Wednesday power team Tim Burton and Jenna Ortega revealed what attracted them to the show

When Netflix paired Tim Burton’s twisted imagination with Jenna Ortega’s sharp, deadpan brilliance, Wednesday was never going to be ordinary. The unlikely power duo rebuilt it in their own dark image, and it all started like every good gothic story does.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the director opened up on what attracted him to the show, as he told the outlet,

"I’ve never done television, so it was the idea of exploring something on a longer time frame, and she’s an interesting character. As much as a middle-aged man could feel like a teenage Wednesday Addams, I feel those things. And she’s a character that’s all about being subtle because she doesn’t really have a huge range of emotions."

Ortega followed with her statement as she added,

"She’s also one of the few protagonists who is able to get away with that, aside from villains — who tend not to have emotional growth or depth. … I actually did an audition for [a Wednesday animated movie] when I was 14, and I didn’t get it. I remember telling my mom, “That would be cool to be her, though.”"

More details that Jenna Ortega and Tim Burton revealed about Wednesday

Tim Burton and Jenna Ortega revealed a lot more details in the interview about the show. Before Ortega was even in the picture, Burton warned creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, “If we don’t find Wednesday, there is no show.”

At the time, it almost didn’t happen. Despite the Addams Family pedigree, only one bidder, Netflix, took the gamble. Ortega auditioned via Zoom while filming X, bringing a sharp, otherworldly energy the showrunners say no one else could match.

That casting proved golden. When Wednesday premiered, it racked up 252 million global views, becoming Netflix’s biggest English-language series. Fans watched it over and over, sharing it across generations, from parents to soldiers in Ukraine doing the Wednesday dance. Netflix executive Bela Bajaria says its appeal went far beyond analytics, tapping into the universal feeling of being an outsider.

Ortega’s take on Wednesday wasn’t just in her performance; she actively shaped the character. After season one, she made headlines for revealing she’d changed lines on set when things didn’t feel true to Wednesday. Far from ruffled, Gough praises her insight, noting she’s now a producer with a rare 360-degree view of the story.

Now the duo return with big news: Wednesday has been renewed for season three, and a spinoff is already in early talks. Season two arrived August 6, promising more of the horror-comedy mix that made the first season a hit.

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How long can Wednesday’s school days last, though? Gough and Millar imagine a full seven-year Nevermore run, but Ortega keeps the door open to other creative ventures. In true Wednesday fashion, an early exit wouldn’t shock anyone. And as for the spinoff? The details are locked up like a family secret, but Netflix hints there’s “a lot to explore in the Addams Family.”

Wednesday is now streaming on Netflix.

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