The dead have all the time in the world to regroup, replan, and return. And that’s exactly what the Ghost With the Most will do when Tim Burton’s long-awaited Beetlejuice sequel comes to theaters this year. Michael Keaton’s iconic dead man finally has the opportunity to get everything he always wanted, because the latest trailer for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice teases an even bigger threat in the afterlife. And that will lead Winona Ryder’s Lydia Deetz to ask for help from the last person, dead or alive, she’d ever want to see.

Waiting rooms, weddings, and a whole lot of worms, this latest trailer for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has everything. That includes a missing teenager (Jenna Ortega’s Astrid) who accidentally ends up in the realm of the dead. And we know who calls that place home. Here’s the film’s official synopsis from Warner Bros. Pictures:

After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened. With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

The movie will also mark the return of Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz. New cast members include Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Arthur Conti, and Willem Dafoe, maybe the most perfect human you could want for a Beetlejuice movie.

Will Beetlejuice finally marry Lydia? Or will Astrid prove to be the rotten apple of his eye this time? And why is the Ghost With the Most so cared of Monica Belluci’s spooky specter? We’re dying to find out the answers to all these questions. And we’ll get them when Beetlejuice Beetlejuice comes to theaters this fall on September 6, 2024.

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For decades now, we’ve heard rumors about a sequel to Beetlejuice, Tim Burton’s 1988 hit, which cemented his signature style. The story of a young goth girl (Winona Ryder) who tries to help two ghosts in her haunted home scare her parents away. The ghost they hire is a “Bio-exorcist” named Beetlejuice to do the deed. A cult classic to this day, plans for a sequel have always been rumored. During the ’90s, they even floated “Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian” to Kevin Smith.

But now, some 35 years after the original hit theaters, a sequel to the adventures of the “Bio Exorcist” is finally on the way. Original star Michael Keaton, director Tim Burton, and Scream and Wednesday star Jenna Ortega have all signed on for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

We love seeing them in this new poster:

And so, let’s bust out that Handbook for the Recently Deceased; here is everything we know about the upcoming Beetlejuice sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Title

As we hoped, the title for this movie is Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! We love it, because this way, if they ever make it a trilogy, they can call the third one Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! and Michael Keaton will magically appear when summoned, just by saying the title.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’s Plot

The Beetlejuice sequel will center on the daughter of Lydia Deetz from the first film. And somehow, the previously unknown wife of Beetlejuice will play a part as well. We think it’s safe to say that both ghosts and the afterlife will play a rather large role. The teaser trailer also finally have our first look at Ortega and Keaton in their roles. We get to see Ortega’s character in deeper detail in another Beetlejuice Beetlejuice trailer.

The official synopsis for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice sheds more light on the plot, sharing:

Beetlejuice is back!  After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River.  Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened.  With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

Click To View Gallery

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’s Cast

The cast for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is shaping up to have a combination of stars from the original, and other actors Tim Burton has recently worked with. Michael Keaton will return as the titular character, joined by Jenna Ortega, who recently worked with Burton on Wednesday, as the daughter of Winona Ryder’s Lydia Deetz character from the first film. Winona Ryder is returning as well, as so is Catherine O’Hara as her stepmother. Other original cast members, like Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin, are likely not returning.

New to the cast is Willem Dafoe, who is playing a law enforcement officer in the afterlife. Empire Magazine revealed a new look at Willem Dafoe’s character ‘Afterlife Crimes’ cop Wolf Jackson.

Empire shares, “the film sees Dafoe play the brilliantly-named Wolf Jackson – an actor who, given that he was known for playing cop ‘Frank Hardballer’ when he was alive, has taken on a similar role in the afterlife as the head of the Afterlife Crimes Unit. Oh, and he has a segment of skull missing, leaving a bit of his brain exposed. ‘It’s not a normal role,’ admits Dafoe. ‘The most important thing for me was to find the tone. It had to be rooted, but it also had to be free enough that you could play with it.'”

Another new face is Justin Theroux, in an as-yet undisclosed role. Also new to the world of the afterlife is Monica Bellucci, who will play the previously unknown wife of Beetlejuice. This will be the first time working on a Tim Burton project for all three actors.

Behind the Scenes

Returning behind the camera is original filmmaker Tim Burton. Al Gough and Miles Millar, the creators of the hit Netflix Burton/Ortega collaboration Wednesday, wrote the screenplay for the sequel. Tim Burton’s longtime friend and collaborator Danny Elfman is returning to compose the score. It just wouldn’t feel like Beetlejuice without an Elfman score, would it?

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice‘s Release Date

The long-awaited sequel to the Tim Burton horror/comedy classic Beetlejuice hits theaters on September 5, 2024.

