What to Expect from Wednesday Season 2: New Characters, More Chaos

Netflix has given viewers the first look at Billie Piper in her new role as she joins the cast of Wednesday season 2. The star, 42, will play the character Isadora Capri, who is described as “intellectual and enigmatic” in the gothic comedy.

Piper is known for playing many gothic and supernatural roles, including Brona Croft/The Bride of Frankenstein in Penny Dreadful. Her latest role, a former child prodigy, is described as one that takes a special interest in Wednesday Addams’ musical abilities. She also mentors werewolf student Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers).

Netflix shared the first look at Billie Piper on the day they made major announcements about the future of the record-breaking series. Wednesday first arrived on the streaming service in November 2022 and quickly became a global phenomenon. Gaining 252 million viewers worldwide, the show is Netflix’s biggest English-language show of all time. It was then renewed in January 2023 for season two, which is now confirmed to premiere in August this year.

The show is a sinister version of the Addams Family world, centering on Wednesday Addams, played by 22-year-old Jenna Ortega. Wednesday is a misfit student at Nevermore Academy, a school for supernatural and unusual young people. Mixing horror, comedy, and teenage rebellion, Wednesday gained success with audiences and critics, scooping Emmy nominations and a legion of fans.

Wednesday Season 3 Confirmed and Spin-Off Planned

In addition to news about Billie Piper’s new character, Wednesday has also been given a third season by Netflix. A spin-off series is also in the works, it has been reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Details are still under development, but co-creator Alfred Gough has hinted, “It’s something we’re noodling; there are other characters we can look at.”

The news was welcomed with great excitement on social media. Catherine Zeta-Jones confirmed the news herself in an Instagram post, reading, “When Wednesday comes, a better day. Wednesday season three. It’s official… we shall return.” Fans inundated the post with praise, one writing, “And for many more seasons,” and another, “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 have also noted their relief that filming can begin as soon as possible for season three. Many want to hope that the gap between seasons will not be as long this time. Although season two was announced in January 2023, it will not arrive until August 2024. That is over two years after the show’s original release date, so there have been many complaints and hopes that this will not be the case for future seasons. One fan commented, “I’ll be gripping the sheets in agony waiting, but please… don’t let us wait three years again.”

Tim Burton, 66, is on board to return as executive producer and occasional director. Burton has worked extensively on the show so far, continuing to create the show’s particularly eerie aesthetic. He also recently reunited with Ortega in Beetlejuice, the upcoming sequel to the 1988 cult classic.

Season two also has some major names in addition to Billie Piper. Star names include Lady Gaga, Steve Buscemi, Joanna Lumley, and Thandie Newton. The returning regulars to the show include Gwendoline Christie as headteacher Larissa Weems and Luis Guzmán as Wednesday’s father, Gomez Addams.

Ortega herself is taking an even more active role behind the scenes as well. After some criticism over a podcast interview in which the actress admitted she had to often “change lines” and had to “put her foot down” over inconsistencies, Ortega has since taken a producer title on the show. Director Tim Burton also publicly came out in Ortega’s defense, saying that she had been misquoted and that her comments were misunderstood. Co-creator Alfred Gough also added that the title of producer suited Ortega well, as she had been a major part of the creative process on the show and had been known to send back scripts with major notes.

Joanna Lumley, who has joined the cast of the upcoming season, commented on joining the show, “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.”

Fans will have to wait until August for the second installment, but with Billie Piper joining, the confirmed third season, and the spin-off series, there is no sign of the Wednesday world slowing down yet.