Netflix renews Wednesday season 3, explores Addams Family spinoff with Tim Burton and Jenna Ortega
In their first joint interview, director Tim Burton and star Jenna Ortega reflected on the show's success, the intensity of production, and navigating public scrutiny. Ortega, now also a producer on the series, described the early filming experience as 'chaotic and stressful,' having started at just 17. 'I don't think I've ever shot a scene that hasn't kept me up at night,' she admitted.
Despite these challenges, Wednesday became Netflix's most-watched English-language series, racking up 252 million views globally. Ortega's comments in a past podcast, where she mentioned changing lines to better fit the character, sparked controversy. Reflecting on the incident, she said, 'In no way did I mean to come across that way… it was a good lesson.'
Burton, who directed both Wednesday and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, praised Ortega's instinctual understanding of the role. 'You need this weird internal strength and clarity… you can't manufacture it,' he said. Showrunner Alfred Gough echoed this sentiment, noting, 'She has a 360-degree view… you don't find that with most actors.'
With an expanded cast in season two — including Steve Buscemi and Billie Piper — the team has leaned into a bigger scale and more creative freedom. 'Netflix has a lot more trust this time around,' Ortega said.
Beyond the show, both Ortega and Burton criticized the growing influence of AI in entertainment. Ortega warned that AI-generated content creates 'junk food for the brain,' while Burton said it left him feeling like something had been taken away from his work.
While Warner Bros. hinted at early development for Beetlejuice 3, Burton stated he hasn't been officially approached. 'It took 35 years to make the second one… I know those odds aren't good,' he said. Ortega firmly added she wouldn't return to the project without Burton at the helm: 'It is what it is because of Tim.'
As for the future of Wednesday, neither Burton nor Ortega are making long-term plans. 'I don't even have plans for tomorrow,' Ortega said. Burton agreed: 'Me either.'
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