Originally published on May 15, 2023.

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Beetlejuice fans, rejoice! The beloved trickster demon played by Michael Keaton captured the hearts of ‘80s and ‘90s kids. Now, a new generation gets to marvel in this world alongside us thanks to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a sequel film with a trailer that perfectly captures all the weirdness. 

It always feels good to watch anything by Tim Burton and even better to see Keaton and Winona Rider reprise their roles as Beetlejuice and Lydia Deetz. And how can you not love Jenna Ortega, who is a perfect choice to play Lydia’s teen daughter Astrid? 

In addition to the trailer, here’s the synopsis for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice:

After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River.  Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened.  With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

What Is the Release Date for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice?

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will hit theaters on September 6.

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The Addams Family is about to get a whole lot bigger. It’s also bringing back one of its most famous, most beloved alums. To celebrate the start of production on Wednesday season two, Netflix shared the many new cast members joining the show during its sophomore outing. The list of both regular and guest stars includes a familiar face from the franchise’s past. The former Uncle Fester himself, Christopher Lloyd, is back for more kooky, ooky, spooky fun.

Jenna Ortega’s macabre master of deadpan is finally back at work on her hit series. And she’s bringing a whole lot of friends with her to Wednesday‘s set in Ireland. That’s where the cast had its first table read before filming began on season two of the popular Netflix series. She and her fellow season one co-stars Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, Isaac Ordonez, and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (all upped to series regulars) have a whole lot of newcomers with them there.

Jenna Ortega also revealed a behind-the-scenes image from the set of Wednesday season two, celebrating the beginning of production. The post also contains a fun video featuring Thing.

Netflix announced Billie Piper, Evie Templeton, Owen Painter, and Noah Taylor have also joined the show as full-time cast members. Piper will portray a character named Capri. The streamer also confirmed previous reports Steve Buscemi has signed on for a big role as Barry Dort. (He’s expected to play Nevermore Academy’s new principle but perhaps he’s someone else altogether.) The newbies will join Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Hunter Doohan, Victor Dorobantu, Moosa Mostafa, and Isaac Ordonez on the series.

Season two will also feature a litany of guest stars headlined by Lloyd. He played Uncle Fester in the 1991 and 1993 big screen Addams Family installments. (The show’s own Fester, Fred Armisen, is also set to appear.) Joanna Lumley, Frances O’Connor, Haley Joel Osment, Heather Matarazzo, and Joonas Suotamo will also pop up during season two in guest roles. Lumley will portray Grandmama, a character we hoped to see this season. Netflix also confirmed Thandiwe Newton will round out the list of guest stars as someone named Dr. Fairburn. Now that sounds like a Nevermore Academy leader.

We also discovered in the above video that the first episode is titled “Here We Woe Again.” Nice to see that the episodes are still honoring this child full of woe.

“We are thrilled that the entire Addams family will be enrolling in Nevermore Academy this season along with a dream cast of icons and new faces,” said creators, writers, and showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar in a press release.

We’re happy about all of those people enrolling there. But we’re obviously especially excited by one new/old member. Historically, Addams Family stories with Christopher Lloyd are always great.

Originally published on May 7, 2024.

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The supreme Addams family member is coming back to our TV screens in two snaps. Well, not quite that fast. But soon enough, Netflix’s Wednesday will return for season two and we cannot wait to hear Jenna Ortega’s snappy one-liners once again. At the end of season one, Wednesday and her friends defeat Laurel Gates. Meanwhile, Tyler is set to escape his very short time in custody. Nevermore Academy is understandably closed for the remainder of the semester as a result of all the drama. But what will happen when the school opens up once again?

Here’s everything we know about Wednesday season two. 

Wednesday Season Two’s Plot 

Of course, we don’t know much about Wednesday season two’s plot at this time. It’s pretty clear that Wednesday, Enid, Xavier, and others will return back to Nevermore. We also know that someone is watching Wednesday and threatening to kill her, based on a text message she received while leaving Nevermore. There are still some secrets in Jericho to uncover, indeed. During the 2024 Emmys, Jenna Ortega revealed that the next season of Wednesday will pack in lots of horror, have more wonderful quotes, and that each episode will feel like its own movie. 

What I can say … [is] we’re definitely leaning into a little bit more horror,” the Scream actress teased. “It’s really, really exciting because all throughout the show, Wednesday does need a bit of an arc, she never really changes, and that’s the wonderful thing about her.”

Ortega previously stated this, saying the show will leave romance in the rearview mirror. As much as we love a good romance triangle, Wednesday is at her best when she’s investigating and verbally skewering people. 

