I’m Already Worried About Wednesday’s Future Beyond Season 2

Wednesday has been one of Netflix’s biggest hits, but there is a sense of worry surrounding the show’s future beyond season 2. Wednesday was released in 2022 and saw immediate success, with viewers becoming drawn to the titular character’s journey in navigating her emerging psychic powers while trying to survive a new school and solving a supernatural mystery surrounding her family history. Jenna Ortega perfectly led Wednesday‘s cast, making the show an absolute hit and stirring immediate excitement and anticipation for a second season.

Unfortunately, that second season has been taking much longer than viewers might have expected. While delays in Hollywood are normal, the ones that have plagued Wednesday‘s second season have become worrisome. The extra time that the second season has had provides confidence that it will be in line with the expectations created by the first, but it also creates worry about whether there will be a future for Wednesday following its sophomore season.

Wednesday Season 2 Is Taking A Long Time – Here’s Why

Season 2 of Wednesday was confirmed by Netflix in January of 2023 but has still yet to be released. The Hollywood strikes that occurred in 2023 ended up delaying Wednesday‘s production and carrying on a disappointing television trend. The delays caused by the unprecedented SAG-AFTRA strike are understandable, but streaming hits have taken on the tendency to have quite a long hiatus between seasons. This is partly due to the pressure that is created to produce seasons that live up to the first, which is good in terms of getting high-quality content but also creates frustrating release delays.

Ortega herself has confirmed details about Wednesday‘s second season that prove that Netflix is really trying to pull out all of the stops to ensure it is as good, if not better, as the first. She has said that the second season will lean more into horror and have a lot more action. Ortega has also shared that each episode of season 2 will feel like a movie, a clear indication that the show is ramping things up in its upcoming season. This is wonderful news in terms of the content but creates concerns about what the future holds for Wednesday.

Wednesday Season 2’s Long Delays Don’t Bode Well Long-Term Future

The extended delay plaguing Wednesday‘s second season has cast a shadow over the show’s future. With the new trend of major streaming series taking around two years to release a new season, Wednesday‘s timeline is worrisome. If Wednesday ends up being released in 2025, as it has been announced to be, that means that a third season won’t be out until 2027. By that point, actress Jenna Ortega, who perfectly captures the deadpan wit and macabre charm of teenage Wednesday, would be approaching 25 years old.

This age difference could pose a challenge for the show’s creators, potentially forcing them to recast the role or adjust the storyline to accommodate a more mature Wednesday. Additionally, Ortega’s stardom only continues to grow, and it’s possible that, as more time passes, she gets less interested in returning to Wednesday. With projects like Miller’s Girl and Scream, Ortega is diving more and more into content aimed toward adults. If Wednesday wants to continue having Ortega as its lead, the show would need to be on a quicker timeline in order to be in line with her rapid evolution as an actor.

Wednesday’s Spinoff Makes More Sense Given Its Production Timeline

Given how popular Wednesday season 1 became, it’s no surprise that talks of a spinoff are on the table. The show was able to break multiple streaming records, including most hours viewed in its first week of release, so it would make little sense for Netflix to not try to expand upon this success. This is especially the case because there are so many possibilities for spinoffs within the Wednesday universe. For example, Wednesday perfectly set up a spinoff surrounding Grandmama Addams in her youth. Variety also announced in 2023 that a spinoff about Uncle Fester was in early development on Netflix.

Given the issues that the Wednesday delays are facing, it makes sense for a spinoff to end up happening. Spinoffs would allow for the Wednesday franchise to continue in a way that makes sense and does not feel forced. Rather than having Ortega play a teenager when the role no longer fits or recasting her altogether, a spinoff would naturally allow for the focus to be shifted off the titular character. Spinoffs would also be able to capture the same eerie feeling that Wednesday elicits and provide viewers with a deeper look into the universe Wednesday Addams lives in.

Source: Variety