Latest news with #Nevermore
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix's Jenna Ortega reveals 'obscene pressure' that came with Wednesday role
Season 2 is now just days away Wednesday star Jenna Ortega has admitted she couldn't sleep as her Netflix role left her "scared s***less" back in season one. The 22-year-old star plays Wednesday Addams in the hit Netflix series. Having been released back in 2022, Wednesday quickly captivated audiences across the world, as well as Ortega's incredible portrayal of the character. But it's been a long three year wait for fans, as Season 2 is finally set to be released on Wednesday, August 6. And viewers have already been having their say with a wide range of theories and conspiracies, as show bosses tease what can be expected. Season 1 saw Wednesday ultimately saving Nevermore Academy, a school for misfits and outcasts, from danger as she was engulfed in a huge mystery. And Season 2 will move on to another new adventure. Now, speaking exclusively to Radio Times, the star has spoken about the first season and admitted she was "scared s***less" as she added: "I didn't know what I was doing. I met Tim once before starting to create the character. "There was just an obscene amount of pressure and worry and I wasn't sleeping. We didn't even know that people were going to watch it." Delving herself into the role, Jenna said she carried out as much research as she could, working out how to physically become her character. From not blinking, to the way Wednesday walks, Jenna admitted it "took a lot of trying to get there", before she perfected the deadpan character. She said: "So much of it was spending as much time as I could outside of work trying to physically become her." Jenna Ortega began her career as a child actor, and has been seen on a variety of shows and films including Jane the Virgin and Scream. But it is her role as Wednesday Addams that she is widely recognised for. The star previously spoke about her character's return to Nevermore as she teased fans: "The atmosphere at Nevermore in the beginning of the school year is a living hell. It's this terrible situation for Wednesday and she's very upset." It has been teased that this time around, Wednesday is going to be grappling with her growing powers, especially after seeing a disturbing vision of Enid Sinclair's (Emma Myers) death. And fans are already predicting whether Enid will truly die or be saved. Bosses have also teased that Wednesday and Morticia's relationship will take "centre stage" as well as "unfinished business" with Tyler, who viewers will remember as being the Hyde.
Los Angeles Times
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
For Jenna Ortega, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán, ‘Wednesday' proves ‘weird is beautiful'
Jenna Ortega has just finished a long day on set in London for an upcoming project when she gets on the phone to speak with me from a moving car — not an uncommon occurrence for an in-demand star. Despite the whirlwind nature of the last few hours, the gracious 22-year-old actor sounds genuinely invested when answering questions with a respectful straightforwardness. In addition to Ortega's multiple big-screen titles out this year, 'Wednesday' — the Tim Burton-helmed show that propelled her from rising talent to Hollywood 'it girl' — returns for the first part of its second season on Aug. 6 after a three-year pause. And while this latest chapter in the story of the Addams Family and their morbidly brilliant daughter Wednesday sees her grappling with newfound, unwanted fame after saving Nevermore, the school for outcasts, Ortega doesn't like to dwell on the pitfalls of celebrity, unlike her character. 'Oh, I don't really think about it too much. I used to, but I don't really see a point anymore. It is what it is,' Ortega says politely when I ask how she deals with the increased popularity the series has brought her. 'Maybe that was the writers' intention, to be slightly meta.' The first season of 'Wednesday' became Netflix's most-watched show when it was released in 2022 and soon inspired a viral social media trend around Ortega's dance moves to the Cramps' 'Goo Goo Muck.' Her character's wit, confidence and modern goth style made Ortega an instant hit with viewers. She captured Wednesday's essence with such biting precision that her performance now feels inextricable from the role. Since that breakthrough, the actor has consolidated her status as a brooding leading lady starring in the horror hit 'Scream VI,' diving deeper into Burton's universe with 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,' appearing in the fantastical dark comedy 'Death of a Unicorn' and joining the music-laced thriller 'Hurry Up Tomorrow' opposite pop star the Weeknd. 'Growing up, I actually played the really nerdy, awkward character. I was never pegged as the dark one,' Ortega explains. 'That's why it's kind of funny that it's sort of my MO now, because I was always being described in scripts as a mouse or like, really intelligent but lacked some sense of confidence.' While Ortega hopes that some of her credits on the horizon will change that narrative, she acknowledges that a 'dark' character like Wednesday Addams offers complexity that's exciting for an actor to play. 