy nods and a global fanbase since its debut.

Season Three Confirmed and a Spin-Off Coming

In addition to confirming Billie Piper’s role for season two, Netflix has announced even more good news for fans: the Wednesday series has officially been renewed for a third season. A spin-off series is also being discussed, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter. While little has been confirmed, Wednesday co-creator Alfred Gough said of the idea, “It’s something we’re noodling; there are other characters we can look at.”

Fans took to social media to express their excitement at the announcement of season three. Catherine Zeta-Jones, who plays Wednesday’s mother, Morticia, even confirmed the renewal herself in a sly Instagram post: “When Wednesday comes, a better day. Wednesday season three. It’s official… we shall return.” Fans flooded the comments with their thoughts, including “And for many more seasons,” and “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!”

Others expressed relief that they hope filming can start soon, as they are hopeful that there won’t be such a wait until the season airs. Though the renewal was announced as early as January 2023, season two won’t arrive until more than two years after the show’s original debut. Fans were quick to demand that this would not be the case in the future, with one viewer saying, “I’ll be gripping the sheets in agony waiting, but please… don’t let us wait three years again.”

Series executive producer and occasional director Tim Burton, 66, is returning to shape the show’s famously eerie world. Burton recently also worked with Ortega on Beetlejuice, the upcoming sequel to the 1988 cult classic.

New season two also welcomes the likes of Lady Gaga, Steve Buscemi, Joanna Lumley, and Thandie Newton, among others. Returning to the cast for the second season are Gwendoline Christie as headteacher Larissa Weems and Luis Guzmán as Wednesday’s father, Gomez Addams.

Jenna Ortega is also stepping up behind the scenes for the second season, taking on a more active role as a producer on the series. After some controversy around a podcast interview in which she said she often “changed lines” and had to “put her foot down” over inconsistencies in her character, Ortega has been supported by the show. Burton publicly showed his support, suggesting her comments had been taken out of context and adding that Ortega was an involved member of the team. Co-creator Alfred Gough agreed and said that it made sense for her to step into the producer role, pointing out that Ortega was already very involved in the creative process and offered helpful feedback on scripts.

Joanna Lumley, one of the newest additions to the cast, also shared her excitement to be part of the universe. “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 Billie Piper’s addition, a confirmed third season, and a potential spin-off in the works, the Wednesday universe has more exciting developments than ever. As fans eagerly await the August release date, speculation continues to grow over what’s next for the eerie and mysterious world of Nevermore Academy.