
‘Wednesday' returns with Jenna Ortega and a Lady Gaga cameo
The first instalment of the quirky series in 2022 became Netflix's second most watched show after 'Squid Game', clocking up 252 million views.
Ortega's deadpan and witty portrayal of Wednesday as she solves a series of murders while enrolled in the creepy Nevermore Academy hooked millions of fans and became a viral sensation.
The first four episodes of the Tim Burton-directed second series will release — naturally enough — on Wednesday, with the rest of them due on September 3.
The 22-year-old actor and the producers have promised a more macabre turn for the horror-inflected drama. There are bigger roles for Wednesday's family, notably her mother Morticia Addams (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and father Gomez Addams (Luis Guzman).
American arthouse favourite Steve Buscemi also appears as the new head of Nevermore, Principal Dort.
'There's a couple of weapons that I had to learn to use that I hadn't used on people before, so that was a little bit of a learning curve', Ortega told reporters recently about the biggest challenge of the second series.
They include a Swiss army knife and an axe.
Her character, as in her own life, also has to contend with her newfound fame after her exploits in season one.
One of her most high-profile fans, Lady Gaga, has a cameo in the new series.
Since 2022, Ortega has gone on to play roles in 'Scream VI' and in Burton's 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice', as well as landing brand ambassador roles for Dior and other labels.
Burton, director of cult hits from 'Batman' to 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', agreed to direct the second series — he made half of series one — after feeling 'strangely like it was written for me'.
'Even though I'm not a teenage girl, I feel like one sometimes and it's just something that really spoke to me', he said during an online press event ahead of the launch.
'I loved (Wednesday's) take on everything from family to school to psychiatry, to everything. That's why I wanted to do it, because of the strength of that particular character', he said. — AFP
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Observer
6 days ago
- Observer
‘Wednesday' returns with Jenna Ortega and a Lady Gaga cameo
Jenna Ortega returns to screens next week for a second series of 'Wednesday', Netflix's spin-off of The Addams Family that launched her career and revived Gothic fashion. The first instalment of the quirky series in 2022 became Netflix's second most watched show after 'Squid Game', clocking up 252 million views. Ortega's deadpan and witty portrayal of Wednesday as she solves a series of murders while enrolled in the creepy Nevermore Academy hooked millions of fans and became a viral sensation. The first four episodes of the Tim Burton-directed second series will release — naturally enough — on Wednesday, with the rest of them due on September 3. The 22-year-old actor and the producers have promised a more macabre turn for the horror-inflected drama. There are bigger roles for Wednesday's family, notably her mother Morticia Addams (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and father Gomez Addams (Luis Guzman). American arthouse favourite Steve Buscemi also appears as the new head of Nevermore, Principal Dort. 'There's a couple of weapons that I had to learn to use that I hadn't used on people before, so that was a little bit of a learning curve', Ortega told reporters recently about the biggest challenge of the second series. They include a Swiss army knife and an axe. Her character, as in her own life, also has to contend with her newfound fame after her exploits in season one. One of her most high-profile fans, Lady Gaga, has a cameo in the new series. Since 2022, Ortega has gone on to play roles in 'Scream VI' and in Burton's 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice', as well as landing brand ambassador roles for Dior and other labels. Burton, director of cult hits from 'Batman' to 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', agreed to direct the second series — he made half of series one — after feeling 'strangely like it was written for me'. 'Even though I'm not a teenage girl, I feel like one sometimes and it's just something that really spoke to me', he said during an online press event ahead of the launch. 'I loved (Wednesday's) take on everything from family to school to psychiatry, to everything. That's why I wanted to do it, because of the strength of that particular character', he said. — AFP


Muscat Daily
6 days ago
- Muscat Daily
Gaga Joins Jenna for Wednesday's return on Netflix
Paris- Jenna Ortega is back in black for another season of the Tim burton spinoff of The Addams Family — Wednesday . This over the topic-gothic aesthetics combined with actress Jenna Ortega's deadpan and biting delivery of the character gained lots of fans all across the world. It's first season was enough to propel it to new heights of fame as it quickly shot up the rankings and became Netflix's second most watched show, only beat by Squid Game in terms of popularity. With a penchant for blood, guts and gore Wednesday Addams attends her mother's school for the strange: Nevermore academy. In her time there, she attempts to uncover the truth about a string of murders that take place around the town, all while she navigates the woes of high-school crushes and not-so friendly fencing competitions. The show promises to address aspects such as the moody teenager's relationship with her family and her reaction to the newfound fame she received after the events of season one, with one of her biggest fans being the chaotic arthouse singer and actress – Lady Gaga herself. While this show certainly has a preference for the melodramatics, season two also promises to deliver its fans a more action-packed experience, gore and all. Jenna Ortega states in her most recent interview that the biggest challenge she faced while she worked on the second season was learning to wield the weapon props realistically throughout the show. Adding 'There's a couple of weapons that I had to learn to use that I hadn't used on people before, so that was a little bit of a learning curve'. Things are definitely looking bloody for the viewers watching the second season this fall. The first four episodes of this season are expected to release this Wednesday funnily enough while the last couple of episodes will release later on the 3rd of September. We're dying to see it this week, are you?