'It's weird that oftentimes when people see you as one thing, they only want to see you as that,' she says. 'And when you venture outside of it, it can be quite disengaging for people.' Also back for the wonderful weirdness of 'Wednesday' are Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán, the veteran performers who play the heroine's parents Morticia and Gomez Addams. This season features their characters more prominently, much to their delight. 'Me and Luis were like, 'Can we do any more?'' says Zeta-Jones on a video call from Spain about their roles in the first season. The YA series catapulted fresh faces like Ortega and Emma Myers, who plays Wednesday's roommate Enid, to stardom, but Zeta-Jones and Guzmán have dozens of film and TV credits between them, bringing decades of experience to the show. (Zeta-Jones is also an Oscar winner for her supporting role in 2003's 'Chicago.') When she learned that series creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar planned to look closer at the other members of the Addams clan, including Gomez and Morticia, Zeta-Jones was eager to flesh out her part, signing on for Season 2. 'I was thrilled because for such an iconic character, you don't really know a lot about Morticia,' adds Zeta-Jones in her distinct Welsh accent. 'They finely tuned her vulnerability, her emotion, her fraught dynamic with Wednesday, and then brought in Grandma Frump [Morticia's mother, played by Joanna Lumley].' Guzmán describes the new episodes as a continuation of the ethos of inclusion established in the first season, a quality that has helped the Addams Family endure across generations. 'Our show shows people that it's OK to be who you are no matter what,' he says during an interview inside a trailer at the Forum before taking the stage for Netflix's Tudum event in May. 'It's not about fitting in — it's just about living your life, and it's OK to be how you are. Weird might not be the best word, but in our case, weird is beautiful.' Guzmán, who often speaks about his character in the first person, is pleased that audiences will discover Gomez's nuances this season. 'You find out more about his fathering. I do have a whole segment with my son [Pugsley, played by Isaac Ordonez] this season,' he says. 'And you just see how I navigate my life as a father in all the different circumstances that we come across.' This larger dose of Gomez features a rendition of the Spanish-language romantic track 'Bésame Mucho,' a 1930s bolero written by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velázquez for which countless versions exist, in a scene that allowed the Puerto Rican actor, whose storied career includes multiple collaborations with director Paul Thomas Anderson, to flex his passion for singing. 'They're just so excellent as the characters and so funny together. They bring such a great sense of humor,' Ortega says about her on-screen mom and dad, who share a passionate relationship like past iterations of the characters. 'And who doesn't want to see Gomez and Morticia all over each other? That's half the point of the series in general.' It's not the first time the actors have worked together, either. 'Wednesday' reunited Guzmán and Zeta-Jones for the first time in more than two decades after sharing the screen in Steven Soderbergh's 2000 Oscar-winning crime drama 'Traffic.' 'We hadn't seen each other in all this time, and then we totally picked up where we left off,' says Zeta-Jones. 'I was pregnant with my son during 'Traffic,' and Luis used to take such good care of me, making sure I had my tea and my stool to put my feet up.' Guzmán said their reunion was 'incredibly rewarding,' calling her 'kind and precise in her work.' Ortega, who is well aware of her co-stars' careers and accolades, treasures the time she's spent with these seasoned artists — first in Romania, where the first season was shot, and more recently in Ireland for this return — particularly because it's a show that required them to create a familial bond while playing peculiar characters. 'They've had such extensive careers and have done all sorts of genres, so they're very malleable performers,' she says. 'And to be able to work with them on a show that is kind of a conglomerate of so many different ideas — it's incredibly beneficial and has just been such wonderful education for me.' The admiration is mutual. Zeta-Jones believes sometimes great success at a young age is bestowed on individuals who are not equipped to deal with it no matter how many mentors they have on their side. Ortega, she thinks, represents the antithesis and is effusive about her work. 'I can't think of anyone more deserving or more prepared for what has happened to her in such a short space of time, because she's the real deal,' says Zeta-Jones about Ortega. 'She's got her head screwed on right. And more importantly, she's unwavering in her strength as a young woman. We talked art, politics, a whole bunch of s— that has nothing to do with 'Wednesday.'' The two actors have already shot another project together, 'The Gallerist,' an upcoming thriller filmed in Paris that also stars Natalie Portman and was directed by Cathy Yan ('Birds of Prey') . 