Wednesday, the Netflix series created by Tim Burton and starring Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams, was one of the most successful and popular shows of 2023. The dark comedy, which follows the adventures of the young Addams at the Nevermore Academy, a school for “special kids” with magical and paranormal powers, captivated the audience with its witty humour, intriguing mystery, and spooky atmosphere. The first season ended with a cliffhanger, leaving the fans eager to know what will happen next to Wednesday and her friends.
However, the production and release of the second season of Wednesday have been delayed due to the actors’ strike, which affected many film and TV projects in the past months. The strike, which started in October 2023, was caused by a dispute between the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) over the terms and conditions of the new contract for the actors. The main issues were the residuals, the compensation, and the health and safety of the actors in the era of streaming and Covid-19.
The strike was finally resolved in February 2024, after a long and tense negotiation, and the actors and the producers reached a tentative agreement, which was ratified by the SAG-AFTRA members. The new contract, which will last until June 2026, includes a 3% increase in the minimum wage, a 26% increase in the residuals for streaming platforms, and a better protection for the actors’ health and well-being.
The New Location
With the end of the strike, the production and the scheduling of the film and TV projects that were affected by it have resumed, and among them is the second season of Wednesday. The showrunners have announced that the filming of the new episodes will start in April 2024, and that they will introduce some major changes to the show, starting from the location.
The first season of Wednesday was filmed in Romania, in various locations such as Bucharest, Sinaia, and Bran Castle. The showrunners chose Romania for its Gothic and mysterious scenery, which matched the tone and the style of the series. However, for the second season, they have decided to move the filming to Ireland, for several reasons.
One of the reasons is the Covid-19 situation, which is still affecting many countries in Europe, including Romania. The showrunners wanted to ensure the safety and the comfort of the cast and the crew, and they found that Ireland had a better management and a lower risk of the pandemic. Another reason is the budget, which was reduced due to the strike and the streaming competition. The showrunners wanted to save money and time, and they found that Ireland had more convenient and accessible facilities and services for the production. A third reason is the story, which will explore new and different aspects of the Nevermore Academy and the Addams family, and which will require new and different settings and backgrounds.
The New Villain
Another change that the fans can expect in the second season of Wednesday is the introduction of a new villain, who will pose a new threat to Wednesday and her friends. The identity and the motives of the new villain are still a mystery, but some clues and hints have been dropped by the showrunners and the cast.
The first clue is the cryptic message that Wednesday receives at the end of the first season, from an unknown sender, who warns her that “the game is not over” and that “the truth will come out”. The message also includes some photos of the Nevermore Academy, which suggest that the sender is someone who knows the school and its secrets very well. The second clue is the comment made by Jenna Ortega, who plays Wednesday, in a recent interview. Ortega said that the second season will be darker and scarier than the first one, and that the new villain will be someone who is “very close” to Wednesday, and who will “shock” the fans.
Who is the new villain of the second season of Wednesday? Is it someone from the Addams family, such as Uncle Fester or Cousin Itt? Is it someone from the Nevermore Academy, such as the headmaster or one of the teachers? Is it someone from Wednesday’s past, such as an old enemy or a former friend? Or is it someone completely unexpected and surprising, such as a new character or a famous guest star?
The fans will have to wait until the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025 to find out, when the second season of Wednesday will be released on Netflix. Until then, they can rewatch the first season of the series, and enjoy the dark and hilarious adventures of the young Addams.
