Jenna Ortega’s rise to prominence in the early stages of her flourishing career is hard to ignore. The 19-year-old star has some solid projects attached to her belt, such asYouandYes Day, followed by her most recent appearance in the newest installment of theScreamfranchise. Additionally, Ortega has worked in Romania as the star of the upcomingNetflixoriginalAddams Familyspinoff seriesWednesday, directed by esteemed director Tim Burton.
TheNetflixseries looks to premiere in 2022, with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán joining the cast as Wednesday’s parents, Morticia and Gomez Addams.Game of Thronesstar Gwendoline Christie will also be included in the series, playing Larissa Weems, the principal of Nevermore Academy. Danny Elfman, the composer who has worked with Burton onfilms such asBeetlejuiceandEdward Scissorhands, will write the musical score for the series.
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Ortega sat down withThe Hollywood Reporterto discuss her experience with the project, and the pressures of embodying such a recognizable character. “It’s been quite an insane experience. I’ve been lucky enough to get the opportunity to work with an iconic director who just so happens to be one of the sweetest directors I’ve worked with, and also the most detail-oriented,” stated Ortega when asked about working with Burton. The director is known for his eccentric films, butWednesdaywould be his first directing credit for television.TheAddams Familyserieswill focus on Wednesday Addams during her time at Nevermore Academy. According to a press release issued by Netflix, Wednesday will attempt to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago.
Stepping into the role of Wednesday Addams is a brand-new endeavor for Ortega, which she fully recognizes and hopes to conquer successfully in her way. “To step into the shoes of somebody who’s a bit more eccentric and frightening has been really exciting for me, and definitely a challenge — especially with such a beloved character, I really want to take care of her and do her justice.” One of the most iconic and highly recognizable portrayals of the character wasdelivered by Christina Ricciin the 1991Addams Familyfilm. It will be difficult for Ortega to bring that version of Ricci’s personality to life, but the unique elements she brings to the role may help foster a new generation of Wednesday Addams fandom.
However, the pressure to tap into the role is weighty because of the character’s legacy. Audiences will enter into the series with prior knowledge of Wednesday and unintentionally expect Ortega to live up to the character’s persona. The reality of that isn’t absent from the mind of Ortega, who understands the pressure to bring the character to life without making her dislikable for audiences. “We’ve never seen Wednesday Addams as a teenage girl, so some of her harsh mannerisms may come off as hilarious when she’s younger, but as you get older, how much of that can you get away with? Or how do you keep that at the forefront of her personality without people growing to dislike her or find her annoying? So just trying to balance that … I’ve never felt so much pressure on a job, and I’m trying to keep my cool.”
Despite the pressure, Ortega appears excited to be allowed to stretch herself more in her profession. It will be interesting to see how the Ortega and Burton duo bring thisnew rendition of theAddams Familyto the screen, mainly since the focus will center around the family’s most recognizable figure. Ortega has expanded her range in the various genres she’s been a part of, but embodying a character of this stature will present new challenges. However, sometimes a certain role is all an individual needs to become a household name, and for Ortega, this may be the avenue needed to lead her toward that destination.
