Warning! Spoilers ahead for the series Wednesday
Wednesday star Gwendoline Christie was over the moon when Tim Burton cast her for the series. The latest Addams Family adaptation centers on the morose teen daughter of the iconic clan. Helmed by Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, the series was executive produced by Burton, who also directed four of the eight episodes. The series iteration of Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) differs from other versions due to her age, with the Netflix show exploring a new story as Wednesday adjusts to her teen years at the mysterious Nevermore Academy.
Though Wednesday features many familiar faces for fans of the Addams Family, the show also brings new characters into the fold due to its location at Nevermore, including the fan-favorite Enid (Emma Myers). In addition, one of the show’s most intriguing characters is the head of Nevermore Academy, Principal Larissa Weems, played by Gwendoline Christie. While speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Christie described her excitement at being approached by Burton, since she was a fan of his previous works. See what the actor had to say below:
“It’s quite wild, because I was out on a walk with some friends in the countryside walking across the field and I got a text saying, “Tim Burton would like to speak to you about his new project, the Addams Family.” And I just stopped and I felt like my mind imploded and I’m fairly sure I just atomized as well. And then, thankfully, came back into human form and took some deep breaths to calm myself down and then said, “Yes, please.” And we arranged a zoom. And on Zoom I met Tim and I met Al Gough, one of our brilliant writers. And Tim offered me the part and I was so overwhelmed. I was really blushing and I said, “Look, I’m really sorry, I’m blushing because I’m just really overwhelmed and I’m quite a shy person and I’m just quite overwhelmed by this.” And I was fanning myself and Tim was saying, “Tell me about it. I want to hide under the table.” [Laughs] And it was just so sweet and kind and profound and brilliant as he is, as his work is. I’ve wanted to work with Tim Burton my entire life. I remember seeing Pee-wee’s Big Adventure when I was quite young, and then I saw Beetlejuice and I remember waiting for the credits to see who it was directed by and saying, ‘Tim Burton, who is this Tim Burton?’ Fast forward a thousand years and I’m lucky enough to be cast in the Addams Family.”
Could Principal Weems Return In Wednesday Season 2?
Christie’s absolute delight at being approached and cast by Burton is heart-warming, especially considering the contrast between the actor’s sweet reaction and her character’s austere demeanor. Principal Weems was introduced as a somewhat antagonistic figure in the series due to her dislike of the Addams family based on her history with Wednesday’s mother Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and also due to Wednesday’s healthy mistrust of authority. Despite Wednesday suspecting her of controlling the monster at one point, the principal of Nevermore proved herself as an ally to Wednesday and helped the teen uncover who was actually behind the killings.
However, Principal Weems’ big moment came at a cost, since she didn’t make it out of the season alive. Christie’s character’s death seems to confirm that she will not be present in a potential Wednesday season 2. However, Burton’s projects, and the world of Wednesday itself, are hardly ever that straightforward, and the gothic show could gear up for a reveal that all was not as it seemed when it comes to Christie’s character.
Given the supernatural nature of many characters in the series and how much is not known about the principal of Nevermore, it’s possible that she could surprise audiences with a big comeback in Wednesday season 2. As for whether Wednesday will come back to the screen, the season 1 ending certainly left the door open for another season. Though Netflix has yet to green-light the series for season 2, the enthusiastic reaction from audiences and mostly positive critical reception make it likely that Ortega’s Wednesday will return.
