The Wednesday Universe Grows: Spin-Off Series in Development

Netflix has given fans their first look at Billie Piper in her new role for the upcoming second season of Wednesday. The British actress, 42, can be seen in new footage released by the streamer on Monday as the new character of Isadora Capri, head of music at the Wednesday Addams’ fictional boarding school, Nevermore Academy.

Piper has extensive experience playing gothic and supernatural characters in her career. She is best known for her role as Brona Croft/The Bride of Frankenstein on Penny Dreadful, and also played the sinister Darktime Rose on the superhero series Strange Powers. Isadora Capri is described as “a former child prodigy” who takes a special interest in Wednesday’s musical talent. Piper’s character also mentors werewolf student Enid Sinclair, played by returning series regular Emma Myers.

The cast also welcomes new faces in Lady Gaga, Steve Buscemi, Joanna Lumley, and Thandie Newton. Returning members of the Wednesday cast include Jenna Ortega as the titular character, Catherine Zeta-Jones as her mother, Morticia Addams, Gwendoline Christie as headteacher Larissa Weems, and Luis Guzmán as Wednesday’s father, Gomez Addams.

The upcoming second season was confirmed after Wednesday’s massive success last year. The show first arrived on Netflix in November 2022 and became a global phenomenon. The dark and gothic comedy is now the biggest English-language series in the platform’s history with a whopping 252 million viewers around the world. Following its record-breaking debut, Wednesday was quickly renewed for a second season in January 2023. Monday’s casting announcement also confirmed that the second season will be released in August this year.

Wednesday sees a reimagined version of The Addams Family: Wednesday Addams (played by 22-year-old Jenna Ortega) is a recent high school graduate who begins attending Nevermore Academy for supernatural misfits. The show is a dark mix of horror, horror comedy, and teen rebellion, and was an instant hit with viewers, earning an Emmy nomination and a passionate fanbase.

Wednesday Season Three Renewed and Spin-Off in the Works

Billie Piper is not the only big news for Wednesday on Monday. In addition to the new cast member’s announcement, Netflix also officially renewed the series for a third season. The streamer has also confirmed that a spin-off is currently in discussion.

The Hollywood Reporter shared the news, citing a source. “They’re discussing it, for sure,” the source added. Spin-off plans were first teased in a recent interview with co-creator Alfred Gough: “It’s something we’re noodling; there are other characters we can look at.”

Fans took to social media to express their excitement over the new announcements. Catherine Zeta-Jones, who stars in the series as Wednesday’s mother, Morticia Addams, confirmed the third season renewal herself in an Instagram post. “When Wednesday comes, a better day,” she wrote. “Wednesday season three. It’s official…we shall return.” Fans in the comments included, “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!”

Fans were also quick to express their concerns about waiting too long for the second season to drop. While Wednesday was first announced in January 2023, the August release date means fans will wait more than two years for the second season’s arrival. There were many calls for shorter waits following this announcement, with a fan writing, “I’ll be gripping the sheets in agony waiting, but please…don’t let us wait three years again.”

Tim Burton, 66, will return as an executive producer and occasional director on the show, having worked to shape its gothic, eerie world since its debut last year. The filmmaker recently collaborated with Ortega again on Beetlejuice, the upcoming sequel to the 1988 film.

Season two sees even more big names join the cast. In addition to Billie Piper, the show has picked up Lady Gaga, Steve Buscemi, Joanna Lumley, and Thandie Newton. Returning cast members include Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams, Catherine Zeta-Jones as her mother, Morticia Addams, Gwendoline Christie as headteacher Larissa Weems, and Luis Guzmán as Wednesday’s father, Gomez Addams.

Actress and director Ortega has taken on a more hands-on role in season two. The actress has stepped up as a producer on the show following some controversy earlier this year. In a now-infamous podcast interview, Ortega was quoted as saying she often “changed lines” during filming and had to “put her foot down” over character inconsistencies. Ortega later released a statement, and Burton publicly expressed support, saying her comments had been misinterpreted. Alfred Gough, who co-created the show, has now explained that Ortega’s promotion to producer was long planned, saying she was already “in the trenches in a creative way, if you will,” and “looking at the scripts, and offering notes and creative ideas.”

One of the new cast members, Joanna Lumley, shared her excitement about joining the world. “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 a new addition to the cast, a confirmed third season, and a spin-off in the works, the Wednesday universe shows no sign of slowing down. Fans of the show can now mark their calendars for August and wait patiently for more information on what’s next in the twisted world of Nevermore Academy.