Season two’s first episode is titled “Here We Woe Again,” which we discovered in this cute announcement video.

Behind the Scenes

Jenna Ortega will join Tim Burton and Steve Stark, and others as an executive producer. Alfred Gough and Miles Millar will continue as co-showrunners. It remains to be seen who will direct its episodes. As of May 2024, Wednesday season two is in production with filming taking place in Ireland.

Wednesday Season Two’s Cast 

Alongside Ortega, Emma Myers (Enid Sinclair), Joy Sunday (Bianca Barclay), Jamie McShane (Sheriff Galpin), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Morticia Addams), Luis Guzmán (Gomez Addams), Isaac Ordonez (Pugsley Addams), and Hunter Doohan (Tyler Galpin), Fred Armisen (Uncle Fester) will return. Uncle Fester is reportedly getting his own spinoff, so an episode this season could serve as a backdoor pilot for that show. It doesn’t seem that Christina Ricci will return as Laurel Gates but anything is possible.

According to Netflix, Billie Piper (who will play a character named Capri), Evie Templeton, Owen Painter, and Noah Taylor are joining the cast in a full-time capacity. Addams Family alum Christopher Lloyd is joining as a guest star alongside Joanna Lumley, Frances O’Connor, Haley Joel Osment, Heather Matarazzo, Thandiwe Newton (as Dr. Fairburn), and Joonas Suotamo

Deadline reports that Steve Buscemi has joined the cast as well, and “will play the new principal of Nevermore Academy.” His character’s name is Barry Dort.

Last year’s TUDUM event revealed that we will meet a new Addams family member. We had a few ideas about which Addams family member could show up in Wednesday. And now we know that Joanna Lumley will portray Grandmama in Wednesday‘s second season.

Wednesday Season Two’s Release Date

Wednesday season two will tentatively start filming in April 2024, so we can probably expect a 2025 release date.

Originally published on January 16, 2024.

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Last year, Michael Keaton returned to the role he last played thirty years ago when he played Batman again. Now, he’s returning to the role of Beetlejuice, over 36 years since he last played him. Now, we finally have a good look at Keaton in the role of the “bio-exorcist” in the first teaser trailer for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Tim Burton’s long-awaited follow-up to the cult classic supernatural comedy. You can watch the teaser below, which also features our first look at the returning cast from the original, Catherine O’Hara and Winona Ryder, along with new cast member Jenna Ortega as Astrid Deetz.

Also among the new cast are Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe. Here’s the official synopsis for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice from Warner Bros. Pictures:

Beetlejuice is back! After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened. With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

We have a strong feeling the “unexpected family tragedy” is the death of family patriarch Charles Deetz, played by Jeffrey Jones in the original, and who is not returning for this sequel. We have to say, we love that Lydia Deetz has never sold out, retaining her goth aesthetic into middle age. Although she doesn’t look too happy to see Beetlejuice back in the flesh (so to speak). We are curious as to what happened to the ghostly Maitlands. They agreed to cohabitate the home at the end of the original film after all. Maybe they finally moved on to their “great reward?” We can’t wait to find out when Beetlejuice Beetlejuice hits theaters on September 6.

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We’ve heard whispers of a Beetlejuice 2 movie for a long time. And although we still know almost nothing about the sequel movie, we do know that Beetlejuice 2 is now officially in the works at Warner Bros. Recent reports from The Hollywood Reporter indicate new activity on the long-anticipated sequel movie. Horror’s new queen Jenna Ortega, who has recently acted in Netflix’s Wednesday and the Scream franchise, will reportedly star as Lydia’s daughter in a Beetlejuice 2. The film currently has a September 6, 2024 release date.

In addition, the publication shares that Tim Burton, who directed the original Beetlejuice, is expected to return. Burton, of course, also directed Ortega in Wednesday. Alongside him, Michael Keaton is reportedly donning his stripes once more for a Beetlejuice sequel.

Reports also indicate that Justin Theroux and Monica Bellucci have also joined the cast, as well as Willem Dafoe. Obviously, it’s too early to know what this movie will look like when complete. But if Beetlejuice 2 does happen, adding Ortega to the mix seems like a great decision. We imagine she and Keaton could crush a scene together. Maybe a Beetlejuice dance scene could even join her Wednesday number and successfully break the internet again.

Originally published on March 10, 2023.

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In 1996, Scream burst onto the mainstream horror scene and became an instant hit. Its blend of slasher thrills, meta commentary, comedic and memorable one-liners, and the unorthodox revelation of two killers quickly led to Scream 2 one year later. Interestingly, this franchise’s new era is following suit with Scream VI, which comes on the heels of Scream (2022). But, while Scream 2 will never quite outshine the original, Scream VI is superior to its predecessor, challenging expectations (to a degree), dialing up brutality, and further cementing the franchise’s ability to keep slashing for years to come. 

