Jenna Ortega didn't just play Wednesday Addams. She basically possessed her. It's rare to see a performance so specific that it spawns a global dance trend, but that’s exactly what happened when the cast of wednesday tv series hit Netflix. Honestly, the show could have been a disaster. Reimagining an IP as beloved as The Addams Family is a massive risk. If the chemistry between the students at Nevermore Academy hadn't clicked, we’d be looking at just another teen drama with a gothic coat of paint.
Instead, Tim Burton and the casting directors found a group of actors who felt like they belonged in a sketchbook from the 1930s. It wasn't just about finding "spooky" people. They needed actors who could handle the deadpan humor of the Addams world while making us actually care about a bunch of outcasts with literal fangs and fur.
The Core Players: More Than Just Deadpan Stares
At the center of it all is Jenna Ortega. You've probably heard the stories about her refusing to blink on set to nail the "Kubrick Stare." It worked. Ortega brought a physical discipline to the role that most actors her age simply don't have. She learned cello. She took fencing lessons. She even choreographed that viral dance herself while she had COVID (which, in hindsight, was a bit of a production nightmare).
But a lead is only as good as their foil. Enter Emma Myers as Enid Sinclair. If Wednesday is a black hole of emotion, Enid is a supernova of neon pink. The dynamic between the two is the emotional spine of the show. Myers played Enid with a frantic, eager-to-please energy that felt painfully relatable to anyone who’s ever felt like the "weird one" in their own family.
Then we have the adults. Casting Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia and Luis Guzmán as Gomez was a stroke of genius that divided some fans initially. People were used to the Raul Julia version of Gomez—dashing, thin, classically handsome. But Guzmán’s casting was actually a return to the original Charles Addams cartoons, where Gomez was a shorter, stouter man. It was a "purist" move that paid off because the chemistry between him and Zeta-Jones felt genuinely affectionate.
The Nevermore Student Body
The supporting cast of wednesday tv series at Nevermore Academy provided the necessary friction to keep the plot moving. Percy Hynes White played Xavier Thorpe, the tortured artist with a connection to the Hyde monster. His performance had to be nuanced enough to keep us guessing about his intentions.
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Hunter Doohan, as Tyler Galpin, had perhaps the most difficult job. He had to play the "normie" love interest while hiding a literal beast inside. The shift in his performance during the finale—that cold, chilling reveal in the police station—is one of the most effective heel turns in recent TV history. Doohan’s ability to flip from "sweet barista" to "sociopathic monster" was terrifyingly smooth.
Joy Sunday’s Bianca Barclay deserves a lot of credit too. Usually, the "mean girl" in these shows is one-dimensional. But Bianca had a backstory involving a siren cult and a strained relationship with her mother that made her feel like a real person rather than a trope. She wasn't Wednesday’s enemy; she was her rival. There’s a big difference.
Why Season 2 is Shaking Up the Casting Sheet
Expectations are through the roof. Netflix knows this. For Season 2, which has been filming in Ireland instead of Romania, the cast of wednesday tv series is expanding in some very weird and wonderful ways.
The biggest news? Steve Buscemi is joining the show. We don't know exactly who he's playing yet, but rumors strongly suggest he's the new Principal of Nevermore following the untimely (and crunchy) demise of Gwendoline Christie’s Larissa Weems. Buscemi has that "eccentric but slightly unsettling" vibe down to a science.
We’re also getting more of the Addams family. Fred Armisen’s Uncle Fester was a highlight of the first season, despite only being in one episode. He’s expected to have a larger role. Plus, Isaac Ordonez is returning as Pugsley. The show is leaning more into the family dynamics this time around, which is a smart move. Fans want to see how Wednesday’s independence clashes with the stifling love of her parents.
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New Faces and Departures
It's not all additions, though. Due to various reasons—some creative, some personal—there are shifts in the lineup. Percy Hynes White will not be returning as Xavier. This leaves a vacuum in the "troubled artist" slot that the writers will likely fill with one of the new characters, like those played by Billie Piper or Joanna Lumley.
Lumley is an incredible get for this show. Best known for Absolutely Fabulous, she brings a level of camp and authority that fits perfectly into Tim Burton’s aesthetic. Christopher Lloyd—the OG Uncle Fester—is also joining in a guest role. It’s a beautiful full-circle moment for the franchise.
The Technical Art of Casting a "Burton" Project
Casting for Tim Burton isn't like casting for a Marvel movie. He looks for "silent film" faces. He wants actors who can convey a story through their eyes and their posture because his worlds are so visually dense.
When you look at the cast of wednesday tv series, every person has a distinct silhouette. Gwendoline Christie, at 6'3", was a literal tower of Hitchcockian elegance. Riki Lindhome brought a twitchy, nervous energy to Dr. Kinbott. Even Victor Dorobantu, the actor who plays Thing, had to undergo rigorous training to express emotion using only his hand.
That’s the secret sauce. The show doesn't treat its characters like teenagers in a drama; it treats them like archetypes in a dark fairy tale.
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Behind the Scenes: The Romania Connection
While the actors get the glory, the environment shaped their performances. The first season was filmed in the cold, grey landscapes of Romania. Jenna Ortega has talked openly about the grueling schedule and the isolation she felt while filming. That exhaustion actually helped her performance. You can see it in her eyes—a genuine weariness that perfectly suits a girl who hates the world.
The move to Ireland for Season 2 will likely change the "vibe" slightly. Ireland is greener, mistier, and has a different kind of ancient folklore. It'll be interesting to see if the cast’s energy shifts to match the new terrain.
Practical Insights for Fans and Aspiring Creators
If you're following the cast of wednesday tv series to understand how hit shows are built, there are a few takeaways that aren't immediately obvious:
- Chemistry is non-negotiable: Netflix did "chemistry reads" over Zoom for many of these roles, but the magic happened when they got to set. You can't fake the bond between Wednesday and Enid.
- Physicality matters: Ortega's refusal to blink and her stiff gait were choices, not accidents. Every actor in the show has a specific way of moving that defines their character's "power."
- Embrace the source material but update the soul: The show succeeded because it respected the 1960s TV show and the 1990s movies while making the characters feel like they belong in 2024.
What to Watch for Next
Keep an eye on the official Netflix social channels for the first look at Steve Buscemi in character. That will tell us everything we need to know about the tone of Season 2. Also, watch the casting calls for "background outcasts." The show is leaning harder into the horror elements this time—Ortega herself has said they’re ditching the romantic subplots in favor of more scares.
This means the cast will likely be doing more physical stunts and prosthetics work. If you're a fan of the macabre, that's exactly what you want to hear. The cast of wednesday tv series is evolving from a high-school ensemble into a proper horror troupe.
To stay ahead of the curve on this show, follow the actors' personal projects. Many of them, like Emma Myers (who recently starred in A Good Girl's Guide to Murder), are using their Wednesday fame to lead their own series. This "Nevermore Effect" is turning the entire cast into the next generation of Hollywood A-listers.
Check the production notes for the "S2" release date, which is currently slated for late 2025 or early 2026. Until then, rewatching Season 1 is the best way to catch all the tiny performance details you missed the first time—like how Thing reacts differently to every single character. It's a masterclass in ensemble acting.