'It was wonderful to work with her not in the 'Wednesday' world,' adds Zeta-Jones. These days, Zeta-Jones, who says she wants to direct in the future, feels she has nothing left to prove in this industry. The actor established herself with films like 'The Mask of Zorro' and 'Entrapment,' leading to a successful Hollywood career by many measures. Now, every job she takes is out of pleasure. 'I am enjoying this bit of a renaissance, this new chapter,' she says. Her outlook wasn't always so peaceful, however. 'I remember literally having nightmares on that Friday of box office numbers,' recalls Zeta-Jones. 'It was really terrifying, and now everything's a bonus, so the pressure's off now.' Asked about any piece of knowledge she would have liked to have known when she was Ortega's age, the actress looked inward. 'The biggest one for me, just in general in my career, in my life, is that you can't please everybody,' says Zeta-Jones. 'And you can't be liked by everybody.' For his part, Guzmán says the key to professional longevity is humility. With a resume as eclectic and consistent as his, he must be on to something. 'Carlito's Way,' 'Boogie Nights' and 'Punch-Drunk Love' feature some of his most memorable parts. And for his role in Soderbergh's 1999 crime saga 'The Limey,' Guzmán received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for best supporting male. 'Grounded' and not blinded by her 'star power' is precisely how he thinks of Ortega. 'She carries herself like a seasoned veteran,' he adds. 'This business could make you think that you're the greatest thing alive. And you might be, but you're also bound to remember where you come from,' he says. 'Remember what steps you had to take in order to get to where you are at the moment. My philosophy when I work is I always want to be invited to the next party, and I've been invited to many parties.' For Ortega, who's been in front of the camera since she was 9 years old, the lesson she wishes she'd learned sooner was knowing how to assert her agency as an artist in an environment eager to diminish her. 'I wish I had felt more secure in my position or in myself,' says Ortega. 'I felt like I was always having to be somebody else or put on another mask or face, because it's hard getting jobs and there's so much competition. There's so much rejection, and I wasn't always what they were going for.' Now, with more power to be selective about her projects, Ortega no longer wants to be a 'workhorse,' and she aims to dictate more closely where her time and energy go. 'I had been recommended to change myself for other people, which I think, as a young girl — that could probably be really confusing,' Ortega adds. 'And I don't know what that does on the psyche, but it's something that I've learned now, more so in the recent years after all this stuff that I wish I had taken on much sooner.' Whatever self-possession Ortega thinks she may have lacked, Wednesday has it in spades. But does she hope that her performance, and the way she handles her professional life, could inspire young viewers? Perhaps even spark an interest in acting just like watching Dakota Fanning in 'Man on Fire' did for her at a young age? 'It's really hard for me to think about myself in that sense, but with a character like Wednesday, I do think she's a good role model for girls, considering her strength and courage and confidence in herself,' Ortega says. 'She doesn't underestimate her power and is always pushing herself to learn more. She's a curious individual.' Curiosity is a trait that Ortega and Wednesday share. Even as she juggles a challenging schedule, the actor, whom Zeta-Jones describes as 'well-read with an amazing knowledge of directors and movies of great historical importance,' still finds time to watch films and expand her artistic landscape. 'Sometimes it's hard when you're filming because too many stories can be a bit heavy on the mind,' Ortega says. 'I read less books, but I still always watch at least a movie on the weekend. I'll read plays because they're a bit easier to pick up and put down and finish, so it doesn't take from you too much and it's still involved in my craft and the history of it all.' Stardom born from diligent work does come with its dazzling perks. At Tudum, Ortega appeared on stage during Lady Gaga's performance as part of a lugubrious ensemble. The pop star has a cameo appearance in this season of 'Wednesday.' 'That was something that came up the night before,' says Ortega. 'I didn't have much time to think about it, but that seems like something you would be regretting for a very long time afterwards if you didn't take her up on it.' As she tries to balance spontaneity with strategy moving forward, Ortega, who doesn't much enjoy pondering the future, might lean more on Guzmán and Zeta-Jones for advice on what it takes to build a long-lasting, fulfilling career amid hurdles and triumphs. 'Maybe I've got to talk to them a bit more about that instead of making silly jokes sometimes,' Ortega says. 'I get very easily overwhelmed, and I've got to take things a day at a time before I start thinking too far in advance.'
