Welcome to Wednesday

[Monika]

(via Netflix)

Overview

Wednesday is an eight-part series which will be released for viewing by Netflix on November 23, 2022. It is a show focusing on the character of Wednesday Addams which was made famous by the 1960s sitcom and a pair of movies in the early 1990s. The family was initially introduced as a comic strip by creator and artist Charles Addams. The family is known for its love of the macabre, darker tones, and the tendency to adore all things creepy and spooky. Wednesday is the oldest child and only daughter of Gomez and Morticia Addams and, while the previous iterations have centered on her parents and her Uncle Fester, this series focuses primarily on her.

Lisa Loring played the first Wednesday in The Addams Family series which ran from 1964 to 1967, while Christina Ricci took up the role in the two movies of the early 1990s. A television movie was made in the 1990s, but did not feature the majority of the cast of the earlier two films from that decade and did not fare well at the box office. There also was an animated version of the film released in 2019 with a sequel released in 2021. Wednesday was voiced by Chloe Grace Moretz in those movies. In addition to those productions there have also been other series and movies.

Jenna Ortega (Scream 2022, X, Studio 666) portrays the title character, who is expelled from eight schools in five years and, as a result, is sent to Nevermore Academy to attend boarding school with other students who are outcasts and oddballs such as she. Per the teaser trailer released on August 17, the final expulsion came after she released several piranhas into a pool of water polo players to specifically attack their leader "Dalton." It is inferred that Dalton had tied up her brother Pugsley, stuck an apple in his mouth and stuffed him into a locker. Wednesday sees this as revenge and an attack on her sole right to torment her brother. "The only person who gets to torture my brother is me" she tells Dalton just prior to releasing the piranhas into the pool. Dalton suffers ... well, let's just say a very major special personal injury.

Ricci has been cast and will appear in all eight episodes. Originally, Netflix kept mum on the character's name, but we now know that she will be playing Ms. Thornhill, who seems to be a teacher or counselor at Nevermore Academy. Catherine Zeta-Jones takes on the mantle of Morticia Addams and Luis Guzman will play Gomez. Casting also includes the roles of Pugsley, the Family's butler Lurch, their accompanying associate Thing (which is a hand with a mind of its own). In the official trailer released on October 8, it was revealed that Uncle Fester will make an appearance and will be played by Saturday Night Live and Portlandia alum Fred Armisen. Other cast includes students and staff from Nevermore Academy and the local town sheriff. No news has been mentioned on whether Uncle Fester will make an appearance; however, co-creator of the series Alfred Gough stated the following regarding the beloved character: "We have no comment on Uncle Fester. Watch the show."

Tim Burton was originally asked to direct The Addams Family (1991) but was unable to do so due to the fact he was filming the first Batman movie that year which starred Michael Keaton. Burton has directed all eight episodes of this series and seems to be the mastermind behind this series. In addition to Batman and Batman Returns, Burton is best known for his films Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, Mars Attacks!, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride, Dark Shadows and Frankenweenie. This is first television project. Gough and Miles Millar are credited as creators and writers. Kayla Alpert, April Blair and Matt Lambert also have contributed in the writing process. Danny Elfman, a veteran movie and television composer, provides the score for the series. It's unclear if this is intended to be a limited series (just one season), or if it could be up for subsequent seasons should Netflix decide to renew it after these eight episodes.

The original premise of the show is quoted as the following:

A coming-of-age supernatural mystery comedy focusing on Wednesday Addams and her years as a high school student at Nevermore Academy, where she attempts to master her psychic powers, stop a monstrous killing spree of the town citizens, and solve the supernatural mystery that affected her family 25 years ago—all while navigating her new relationships.

Wednesday began filming on September 13, 2021 and was completed on March 30, 2022. Filming took place in Bucharest, Romania  over that six-and-a-half month span. The actors portraying Lurch and Thing are local Romanian actors. While no official release date has been announced, there is wide speculation on this point. Originally, the network promoted the show's release to be "Fall 2022." This led to speculation, due to the nature of the character, that it would be released near Halloween and likely on a Wednesday. On September 24, 2022, Netflix made the announcement that it will be released on November 23; the Wednesday just before Thanksgiving in the United States. An earlier version of this section has been updated with the announced release date.

DISCLAIMER NOTE: The photos, videos, quotes and all some other items contained in this article are intended as contributions to the article and to draw interest to the series, Wednesday. They are a property of Netflix. Netflix owns all licenses to show, and this site acknowledges and respects that. Sports Coast to Coast (SCtoC) does not receive any financial gain by the use of these images. This site, it's CEO, President of forum Operations and Board Creator endorse this post and board in order to bring to our readers this production of Wednesday. We are looking forward to this series and enjoy bringing it to our audience. All inquires regarding such matters should be directed directly on this site to Kasey  via private message.


Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams. (via Netflix)

Cast

The following is the main cast. Where applicable, the actor's name has a link to that person's Twitter account. Click the IMDB link in parenthesis for that person's IMDB page. For clarification, we've also mentioned each character's relationship to Wednesday following the IMDB link.

Wednesday Addams - Jenna Ortega (IMDB) - self
Morticia Addams - Catherin Zeta-Jones (IMDB) - mother
Gomez Addams - Luis Guzman (IMDB) - father 
Pugsley Addams - Isaac Ordonez (IMDB) - brother
Uncle Fester - Fred Armisen (IMDB) - uncle
Lurch - George Burcea (IMDB) - butler
Thing - Victor Dorobantu (IMDB) - family member
Sheriff Donovan Galpin - Jamie McShane (IMDB) - town sheriff
Dr. Valerie Kilbott - Riki Lindhome (IMDB) - psychologist
Ms. Thornhill - Christina Ricci (IMDB) - teacher
Larissa Weems - Gwendoline Christie (IMDB) - school principal
Enid Sinclair -- Emma Myers (IMBD) - classmate
Tyler Galpin -- Hunter Doohan (IMDB) - classmate
Bianca Barclay -- Joy Sunday (IMDB) - classmate
Yoko Tanaka -- Naomi J. Ogawa (IMDB) - classmate
Xavier Thorpe -- Percy Hynes White (IMDB) - classmate
Ajax Petropolus - Georgie Farmer (IMDB) - classmate
Divina - Johnna Dias-Watson (IMDB) - classmate
Kurt - Oliver Watson (IMDB) - classmate
Eugene Ottinger - Moosa Mostafa (IMDB) - classmate
Deputy Ritchie Santiago - Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (IMDB) - sheriff's deputy
Lucas Walker - Iman Marson (IMDB) - mayor's son
Noble Walker - Tommie Earl Jenkins (IMDB) - Jericho mayor

Videos

Official Teaser Trailer


(Video via Netflix)

Featurette: Wednesday Addams Inside the Character


(Video via Netflix)

Official Trailer

(Video via JoBloStreaming & TV Trailers)

Inside Look: Welcome to Nevermore Academy


(Video via Netflix)

Wednesday Main Opening Title Sequence


(Video via Netflix)

Official Photos


Morticia, Wednesday, Gomez and Pugsley Addams. (via Netflix)


Morticia and Gomez Addams. (via Netflix)


Wednesday and Pugsley Addams. (via Netflix)


Gomez, Wednesday and Morticia Addams. (via Netflix)


Helpful Links

CURRENT
Wednesday (Netflix series) - 2022
Nevermore Academy - 2022
Wednesday Addams Official Twitter Page - 2022

PREVIOUS
The Addams Family (sitcom) - 1964
The Addams Family (movie) - 1991
Addams Family Values (movie) - 1993
The New Addams Family (sitcom) - 1998
Addams Family Reunion (TV movie) - 1998
The Addams Family (animated movie) - 2019
The Addams Family 2 (animated movie) - 2021

Personal Statement

I've watched the first two 1990s movies and I've seen a ton of the original sitcom on MeTV with my family members. I know this one is going to be dark, but with comedy. From everything I've seen, this could be a breakout series this year. For me, It's been a really rough year, but with some highlights. I'll leave it at that. I'm hoping this hits with a bang and it highly successful. I would love to see it continue beyond one season. But, that's just me.

What do you think?

~Monika

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[Nevadanut]

One of the only shows I was allowed to watch growing up was The Addams Family sitcom. I've seen the two movies with Christina Ricci too and they were great (I had a little bit of a crush on her love interest Joel when he played the mathematician brother on Numb3rs around a dozen years ago). I think you laid out the series wonderfully. I really think it's going to be a fun watch. As always, Monika, I love your enthusiasm! I leave you with this photo, which I came across after reading this.

[Monika]

Aug 25, 2022 19:06:15 GMT -8 Nevadanut said:

One of the only shows I was allowed to watch growing up was The Addams Family sitcom. I've seen the two movies with Christina Ricci too and they were great (I had a little bit of a crush on her love interest Joel when he played the mathematician brother on Numb3rs around a dozen years ago). I think you laid out the series wonderfully. I really think it's going to be a fun watch. As always, Monika, I love your enthusiasm! I leave you with this photo, which I came across after reading this.

Thank you for that photo! Jenna is amazing and beautiful. I know it's two months out(?) but I love bringing a little more information on this franchise to our readers!

Maybe we can have a watch party! That would be so cool!

[spiderfan]

Great write up. Love the original show, although I've never seen the 90s movies.

