Netflix has been working on an Addams Family spinoff centered on a teenage Wednesday for a couple years. Today was the day they opened the coffin and revealed their creation to the world. The show is produced by Tim Burton and sticks the deadpan delight into boarding school — Nevermore Academy, a place for everyone kooky and ooky to learn algebra.
There’s a problem with the premise Burton set up here, and it’s this: The Addams Family works best when they are in high contrast to their surroundings. By that I mean they NEED to be surrounded by normal people, specifically horrible normal people. The Addamses are the ultimate prejudice allegory; they look and act terrifying but they are actually very loving and supportive of each other. When they’re pitted against average humans that look pretty on the outside but are cruel jerks on the inside, it’s great. The past few adaptions have fully understood this. Addams Family Values is very cathartic to watch.
This trailer started out promising, with Wednesday being stuck at a school named after Nancy Reagan and expressing herself in ways like casually dumping two dozen piranhas into a swimming pool full of jocks. There’s plenty for her to do there! But reversing that and sticking her in Nevermore Academy, a supernatural school where she’s bunking with folks a lot like her, doesn’t hold as much potential. I know it wouldn’t be Burton if everything didn’t scream “goth” from every frame, but like I said, the Addams world needs contrast.
There was an excellent, completely unofficial web series by Melissa Hunter called Adult Wednesday Addams that ran on YouTube before the rights holders caught it and knocked it down (though re-uploads are not hard to find). Hunter played Wednesday and did a marvelous job, and fully understood what made the character appealing (she took down one societal annoyance per episode). The shorts are worth tracking down, if this series doesn’t go well. Netflix’s Wednesday will premiere this fall (presumably just before Halloween?)
I loved Jenna Ortega in Babysitter 2. I hope this show will put her name to the map. She deserves fame!
This is the exceptional example of how a teaser trailer should be made. While the series’ whole plot or description is not provided, the environment and mood are perfectly captured. I’m glad they didn’t make them “kind of creepy but not really” like the new movies did. I adore the feeling that Wednesday is developing into a true sociopath.
Did Wednesday just killed that swimmer by putting piranhas in a pool? LOL she kills people for real now instead of just being a creepy girl.
Her personality was well caught by the lighting and filters, which complemented the trailer’s vibe flawlessly. I’m excited to watch this series. Tim Burton is an absolute genius. He doesn’t receive enough praise for the effort he put in. He’s undoubtedly among the top cinematic filmmakers of our time!
Although I believe it will be very difficult to beat Christina Ricci’s performance as Wednesday Addams, I believe Jenna Ortega appears to be really excellent in this 2-minute trailer. When the Netflix original series debuts, I am eager to watch it. Her personality was well caught by the lighting and filters, which complemented the trailer’s vibe flawlessly. I’m excited to watch this series.
I feel old that Catherine Zeta Jones is now playing a mom role. OMG my age is showing.
I heard Cristina Ricci is on this series but for a different role.
Does anyone want to let Tim Burton know that fish cannot tolerate chlorine exposure? In this circumstance, those piranhas will die. It’s a sure bet that piranhas and chlorine-treated pool water don’t get along very well. I have aquariums so I know.