Tom's Guide
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
'Wednesday' season 2 creators share update on potential spinoff — here's what we know
'Wednesday' season 2 is officially one week away, but with a third season already confirmed and spinoff rumors swirling, fans have been eager for clues about what might be next for the Addams universe. While characters like Uncle Fester (Fred Armisen), Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Gomez Addams (Luis Guzmán) offer plenty of potential for expanded stories, creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar say their focus, for now, is firmly on Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) and Nevermore Academy (h/t Collider). 'It's not a priority at the moment because, as we just said, it's how do we get Wednesday back faster than we did in season 2? So, we kind of went right from finishing season 2 to jumping right into developing season 3. So, it's sort of all Wednesday all the time at the moment.' That much is clear, especially with season 2 marking Wednesday's return to Nevermore and the intensifying of her visions, including a moment in the trailer where she envisions Enid's death. There's still plenty of ground to cover in the main series before shifting focus to any Netflix spinoffs. Plus, 'Wednesday' season 2 brings a host of fresh faces to Nevermore Academy, from Steve Buscemi's enigmatic new principal Barry Dort and Joanna Lumley's Grandmama Hester Frump, to Billie Piper as music teacher Capri Isadora and Thandiwe Newton as Dr. Fairburn. These characters all offer plenty of scope for deeper exploration in future seasons. Of course, the faster production pace for season 3 is likely welcome news for fans still recovering from the long wait between seasons. And while some might be disappointed to hear that a larger Addams Family universe won't be expanding just yet, Gough and Millar aren't ruling anything out in the long run. As the premiere of season 2 draws near, the showrunners are still hard at work on post-production, fine-tuning everything from sound mixes to color grading, all while staying active in the writers' room. 'This show has been an amazing gift to us,' Millar said. 'And we really want to honor the fans and make sure that we deliver the best show that they deserve after a three-year wait.' Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Whether or not spinoffs eventually come to life, there's still so much to uncover within the world of Nevermore. For now, fans can look forward to more mystery, more mayhem, and more of Jenna Ortega's unforgettable Wednesday when the series returns. Just expect more scares in season 2, and even a spooky dive into some pretty intense territory. "Wednesday" season 2 will be released on Netflix in two parts: Part 1 on August 6, and part 2 on September 3. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Wednesday' Season 2: Jenna Ortega returns with new cast, gripping Plot Details and CONFIRMED Season 3
The popular show 'Wednesday' is coming back with Season 2. returns as Wednesday Addams, and this time, there are more mysteries, new characters, and spooky adventures at Nevermore Academy. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now About ' Wednesday Season 2 ' The hit series 'Wednesday' is making a grand return with Season 2, releasing on August 6, 2025. After the massive success of the first season, fans can look forward to more mysteries, strange happenings, and darker adventures at Nevermore Academy. Jenna is back as the sharp and spooky Wednesday Addams, and this time she's joined by a group of new characters who bring fresh twists to the storyline. With eight new episodes, the season promises to be just as thrilling as the first. New Cast Members Along with Jenna Ortega's return as Wednesday, several new characters will be introduced in Season 2, Steve Buscemi plays Principal Dort, the new head of Nevermore Academy who supports strong outcast pride, Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo joins as Sheriff Ritchie Santiago, Jericho's new sheriff who works closely with Wednesday to solve a fresh series of deaths, then Christopher Lloyd takes on the role of Professor Orloff, a senior teacher who keeps a close watch on students like Pugsley, Joanna Lumley