The new teaser trailer for Netflix’s Wednesday was released on June 6th, revealing little more than the titular character’s new look, Thing (with some new scars) and a great callback to the original theme song. The new series, helmed by Tim Burton, promises to bring together a great cast – although they will have a huge task ahead of them when it comes to living up to the iconic movie cast from the 90s. While the series has yet to air, the cast members’ previous performances may be an indicator of what kind of performance to expect in Wednesday.
Jenna Ortega – Scream (2022)
Streaming on Amazon Prime
Jenna Ortega, who stars as Wednesday herself, has already been in a number of TV and film roles at age 19. She is not new to the horror genre, having previously played the role of Tara Carpenter in Scream.
In Scream, Tara is one of the main protagonists; a kind-hearted final girl. Tara is a character who subverts expectations that she will be killed off. She survives being attacked in the opening scene and is able to defeat one of the killers even after sustaining multiple serious injuries. She also dislikes the slasher movies Scream satirizes, preferring elevated horror. She is a character that in many ways does the unexpected for the franchise.
Catherine Zeta-Jones – Chicago (2002)
Streaming on HBO MAX
Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Morticia Adams in Wednesday. Zeta-Jones has played a number of memorable roles throughout the years, and one of her most notable is Velma Kelly in the movie musical Chicago.
Velma Kelly is a stage performer in prison for murdering her husband and sister who were having an affair. This is a role that gives Zeta-Jones the opportunity to show off her many talents as a singer and dancer. In the film, she performs a number of complex song and dance routines. Velma Kelly is a dark, vampy, yet still likable character. In that way, Velma Kelly shares similarities with Zeta-Jones’s upcoming role as Morticia Adams.
Luis Guzmán – Shameless (US)(2019)
Streaming on Netflix
Luis Guzmán plays Gomez Adams. Guzmán is a character actor who has made a number of one-time and recurring roles in many TV series and movies, including Mikey O’Shea in Shameless.
Mikey O’Shea was an alcoholic homeless con artist who mostly existed to parallel and be friends and competitors with the main character, Frank. Mike was very intelligent despite appearances. Throughout his time on the show, Mikey performed a number of scams. Presumably, Gomez will be a more likable role for the actor.
Christina Ricci – The Addams Family (1991) and Addams Family Values (1993)
Streaming on Amazon Prime
While there is no word yet on what role Ricci will play in Wednesday, but of course she is no stranger to The Addams Family. One of her earliest and most memorable roles is Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family and Addams Family Values.
Ricci as Wednesday was one of the most memorable aspects of the two movies. Her deadpan delivery and dark leanings were unique to Ricci’s portrayal of Wednesday at the time. The character had previously been portrayed as Pugsley’s more innocent if slightly odd little sister, where Ricci’s portrayal was Pugsley’s snarky, deadpan and somewhat violent older sister. Although she had a small role in the first movie, in the second she gets a major focus in the form of a subplot. She and Pugsley are sent against their will to an overly cheerful summer camp where she leads a mutiny against the camp counselors and falls in love with a fellow camper.
Gwendoline Christie – Game of Thrones (2012-2019)
Streaming on HBO Max
Gwendoline Christie plays Larissa Weems in Wednesday. Christie has done a number of roles in the sci-fi and fantasy genres. One her most notable past roles is Brienne of Tarth in Game of Thrones.
Brienne of Tarth is a female knight who is very much a warrior and chafes against gender roles in Westeros. This includes becoming being the protector of King Renly and serving as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. This sets Brienne of Tarth as a female character who memorably defies gender expectations and stereotypes – however, it’s not clear how much of this, if any, will be part of her new role in Wednesday.
Jamie McShane – The Lincoln Lawyer (2022)
Streaming on Netflix
Jamie McShane plays Sheriff Donovan Galpin in Wednesday. McShane is an actor who has made many TV appearances, particularly as detectives or police officers. One of his most recent notable roles of this kind is Detective Lankford in The Lincoln Lawyer.
Detective Lankford is not exactly a heroic detective. In fact, he is guilty of witness tampering. Lankford wants a conviction at all costs. This comes even at the cost of putting an innocent man in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. This goes to show that McShane is definitely capable of playing ambiguous authority figures.
Riki Lindhome – Duncanville (2020-2022)
Streaming on Hulu
Riki Lindhome plays Dr. Valerie Kinbott in Wednesday. Lindhome has had a number of featured roles in both live-action and animation, including Donna Thrombey in Knives Out. She is known for her recurring role as Kimberly Harris in the animated series Duncanville.
Kimberly Harris is twelve-year-old middle schooler who is the sister of the main character Duncan. Kimberly is an awkward and easily embarrassed tween girl with an interest in soccer and witchcraft. This shows Lindhome’s range as an actress that she is able to portray a twelve year old girl convincingly. Not all adult actors are able to convincingly play children and teenagers.
Percy Hynes White – The Gifted (2017-2019)
Streaming on Hulu
Percy Hynes White plays Xavier Thorpe on Wednesday. Hynes White has had many recurring roles already – one of his most well-known is Andy Strucker on The Gifted.
Andy Strucker is a sensitive loner with telekinetic powers. He has anger issues and is often bullied. Andy is a character who often changes allegiances taking a villainous turn after the first season. This shows Hynes White’s range as an actor that he is able to play a character who changes sides.
Hunter Doohan – Your Honor (2020-2021)
Streaming on Amazon Prime
Hunter Doohan plays Tyler Gaplin in Wednesday. Doohan has had a few recurring roles, including his most recent role as Adam Desiato in Your Honor.
Adam Desiato is a young man, who accidentally kills the son of a crime boss in a hit and run. He is also in a relationship with his teacher. His New Orleans Judge father tries to protect Adam but he is tragically accidentally murdered in the finale. This shows that Doohan is capable of playing dramatic roles that have tragic fates.
Georgie Farmer – Evermoor (2014-2017)
Streaming on Disney+
Georgie Farmer plays Ajax Petropolis in Wednesday. He has had a few recurring roles throughout the years, one of which is the fantasy series Evermoor where he played Jake Crossley.
Jake Crossley was the younger brother of the main character, Tara. Jake’s family moves to the mysterious English town of Evermoor after his mother marries an English man. He and the quirky local boy Ludo, solve mysteries together. Wednesday seem like similar territory for Farmer, considering both Wednesday and Evermoor both involve supernatural mysteries and strange goings on.