[Monika]

Sept 2, 2022 16:37:11 GMT -8 spiderfan said:

Great write up. Love the original show, although I've never seen the 90s movies.

It looks so good. I can't wait until it comes out. I really like the actress who is playing her (from what I little we've seen). I haven't seen her in much, but she seems really good in this role.

[Monika]

I ran across these screen grabs of a confrontation between Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) and her classmate Enid (Emma Myers). This is the scene where Wednesday says to Enid:

"The following are the first three emojies which come to mind when I see you ... rope ... shovel ... hole."

[Monika]

I found another little gem via Entertainment Weekly. It's page one of the script for the first episode.

[SurferGirl]

I have to say, I love your passion for this show. Scott and I watched the trailer and inside look and it looks great. I actually think that with black hair and braids, you would easily pass for an awesome Wednesday. I'm looking forward to this show too. It looks very intriguing.

[Monika]

I love my high school, but did you know you can attend Nevermore Academy? I've actually applied! Principal Larissa Weems is looking over my application! #SoExcited! Click the link to check out more!

Nevermore Academy

[Yeseeka]

Putting my foot down here. You are NOT allowed to attend this school! I think you could handle it but it's nuts!

I love how enthusiastic about it you are. I guess I'll have to watch.

[Monika]

We have a release date. NOVEMBER 23 (yes, that is a Wednesday!)!

[Monika]

A new official clip from Netflix.

[Monika]

Students at Nevermore Academy invite you to enroll in the school. Wednesday even offers an additional incentive.

[Monika]

Nevermore Academy is named after a repeated line in Edgar Allan Poe's classic poem, The Raven.



Here is the poem in its entirety:

The Raven
By Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—
Only this and nothing more.”

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore—
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
“’Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door—
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;—
This it is and nothing more.”

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
“Sir,” said I, “or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you”—here I opened wide the door;—
Darkness there and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenore?”
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, “Lenore!”—
Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
“Surely,” said I, “surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore—
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—
’Tis the wind and nothing more!”

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door—
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door—
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore—
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning—little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door—
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as “Nevermore.”

But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing farther then he uttered—not a feather then he fluttered—
Till I scarcely more than muttered “Other friends have flown before—
On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before.”
Then the bird said “Nevermore.”

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
“Doubtless,” said I, “what it utters is its only stock and store
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore—
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of ‘Never—nevermore’.”

But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore—
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking “Nevermore.”

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom’s core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion’s velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o’er,
But whose velvet-violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o’er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
“Wretch,” I cried, “thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite—respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore;
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!—
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted—
On this home by Horror haunted—tell me truly, I implore—
Is there—is there balm in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I implore!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us—by that God we both adore—
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore—
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore.”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

“Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!” I shrieked, upstarting—
“Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!—quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted—nevermore!

[Monika]

Jenna Ortega noted that she took fencing lessons and cello lessons as part of her role as Wednesday. I pulled a couple of screen grabs from the trailer to show the results.

[Monika]

Netflix released the official trailer yesterday. It appears below and has been added to the original post. There are a few things to unpack here. The first of which are a couple of character reveals. We now know that Uncle Fester will appear and is played by Fred Armisen (Saturday night live, Portlandia). Additionally, we have a name for Christina Ricci's character. She will play Ms. Thornhill who appears to be a teacher or advisor at Nevermore Academy who checks in on Wednesday and Enid shortly after the former moves into the latter's room and they become roommates (check the last scene of the trailer for that). The second is that we see a little bit more of what the tone of the show will look like, and a few more shots of the school and Wednesday in what appears to be a diner where she appears to be sitting at a booth. November 23 cannot come quickly enough!

[DiamondThief]

I was surprised that they got Fred Armisen to play Uncle Fester. He looks great. He's the only one we've seen who has made Wednesday smile. I agree with your enthusiasm. This show should be fun.

[Monika]

How about a few new photos ...

[Monika]

Oct 13, 2022 14:37:40 GMT -8 DiamondThief said:

I was surprised that they got Fred Armisen to play Uncle Fester. He looks great. He's the only one we've seen who has made Wednesday smile. I agree with your enthusiasm. This show should be fun.

Just over a month until the premiere.

[Monika]

Guys, I have some bad news that I didn't want to share, but I will now. My application to Nevermore Academy has been ...

Sept 22, 2022 20:59:50 GMT -8 Monika said:

I love my high school, but did you know you can attend Nevermore Academy? I've actually applied! Principal Larissa Weems is looking over my application! #SoExcited! Click the link to check out more!

Nevermore Academy

... DENIED by Wednesday Addams herself. Here is the e-mail she sent me, just over two weeks ago.