Wednesday season 2 will explore Wednesday’s Latina heritage

When co-creators Miles Millar and Al Gough first conceived the idea of an Addams Family spinoff focusing on Wednesday Addams, they thought they had struck gold. “It seemed like a no-brainer to us,” Millar told IndieWire. However, pitching Wednesday to networks proved to be more challenging than they anticipated. Eventually, the show became the newest sensation on Netflix, but it was surprisingly tough going getting there.

Millar and Gough first dreamed up the concept of Wednesday Addams attending a supernatural boarding school in the spring of 2019. “Our first hurdle was to convince Kevin Miserocchi, who runs [the Addams Family Foundation], of our unique vision,” Millar said. “Fortunately, he fell in love with our sophisticated spin on the story.”

Despite the endorsement from Miserocchi, the show was slow to develop after that. But just when Millar and Gough thought their dream was on life support, former MGM Television president Steve Stark swooped in.

With the groundwork laid, Gough and Millar set their sights on a seemingly impossible task: luring Tim Burton, the celebrated filmmaker known for movies like Edward Scissorhands and Alice in Wonderland, to come on board as executive producer and director.

“He was wandering around his dinosaur garden in England, talking to us about Wednesday Addams, his teenage crush,” Millar remembered. Burton, who had previously turned down opportunities to direct Addams Family movies, was enchanted by this fresh take on the franchise.

With Burton’s stamp of approval and Netflix’s green light, the only piece of the puzzle left was finding the perfect Wednesday Addams. Enter Jenna Ortega, a Disney Channel star and burgeoning scream queen whose performance captured the essence of the beloved character. “The precision in Jenna’s performance was outstanding,” Millar said. “We knew instantly that she was our Wednesday. The collaboration was smooth, and Jenna truly made the character her own.”

Collaboration with Jenna Ortega was “smooth” on Wednesday

The first season of Wednesday catapulted Ortega into superstardom. For Gough and Millar, it was the cherry on top of a challenging but rewarding creative journey. “The experience was unlike any other,” Millar said. “From the ups and downs of pitching the show to seeing Jenna embody Wednesday, it’s been an unforgettable ride.”

As they embark on crafting the second season of the show, Gough and Millar are keeping their cards close to their chests, hinting only that season 2 will explore Wednesday’s Latina heritage. “We’re excited to find more authentic ways to portray this aspect of her life,” said Gough.

As a Latina myself, with two daughters who beg to keep their bangs cut short and have their hair split and braided so they can look just like Wednesday every day, I am very excited about that aspect of the show.

Whatever comes next, one thing is certain: Wednesday has breathed new life into a cherished story, illustrating the power of perseverance, creativity, and collaboration. It’s not merely a triumph for Millar, Gough, and their team; it’s a victory for all who dare to reimagine the classics, showing us that sometimes the most unexpected paths lead to the most thrilling destinations.

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.

Get HBO, Starz, Showtime and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels