The season of spookiness brings horror shows with it, and this year, there isn’t anything much better than to curl up on the couch with than “Wednesday,” the new Netflix adaptation and continuation of the famously peculiar Addams Family.
Set to be released on Nov. 23, Netflix’s anticipated series is produced and directed by Tim Burton, who is notorious for his gothic filmmaking. The show is already being commended for Burton’s accurate ethnic casting and modernization of “Wednesday” compared to its predecessors.
From cartoons by Charles Addams in the 1930s to 10 televised series and film adaptations, including “Wednesday”, the Addams family doesn’t get any less creepy or bizarre. This wealthy family is completely oblivious of their supernatural peculiarities, making most of the remakes all the more appealing.
Unlike previous adaptations, the 2022 series will follow Wednesday, played by Jenna Ortega, through her journey at Nevermore Academy, the school for the outcasts. There, she dives into a murder mystery that goes back 25 years as well as dealing with monsters that lurk around the town, all while tackling new relationships at her school.
“The show will be amazing because she is in it,” sophomore Brannon Tomren said of Ortega.
Ortega’s Mexican and Puerto Rican roots make her the perfect person for the role of Wednesday. In the past, the character of Wednesday was never accurately represented. Ortega really hopes to bring justice to the character.
“Wednesday is technically a Latina character and that’s never been represented,” Ortega said in a YouTube video, “Wednesday Addams: Inside the Character”, on Netflix’s channel. “So for me, any time that I have an opportunity to represent my community, I want that to be seen.”
Burton feels, as well as senior Kushboo Pandaya, that Ortega is the perfect Wednesday.
“[I’m] looking forward to see what Jenna Ortega does in this Wednesday role,” Pandaya said.
Even though the spotlight is on Wednesday this time, the rest of the family can’t be forgotten. Actor and comedian Luis Guzman has taken a big time role as Gomez Adams, the head of the Addams family.
Guzman also is Puerto Rican, and with a short stature, rounded out build, and carefully gelled down hair, he shares an uncanny resemblance to the very first Gomez Addams.
But some shared their disapproval on Twitter, criticizing the casting of Guzman because he isn’t “slender” enough for the role.
B.J. Colangelo, a film producer, was ready to defend Guzman by pointing out that the slender versions of Gomez were not the original.
“Gomez looks like the original cartoon strip again and if you don’t think Luis Guzmán is hot (which I’m seeing in the replies), that’s a you problem,” Colangelo tweeted. “I love this.”
But Guzman’s looks aren’t the only complaint about the series. Sophomore Michael Manning thinks it won’t be all the rave overall.
“[The series] looks pretty bad to be honest,” Manning said. “I haven’t heard good things.”
Sophomore Aaron McCord feels differently and sees the appeal to the show.
“Definitely a really interesting watch,” McCord said. “I haven’t gotten into it all yet but it does seem very interesting.”
Along with Ortega and Gomez, Cathrine Zeta-Jones will playMorticia Addams, the Gothic wife of Gomez and mother of Wednesday and Pugsley. Issac Ordonez will take on the role of Pugsley, Wednesday’s older brother, who is described as “an energetic monster of a boy,” by Charles Addams.
Also joining the cast are Thora Birch, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Georgie Farmer, Moosa Mostafa, Emma Myers, Naomi J. Ogawa, Joy Sunday, Percy Hynes White, Gwendoline Christie, and Christina Ricci, who previously acted as Wednesday.
Whether “Wednesday” brings justice to the show will ultimately be revealed next month, when viewers meet the death-loving daughter and the whole eerie family.