Nevermore Just Got Bigger: Meet the New Characters in Wednesday S2

Netflix has given fans their first look at Billie Piper for her upcoming role in the highly anticipated second season of Wednesday. The 42-year-old actress will take on the role of Isadora Capri, whom she describes as a “secretive new character” in the gothic comedy series, which stars Jenna Ortega. A child genius, Isadora is the former head of music at Nevermore Academy and takes a particular interest in the musical talents of Wednesday Addams (Ortega). Piper’s character is also the mentor of werewolf student Enid Sinclair, who is played by series newcomer Emma Myers.

Billie Piper previously starred as Brona Croft/The Bride of Frankenstein in Penny Dreadful and has played a number of gothic and supernatural roles throughout her career. The British actress’s first images in character have been shared by Netflix along with big news on the future of the record-breaking hit series. Wednesday first launched on the platform back in November 2022 and quickly established itself as one of the global Netflix’s biggest hits of all time, with 252 million viewers worldwide across every country in which it is available. The show was renewed in January 2023 for a second season, which is now confirmed to premiere this August.

Wednesday follows Wednesday Addams, played by 22-year-old Jenna Ortega, as she navigates the halls of Nevermore Academy, an elite boarding school for supernatural misfits, before unexpectedly making a name for herself as a goth-pop sensation. Mixing horror, humor, and good old-fashioned teen rebellion, the series became an immediate favorite among viewers and critics, scoring an Emmy nomination and building a cult fanbase.

Season Three Renewed and a Spin-Off Planned

Alongside the debut of Billie Piper’s new character, Netflix has shared some other major updates about the future of Wednesday. As well as a confirmed second season in August, the series has officially been renewed for a third. A spin-off series is also in the works, with The Hollywood Reporter revealing that a deal has been agreed.

Though the details are still under wraps, co-creator Alfred Gough dropped a hint at what a Wednesday spin-off might look like, telling the outlet: “It’s something we’re noodling; there are other characters we can look at.”

The news has seen fans flood social media with their excitement. Catherine Zeta-Jones, who plays Morticia Addams, confirmed the renewal herself in an Instagram post, teasing, “When Wednesday comes, a better day. Wednesday season three. It’s official… we shall return.” Fans flocked to the comments with messages like, “And for many more seasons,” and “I can’t wait to see the second season, I’m waiting for it with great curiosity… and the third is already official, fantastic news!”

Some fans noted that they hoped that production could start as soon as possible this time, in the hope that the wait between seasons would not be quite so long. While the second season of Wednesday has been confirmed, it will still take some time to make it to August. Season two is being produced and has now more than two years since the show first launched, which has led to calls for more speedy season turnarounds. One fan wrote, “I’ll be gripping the sheets in agony waiting, but please… don’t let us wait three years again.”

Tim Burton, 66, is returning to executive produce the hit show and direct some episodes, further shaping the show’s spookily gothic aesthetic. Burton most recently worked with Ortega and Wednesday co-star Justin n on Beetlejuice, the upcoming sequel to the 1988 cult classic.

The second season is packing in the new stars, too. Alongside Billie Piper, this season will also introduce the likes of Lady Gaga, Steve Buscemi, Joanna Lumley, and Thandie Newton. Returning series regulars include Gwendoline Christie as headteacher Larissa Weems and Luis Guzmán as Wednesday’s father, Gomez Addams.

The actress herself has stepped into a more active role behind the scenes. Following some controversy over a podcast interview in which Ortega claimed she would often “change lines” and had to “put her foot down” on character inconsistencies, the actress has now been given a producer credit on the show. Burton came out in support of Ortega publicly, claiming her comments were misconstrued, and co-creator Alfred Gough added that the title was a fitting one as Ortega was already “in the room and hands-on,” offering notes and feedback on scripts.

Joanna Lumley, one of the new series regulars joining Wednesday this August, shared her excitement at joining the universe. “There’s always something thrilling about working for Tim Burton. His whole mind takes him to a different world, and the world that they’ve created here for Wednesday and Nevermore and the family is just intoxicating.”

The Wednesday universe is far from over, with the confirmation of a third season and the potential spin-off. As fans eagerly wait until the new episodes premiere in August, anticipation for what’s to come in the eerie world of Nevermore Academy continues to build.