Tim Burton’s Take on Wednesday Addams

Tim+Burton%E2%80%99s+Take+on+Wednesday+Addams

Keira Gottschling, Staff Writer

They’re creepy, they’re kooky, and they’re back in a new spinoff. Follow Wednesday Addams through magic, mystery, and madness of a new high school in her very own series, Wednesday.

With the direction of the famously eccentric Tim Burton, Wednesday radiates whimsy and horror in a miraculous way. After being kicked out of her previous school, Wednesday Addams is thrown into the tense environment of Nevermore Academy. A tenacious, 25 year old family mystery, along with a suspicious, local killing spree challenges her psychic abilities. Director Tim Burton expresses how “Wednesday goes to a school of outcasts, but she’s an outcast among outcasts… So, even though she’s at a place for people like her, she doesn’t like to join the party.” Jenna Ortega plays the iconic Wednesday Addams in the eight episode series. On Nov. 23, 2022, which ironically falls on a Wednesday, season 1 debuts on Netflix. 

Through many variations of The Addams Family, created by Charles Addams, Wednesday stands out with a storyline directly focused on the eldest child of Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Gomez Addams (Luis Guzmàn). While remaining witty, grim, and how Thunderbird teacher Anthony Rivera describes, “that very cynical, very intellectual character,” the story gives more depth Wednesday Addams. Now maneuvering through high school, we see more personal aspects of her life, in contrast to her typical one-liners on screen. Wednesday even explores topics of trauma, therapy, and mental health, which Burton personally admires about the show. “I feel like it was written for me because…I felt like I was her as a boy in school,” says the director. Known for Beetlejuice, Corpse Bride, and Edward Scissorhands, to name a few, Tim Burton’s pursuit of Wednesday has stirred up lots of anticipation in lovers of these dark fantasy films. Mr. Rivera, a fan of both The Addams Family and Tim Burton adds, “I’ve always enjoyed it. Especially at the time, it was super revolutionary because it was a direct challenge to the status quo.” 

Not only are we getting more Addams family content but also the return of a familiar face. Famous for her role as Wednesday Addams in the 90s films, actress Christina Ricci appears as a new character in the series. Upon Wednesday’s arrival to Nevermore Academy, a woman introduces herself as Ms. Thornhill in the official trailer of Wednesday. Ricci says she was honored to be a part of something “that is a huge part of my identity and history of my life” in an interview by Collider. More new personalities such as Principal Larissa Weems (Gwendoline Christie) and Wednesday’s roomate, Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers) also welcome Wednesday Addams to the school. Still, other original characters from The Addams Family are being featured. Wednesday’s younger brother, Pugsley Addams, will be played by Issac Ordonez. Fred Armisen plays the zany Uncle Fester, George Burcea plays the family servant, Lurch, and Victor Dorobantu plays the severed hand, Thing. It is evident how the show’s new cast enhances the anticipation of this beloved macabre family’s return. 

Whether they’re in newspapers, movies, or as of late, a new tv show, The Addams Family still remains a classic. Watch Tim Burton bring the iconic Wednesday Addams back to screen in Wednesday.