Addams Family Spin-Off in Talks as Wednesday Season 3 Confirmed

Netflix has released the first look at Billie Piper on the set of the upcoming second season of Wednesday, the gothic comedy series starring Jenna Ortega. The 42-year-old actress will play the character of Isadora Capri, head of music at Nevermore Academy.

Isadora Capri is described as the “mastermind behind every student’s academic and musical career” at the academy. A former child prodigy, Piper’s character shows particular interest in Wednesday Addams’ talent for music. Isadora Capri also becomes the mentor of werewolf transfer Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers).

Billie Piper is no stranger to gothic and supernatural roles, with her most recent role as Brona Croft/The Bride of Frankenstein in Penny Dreadful. Wednesday’s second season will also star new cast members Lady Gaga, Steve Buscemi, Joanna Lumley, and Thandiwe Newton. Returning regulars include Gwendoline Christie, Luis Guzmán, and Emma Myers, who was previously announced to join the cast.

Netflix shared the first photos of Piper on the set, alongside major announcements about the future of Wednesday, the record-breaking series. The series originally premiered in November 2022 and quickly became a worldwide hit. Watched by 252 million viewers globally, it became Netflix’s biggest English-language series of all time at the time of release. Renewed in January 2023, the second season of Wednesday is now confirmed for August of this year.

Wednesday is a dark retelling of the universe of The Addams Family. It follows the story of 22-year-old Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) as she begins school at Nevermore Academy, a boarding school for supernatural outcasts. Melding elements of horror, comedy, and coming-of-age, the show became an instant sensation. Wednesday received Emmy nominations and quickly amassed a loyal fanbase.

Wednesday Season Three and a Spin-Off Show Are Coming

The announcement of Billie Piper’s new role comes as Netflix has made another major announcement about the future of Wednesday. The gothic comedy has officially been renewed for a third season. The streaming service is also currently in discussions about a potential spin-off show, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. While the plans are currently in development, co-creator Alfred Gough teased: “It’s something we’re noodling; there are other characters we can look at.”

The news was shared with fans on Twitter and Instagram by Catherine Zeta-Jones, who plays Morticia Addams in the series. “When Wednesday comes, a better day. Wednesday season three. It’s official… we shall return,” Zeta-Jones wrote in a cheeky Instagram post. Commenters on the post were quick to express their excitement, with replies such as, “And for many more seasons,” and “I can’t wait to see the second season, I’m waiting for it with great curiosity… and the third is already official, fantastic news!”

Fans also responded to the news with relief, hoping that the wait for the third season would be shorter this time around. Although renewed in January 2023, the second season will premiere over two years after the original. When the season was first announced, fans had to wait over 11 months. Some called on Netflix to give fans shorter wait times, with one person saying, “I’ll be gripping the sheets in agony waiting, but please…don’t let us wait three years again.”

Director Tim Burton, 66, will also return for the second season as executive producer and an occasional director. Burton also recently worked with Ortega on Beetlejuice, the forthcoming sequel to the 1988 cult film of the same name.

Season two of Wednesday also welcomes a star-studded lineup of new cast members, in addition to Billie Piper. New additions to the cast include names such as Lady Gaga, Steve Buscemi, Joanna Lumley, and Thandie Newton. Returning to the series are Gwendoline Christie as headteacher Larissa Weems, and Luis Guzmán as Gomez Addams, Wednesday’s father.

Meanwhile, Ortega herself has recently stepped into a more behind-the-scenes role, in the position of executive producer. The move follows some controversy around the actress in early 2023, and an interview on a podcast. In it, Ortega said she had often had to “change lines” and “put her foot down” due to the character’s inconsistencies. Director Tim Burton publicly cleared Ortega, saying her comments had been misconstrued. Co-creator Alfred Gough also added that the news of her promotion made perfect sense, as Ortega was already closely involved in the creative process and regularly gave feedback on scripts.

Joanna Lumley, one of Wednesday’s newest additions, is also excited about the series. “There’s always something thrilling about working for Tim Burton. His whole mind takes him to a different world, and the world that they’ve created here for Wednesday and Nevermore and the family is just intoxicating,” she told Entertainment Weekly.