Mercredi season 2: Lady Gaga joins the cast
The Wednesday series, launched in 2022 by Netflix and partly directed by Tim Burton, returns for a second season, with Lady Gaga as guest star.
Jenna Ortega reprises her role as the iconic Wednesday Addams, but this time the atmosphere promises to be darker. Filming has begun in Ireland, and new stars are joining the cast, including Lady Gaga. The pop star, whose track Bloody Mary went viral with Mercredi’s dance on TikTok, will be making a much-anticipated appearance.
A full cast and a few absentees
In addition to Jenna Ortega, Coen brothers’ favorite actor Steve Buscemi joins the cast. Other stars joining the Nevermore universe include Joanna Lumley, Thandiwe Newton, Haley Joel Osment, and Christopher Lloyd, who played Uncle Fester in the 90s films. However, Percy Hynes-White, a.k.a. Xavier Thorpe, will not be returning following accusations that erupted on social networks.
A more horrific turn for an intense story
Season 2 will move away from romantic plots. Jenna Ortega, in an interview with Variety, announced a darker, more horrific direction desired by the creative team. ” We’ve decided to go more into the horrific aspect of the series,” she explains. This choice of script is intended to be more in keeping with the gothic universe of the Addams Family, while remaining accessible. “It’s about not taking ourselves too seriously either,” adds the actress.
On September 20, 2024, Netflix unveiled a preview of the new season. Catherine Zeta-Jones, back as Morticia Addams, promises a “more extraordinary and terrifying” season . Burton will direct the first episode, entitled An Unfortunate New Beginning. This choice augurs a season with a singular visual style, although some fans found the first season too watered-down compared to previous adaptations.
A look back at a mixed first season
Despite its success, season 1 of Wednesday was met with mixed reviews. Although Jenna Ortega was nominated for an Emmy for her performance, some critics felt that the series lacked the dark humor and absurdity of the Addams Family. The tone is closer to a teen series like Elite or The New Adventures of Sabrina, with elements reminiscent of Harry Potter. The gothic atmosphere is lightened to appeal to the TikTok generation, at the expense of authenticity.
Season 2, due in 2025, promises to respond to these criticisms with more darkness and depth, hoping to convince purists and further expand the audience. Fans hope to see the series finally return to the biting, ironic style of the Addams universe, which has conquered generations.
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