WEDNESDAY Showrunners Discuss Creepier, Kookier Season 2

by

The creative team comprising Miles Miller and Alfred Gough have been the brains behind various hit shows, including “Into the Badlands” and most notably, “Smallville.” Since 2022, they’ve revitalized the Addams Family franchise by creating Netflix’s popular series “Wednesday,” starring Jenna Ortega. As we approach the second season, we had a conversation with them about tackling a season-long mystery, introducing new characters to Nevermore Academy, and a unique Tim Burton-inspired stop-motion sequence in episode one of “Wednesday” season two.

Question: In the second season of Wednesday, there is an amazing stop-motion scene that really reminds me of Tim Burton’s style. Was this your idea, or did Mr. Burton make all those decisions himself?

Miles Miller: Actually, the concept originated from us. We scripted the narrative where Ajax is recounting a story in a dorm room setting to children, and we depicted it as if he were speaking. We felt compelled to visualize this scene somehow. In our minds, if ever there was a time for an ambitious and costly project, this was it. We’ve always been intrigued by the idea, and we believed Tim would appreciate it – the idea of creating a stop-motion sequence. Given its high cost and labor-intensive nature, it took us nine months to finish that 60-second sequence.

We sought out the team behind “Corpse Bride,” namely McKinnon and Saunders, who are an extraordinary British stop-motion company hailing from the north of England. Their contribution significantly enhances the episode, making it more like a mini movie embedded within the series. It’s truly stunning and intricate, much like a piece of art. Tim Burton was particularly fond of this concept and even contributed to its design. In his trailer, we found a small Tupperware box containing a nest of cotton balls, inside which was a tiny plaster head crafted by Tim over the weekend. This head had paperclip hair, marking the creation of the Clockwork Boy. Thus, it became a defining moment in the series that truly embodies Tim Burton’s signature style.

Are the adults playing a bigger role this season compared to Season 1 in Wednesday’s daily life? Was this part of the plan from the beginning for Season 2?

Alfred Gough: We chose to delve further into the Addams Family by organically incorporating them into our narrative. This meant including Morticia as the chairperson for the Nevermore gala, which kept her presence in the story, and also introduced complications in Wednesday’s relationship. Furthermore, Pugsley was portrayed as a student, thereby bringing him in as well. These additions allowed us to examine the Addams Family more profoundly.

In the world of the franchise, Wednesday has traditionally received more love and attention than Pugsley. However, in the second season, there seems to be a significant development for Pugsley, making his character more complex. Was it planned from the beginning that Pugsley would undergo such growth in this season?

Miles Miller: Absolutely! We’ve always viewed Pugsley as more of a supporting character. But this time around, we wanted to put him in the limelight and give him his own narrative. The zombie at the end of the first episode serves as a catalyst for the season’s storyline. I must say, Isaac Ordonez excels in the role. He embodies the Addams family character perfectly, with his unique blend of fun, mischief, and humanity. Truly, we struck gold with this casting decision.

In this new season, there’s an interesting twist where Wednesday goes to summer camp. I wonder what makes the idea of the Addams family at camp so amusing to us?

Alfred Gough: Absolutely! It does, indeed. We’re paying tribute to “Addams Family Values,” specifically the camp scene featuring Pugsley. Wednesday was truly captivating in that movie. So we thought, what if there was a high school day at camp? What would that entail? For us, it was all about revisiting their unique personalities in a natural setting again – “The Addams Family: Fish Out of Water,” if you will.

Miles Miller expresses that Colleen Atwood, our fantastic costume designer, truly enjoyed creating the costumes, and they constructed the Adams Family Mansion as a tented structure. It was an absolute pleasure to witness them in the beautiful outdoors.

How about rephrasing it like this: “Historically, Wednesday has had a connection with the horror genre, but this new season takes it a step further with some genuinely terrifying content. What led you to make the decision to move from simply being spooky to truly frightening in ‘Wednesday’ season two?

Alfred Gough expressed that the intention was to develop the show further, and for them, it felt like a logical progression. However, he also mentioned that it can be quite intimidating. They don’t delve too deeply into horror, but it does become more frightening. He added that as you move into the fourth episode, the narrative seems to fit perfectly within the genre of being scarier.

Did it prove difficult for you two to create fresh, more bizarre species this season, as both of you introduced some unusual outcasts?

Miles Miller: It was enjoyable for us to brainstorm new ideas. The exciting aspect of having a successful series is that it offers more creative freedom. In the first season, our budget and resources were quite restricted, which limited what we could accomplish. However, in this current season, we’ve had the opportunity to let our creativity soar and utilize the visual effects and budget at our disposal to bring our ideas to life – ideas that we previously couldn’t afford to execute. We were finally able to realize these long-held aspirations in this season.

In simpler terms, the character of Wednesday Addams appears to be more confidently using her psychic abilities this season, yet she seems to be struggling too. This portrayal of Wednesday suggests a need for humility and acceptance of help, which raises the question – have you always envisioned this aspect as part of her character development?

Miles Miller suggests that the character’s development over the season was an evolution, portraying her as a complex character with numerous flaws who believes she has control but ultimately does not. Her story arc was intriguing, as it often placed her at odds with those trying to help, yet she resisted their assistance. In many aspects, this character seems older than a teenager, but in others, she remains youthful. This approach to the storytelling felt particularly relatable.

In a surprising yet delightful twist, the renowned actress Joanna Lumley, best known for her role in Absolutely Fabulous, has been superbly chosen to play Grandmamma in this upcoming season. However, it was somewhat disconcerting to hear her adopt an American accent. This new interpretation of the character seems quite distant from her iconic portrayal in The Addams Family. Could you share some insights into the inspirations behind this fresh take on the character?

Miles Miller: Indeed, Joanna was the individual who immediately came to mind when considering who would make an ideal mother for Catherine Zeta Jones, given her iconic and Academy Award-winning status as Morticia. The resemblance felt fitting, as if she had been tailor-made for the role. Joanna’s unique style and elegance, along with the inspiration for her “The Bride of Frankenstein” wig, created a sense of harmony that made it seem as though they were all part of the same family. Notably, they each possess a formidable presence.

After getting acquainted with Grandmama, does it seem likely that we’ll discover the identity of Grandpapa as well? It seems that none of the Addams Family media has delved into this aspect. Have you ever pondered over who Wednesday’s grandfather could potentially be?

Alfred Gough expresses that they possess something they’re eager to delve into in the future – this is particularly exciting with The Addams Family since despite being familiar characters, there’s still much about them left unexplored, almost like a blank canvas. It has been delightful for them to examine the family’s dynamics closely, focusing on a loving family that doesn’t shy away from conflicts and hidden family matters.

Part one of Wednesday season two is now streaming on Netflix.

Read More

2025-08-07 00:08