Observer
23-07-2025
- Observer
Those ugly shoes? She'll make you love them
In late 2018, a seismic shift took place in footwear — an epochal moment that now feels like a lifetime ago in fashion. Daniel Lee's debut collection for Bottega Veneta broke the mould, introducing shoes that seemed almost revolutionary. Square-toed clunkers — sandals characterised by exaggerated, spatula-like soles that jutted out beneath the foot — and pumps with bulbous, stubby toes made their debut at fashion month. At first glance, they appeared hideous, almost grotesque; their unconventional shapes challenged notions of beauty and tradition. However, within months, these shoes became a culture-shift phenomenon. They appeared on the feet of nearly every celebrity, editor, influencer and luxury insider. Retailers such as Vince Camuto and Shein swiftly produced their own versions — dupes — of the viral Lido sandal, a simple slide with an enormous, blown-up interpretation of Bottega's signature intrecciato woven leather. The designer behind these provocative shoes is Nina Christen, a Swiss shoe designer whose distinct vision played a crucial role. 'It's funny what you can make people wear if you do it the right way,' she reflected. For over a decade, Christen's influence has subtly shaped contemporary shoe design, her work sinking into the industry's subconscious, trickling from luxury houses to streetwear. She has collaborated with Phoebe Philo at Celine, Jonathan Anderson at Loewe, and the Olsen twins at The Row. Last month, Anderson appointed her as the design director of shoes at Christian Dior — an ambitious role and one of the most coveted in fashion today. Yet, Christen continues to pursue her independent vision simultaneously. In 2022, she launched her own brand — Christen — a move born partly from frustration. She explained that her designs for other houses represented her taste, her perspective, 'but they were never 100% myself.' Her opportunity arose when she met Paul Dupuy, an entrepreneur who co-founded Zoi, a health-tech start-up focused on longevity. Christen had designed uniforms for Zoi's staff and clients, and Dupuy was so impressed he offered to help her create her own label. His familiarity with industry insiders, thanks to his mother's fashion background and his network, helped turn her idea into raised $5 million in capital and took charge of logistics, including planning a store in Paris scheduled for 2026. Christen already possessed a comprehensive vision: beyond footwear, she dreamed of perfect Japanese denim jeans, a leather jacket, and fine jewellery — her debut piece being a diamond toe ring. Every detail was mapped out — the packaging, branding, logo and market positioning. Her shoes are produced in Italy by the same factories that serve luxury brands, ensuring impeccable craftsmanship. Price points ranging from $1,100 to $3,650 reflect her commitment to quality and her desire to compete at the highest level. In late June, Christen's Paris studio offered an intimate peek into her universe. The raw cement floor was set with more than 30 of her designs, arranged in a carefully curated grid. Among these, styles from Loewe's spring 2023 runway stood out: cartoonish, fantastical creations — pumps embroidered with deflated white balloons, sandals blooming with hyper-realistic anthuriums, and red rubber pumps resembling Minnie Mouse. Christen was candid: 'You can't wear this for more than two hours. But Jonathan Anderson was very open to ideas that crossed the line between art and fashion.' She has a profound love for the geometry of shapes. 'When I think about toe shapes, it's all about the square, rectangle, circle, oval,' she said. 'What is the degree?' She wore a pair of pure white sandals that left most of her foot exposed, seamlessly bisected by a single strip of leather that ran through the big and second toes — like a strand of floss. The sole was thin, elongated, almost oversized beneath the toes. 'It's about creating things we're not used to yet,' Christen explained. 'When I make something and I don't know if I like it — that's often a good sign.' Her work is driven by experimentation — she strives to redefine norms and challenge perceptions of beauty. She finds inspiration in the mundane, the ugly, even orthopaedic shoes — everyday items that, through her lens, become something more intriguing. Her biggest seller after the first year? A grandpa-style slip-on boot lined with goat shearling. 'Once you wear them,' she says, 'you can't wear anything else.' Her designs highlight the power of the everyday, transforming the familiar into avant-garde statements. — NYT