plays Grandmama Hester Frump, Morticia's mother who runs the family funeral business and is serious about the Addams legacy, Heather Matarazzo appears as Judi, who works at Willow Hill and quickly clashes with Wednesday, Thandiwe Newton joins as Dr. Rachael Fairburn, the head psychiatrist treating Tyler Galpin and focusing on outcast mental health, Owen Painter plays Slurp, a zombie brought to life by Pugsley, but things take a dark turn, Billie Piper is Isadora Capri, the new head of music at Nevermore and mentor to Enid Sinclair, Noah B. Taylor plays Bruno, a werewolf who connects with Enid during the summer break, and Evie Templeton joins as Agnes DeMille, a new student who admires Wednesday for saving Nevermore. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Season 3 confirmation The show's global popularity lead to the production house officially confirming that 'Wednesday' will return for a third season. The first season set a major record with over 252 million views in just 91 days, making it the most-watched English-language show on the platform. Season 2 is expected to continue that success and break even more records.
Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix fans 'work out' identity of Wednesday's stalker and it's not who you think
Anticipation is building for fans of the Netflix show Wednesday as season 2 is set to be released on August 6 Wednesday fans think they have "cracked" the identity of the mysterious stalker with season 2 merely weeks away. Excitement is mounting amongst Wednesday devotees as Season 2 is scheduled for release on August 6. Jenna Ortega reprises her role as Wednesday Addams whilst she becomes embroiled in another puzzling mystery. Season 1 witnessed Wednesday arrive at Nevermore Academy, a boarding establishment for outcasts and misfits. Despite her initial preference for solitude, the beloved character quickly became Nevermore's unlikely hero. Viewers will recall that the inaugural season concluded on a cliffhanger as Wednesday seemed to have acquired a stalker. Equipped with her first mobile phone, she began receiving numerous text messages from an anonymous sender, including photographs of herself with others. One text stated "I'm watching you" accompanied by a menacing gif. Throughout recent years, fans have been debating the stalker's potential identity, reports the Express. And the options are limitless, but there is one that has come to a surprise to a few people. On Reddit, one user commented: "Maybe Enid is the stalker and is just sending messages to herself to throw Wednesday off her sent." In an earlier thread, another suggested: "I (PERSONALLY) have a theory that the stalker is Ajax, since anytime they kiss, Enid's claws come out, kind of like she's got a bad feeling about him maybe?" One viewer speculated: "I feel like it might be Ms Weems. I know she is dead from nightshade poisoning but Lurch's eyes were both black at the end but it wasn't supposed to be. It was one greyish and one black. She might have came back to life and became bad. She always had her eyes on her so would that already be stalking her?" Some enthusiasts have proposed that the stalker could be a fresh character introduced in the second series, but one fan is particularly convinced the stalker is a shape shifter, stating: "I think the shapeshifter would challenge wednesdays trust in people in a new way leading to tension in her relationships." However, it is one fan's commitment to Bianca that has people surprised as they also provide plausible reasons why the siren could be the one. They argued that Bianca would have been present for all the moments the photos were taken and also mentioned tension between Bianca and Wednesday. They further explained: "How would Bianca get access to the phone? Easy, Siren Song Xavier to get the phone number." Showrunners Miles Millar and Alfred Gough previously confirmed they had hoped fans would theorise who the stalker might be, according to Netflix's Tudum. Millar added: "The Stalker [mystery] is just the idea that the threats remain out there. "There are certainly other possible threats out there to both Wednesday and the school. Not all the loose ends have been tied up as neatly as Wednesday thinks they have. And she loves the idea of a new mystery."
