Netflix's Wednesday has all the markings of becoming a cult classic one day, much like The Vampire Diaries and Teen Wolf. And it's not just because of the Goo Goo Muck dance scene that blew up on social media.
In fact, given The Addams Family's popularity, people were unsure if Wednesday would live up to the hype. After all, there have been many movie franchises over the years that tried to recapture the magic of their original hits only to fail miserably with their sequels and remakes.
But Wednesday didn't just live up to the hype. It surpassed it!
With better audience scores than any of the other Addams Family projects, a big chunk of the credit goes to actress Jenna Ortega for her brilliant portrayal of the titular character Wednesday Addams. And according to director Tim Burton, who was the executive producer of the show and directed its first four episodes, Jenna was the perfect Wednesday Addams right from the start.
Jenna Ortega Auditioned For Wednesday While Covered In Blood
In an interview about her audition for the role, Ortega revealed that she hadn't slept for 24 hours when she got on the Zoom call with Burton.
She had been filming 'the death scene' for Ti West's horror-thriller X and was still covered in stage blood and had glycerin sweat in her hair.
It charmed Burton though because he immediately burst out laughing. It was the perfect set-up! “I thought it was endearing,” said Ortega about the laugh.
Plus, she has revealed on many occasions that she loved working with Burton on the show, calling him 'a sweetheart,' a sentiment that a lot of other actors who have worked with him have expressed as well.
Netflix's 'Inside The Character' On Wednesday Addams Reveals More
In a behind-the-scenes video about Wednesday Addams on Netflix's YouTube channel, showrunners and executive producers Miles Millar and Alfred Gough agree that Jenna Ortega was the perfect Wednesday.
“When we found Jenna, it was just like she was the one,” said Millar.
Burton added, “Wednesday is the classic outsider... She sees things very black and white. Mainly black... She’s [Ortega] like a silent movie actress in the sense where she’s able to convey things without words.”
Jenna Ortega And Wednesday Are Both Latina
When asked about playing Wednesday, Ortega said, “Wednesday's a Latina character and that's never been represented. So, for me, anytime I have the opportunity to represent my community, I want that to be seen.”
And along with her experience working in the horror/slasher genre (Ortega has previously acted in films like Insidious: Chapter 2, Scream, The Babysitter: Killer Queen) it seems Wednesday was tailor-made for her.
Her wardrobe during public appearances reveals much the same.
“It was very important to me that I did something different... she's a bit more socially awkward. There's a confidence there, but it's more concealed,” Ortega said.
There were some things Tim was adamant about for Ortega's character; she revealed that their schedule once got delayed by almost two hours because he was very insistent on perfecting Wednesday's braids.
She, likewise, took her role very seriously. Taking fencing and cello lessons twice a week to get into the skin of the character. And she would walk around like Wednesday even when they were not shooting.
Catherine Zeta-Jones even shared how Jenna Ortega and Wednesday have the same dry sense of humor.
Wednesday Is 'Not An Addams Family Reboot'
Showrunners Miles Millar and Alfred Gough strongly emphasized that Wednesday is not an Addam Family reboot in the Netflix behind-the-scenes. "It is a new chapter in Wednesday Addams' life."
“This is really a show about exploring [Wednesday's] journey into adulthood,” said Gough.
And while they did draw inspiration from the original film, they wanted it to be its own thing.
It is known though that Tim Burton was heavily inspired by the 1976 horror film Carrie for Wednesday. The movie is about a misfit ostracized teenager who develops supernatural abilities, leading to strange occurrences.
In fact, Burton was approached back in 2010 by Universal for a stop-motion adaptation of The Addams Family concept. And while he was intrigued by it, it eventually didn't go anywhere.
Millar and Gough's take on Wednesday though hooked him in right away.
“When I read this [script]," Burton said, "it just spoke to me about how I felt in school and how you feel about your parents, how you feel as a person. It gave The Addams Family a different kind of reality. It was an interesting combination.”
And fans of the show can't agree more.
Wednesday has truly carved out a unique place for itself in the world and Jenna Ortega's portrayal is truly an unforgettable masterpiece.
Or as Tim Burton said, “We were very lucky to have Jenna... I can't imagine any other Wednesday.”
