Netflix Viewers Celebrate More Wednesday Coming Soon

Netflix has given fans the first look at Billie Piper on set for season two of Wednesday, the breakout gothic teen comedy series starring Jenna Ortega. The 42-year-old British actress appears in the new season as Isadora Capri, the head of music at Nevermore Academy.

Nicknamed “The Bride of Frankenstein” for her work on Penny Dreadful, Piper has a long history of playing gothic characters. She’ll play Isadora Capri in the new season, described as a “former child prodigy who takes a particular interest in Wednesday Addams’ musical ability. Piper also appears with returning cast member Emma Myers as she mentors werewolf student Enid Sinclair.

Netflix shared the first images of Piper on set for Wednesday season two alongside big news about the future of the record-breaking series. First released in November 2022, Wednesday quickly became a global hit, with 252 million viewers tuning in around the world. It became Netflix’s biggest English-language series ever. Renewed in January 2023 for season two, the platform has now confirmed the show will return in August this year.

Wednesday stars Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams as she enters Nevermore Academy, a school for supernatural misfits. A dark reimagining of the Addams Family, the series combined teen rebellion, horror, and humor to critical and fan acclaim, picking up Emmy nominations and a legion of fans.

Season Three Confirmed and Spin-Off on the Way

Billie Piper isn’t the only exciting news for Wednesday fans. The streaming service has confirmed even more, officially renewing the series for season three. Fans will have even more Wednesday to enjoy, as a spin-off series is also on the way. The Hollywood Reporter reports that a spin-off is in “early development.”

Details are still scarce, but co-creator Alfred Gough has teased, “It’s something we’re noodling; there are other characters we can look at.”

Fans were ecstatic on social media, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, who plays Wednesday’s mom, Morticia, was in on the action too. Zeta-Jones confirmed the renewal herself in a cheeky Instagram post. “When Wednesday comes, a better day. Wednesday season three. It’s official…. we shall return.” Fans flocked to the comments, writing things like, “And for many more seasons,” “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!”

Some were worried about the wait for season two to even get going. Fans are hoping that next time, Netflix and the show’s team will work more quickly on production to avoid another lengthy wait. Despite the recent announcement, the second season will debut more than two years after the show’s original premiere. One fan summed up the thoughts of many others when they commented, “I’ll be gripping the sheets in agony waiting, but please… don’t let us wait 3 years again.”

Auteur and director Tim Burton, 66, will be back as executive producer and an occasional director. Burton is one of the show’s creative forces, and he’s also recently been working with Ortega, who is starring in Beetlejuice, the sequel to the 1988 cult classic, Beetlejuice.

Billie Piper isn’t the only new star to appear in the upcoming season. The show also has some big names coming on in new roles, including Lady Gaga, Steve Buscemi, Joanna Lumley, and Thandie Newton. The returning regulars include Gwendoline Christie as headteacher Larissa Weems and Luis Guzmán as Wednesday’s father, Gomez Addams.

Jenna Ortega has become a producer on the show after months of back-and-forth on her comments. Ortega was criticized by some fans on social media after a podcast interview where she said that she “changed lines” a lot and had to “put her foot down” over differences. Director Tim Burton came to the actress’s defense, and co-creator Alfred Gough has added that Ortega’s new producing role is “purely reflective” of how much she was already involved in the show and how regularly she provided script notes. “This is a young woman who’s a creative, and she very actively took part in all the storytelling,” he said.

Joanna Lumley, one of the stars joining Wednesday, was also gushing on Instagram about the experience. “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.”

Billie Piper’s arrival, a third season, and a potential spin-off show that the Wednesday universe is only just beginning. Fans will have to wait until August for the new season, but the excitement is already building for the mysteries of Nevermore Academy.