Scream VI brings us to NYC, where Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega), Mindy Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown), and Chad Meeks-Martin (Mason Gooding) are attending college. Along for the ride is Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barerra), who is still deeply haunted by the previous Woodsboro events. Sam and Tara are both finding their own ways to cope, for better or worse, when a new Ghostface killing once again sends their lives into a spiral.

One of the key tenets of the Scream films are their clever opening scenes. They set the tone for the movie, sparking a string of chaos to come. Scream VI’s opening scene is certainly a departure from previous ones, subverting fans’ preconceived notions about what will transpire. While other Scream opening scenes feel more removed from the film’s main plot, this one weaves seamlessly into the narrative. 

Scream VI doesn’t disappoint in the stabbing/killing department, delivering the bloodiness that fans come to see. Generally speaking, the Scream franchise’s best kill scenes are crafted around unique and stellar set pieces that really amp up the tension and intensity. Scream VI delivers its attacks with panache and memorable visual elements, as it should in New York City. (Certainly better than Scream 3‘s use of Hollywood.)

The film leans into those classic elements of Scream movies and dials them up a notch. More menacing phone calls, loads of sharp dialogue, and intense chase/stalking scenes! And who can resist the always necessary “establishing the rules” monologue (thank you, Mindy!) alongside a smattering of Easter eggs for the superfans among us? Sometimes, not straying too far from the foundation is a smart choice. But there’s much more than just casual references to the past; this sequel leans heavily into the legacy of the entire franchise while still crafting a path of its own. Scream VI takes narrative risks with a few supreme twists but decidedly chooses to play it safe at other turns. What you think you know… you do not know. And even if you do know, you’re missing some serious details.

And, thankfully, the film gives our main four—Sam, Tara, Chad, and Mindy—excellent character development. This is especially true for Chad. His character rises far beyond the “attractive jock” archetype with an impact that could cement him as a horror legend. Gooding’s performance is absolutely flawless, his cleverness and charm lighting up the screen in every scene.

Of course, Jenna Ortega is a certified star who shares chemistry with pretty much anyone she encounters onscreen. But Mason Gooding is undoubtedly Scream VI‘s breakout performance. Savoy Brown’s Mindy provides the needed comedic relief while also showcasing another level of vulnerability and tenacity. And, Barrera’s Sam gives us a new brand of final girl with a spark of ruthlessness and rage.

Scream VI strikes the balance between parsing through its sibling dynamics, the quartet’s overall relationship, and ushering in new characters well. However, its incorporation of legacy characters does falter in ways. Scream VI’s storyline easily removes Sidney from the narrative because, well, this is literally Sam’s problem in a whole other state. Courteney Cox’s Gale fits in, mostly due to location, and gets a handful of scenes that allow her to aid the group and further process losing Dewey.

As Scream fans know, Gale Weathers has had some of the best character development in the franchise. We’ve watched her go from a selfish, fame-hungry “tabloid twit” to a clever investigator who cares for others. Sadly, Scream VI doesn’t continue that progression, instead pushing her back towards being unnecessarily opportunistic. Should they have left her out of film? Not at all. It made sense to bring her back to complete the bridge between eras and address looming questions. But Gale Weathers became someone better and this film should have stood on that.

Kirby fits into the story well and the film crafts enough connections to justify her return. Hayden Panettiere brings her back to life, showing her weariness, nerdiness, and wittiness in equal doses. But, the way Scream VI handles elements of Kirby’s storyline for “plot twist” sake is disheartening, even though it is a reflection of how traumatized women are treated. And, the film adds in one more nod to the past that’s particularly frustrating but not pervasive enough to derail the film.

As a figure, Ghostface shines in this film, delivering on the promise of a ruthless and relentless killer. Long gone are the days of a goofier antagonist who trips over his own feet. Now, Ghostface is leaping, sprinting, and busting through barriers like a ravenous, bloodthirsty animal. Roger L. Jackson continues to breathe glorious life into this character with his signature voice that makes the hairs on your neck stand at attention. There’s a wonderfully ominous aesthetic air that lingers over this film, hinting that danger is right around the corner. Very Ghostface vibes, indeed.

Speaking of Ghostface, everyone wants to know one big thing: the killer(s) reveal. I’m obviously not going to tell you the answer. But Scream VI once again pays homage while also doing something wholly unique with perhaps the most entertaining final showdown in the franchise. The “this is how/why it happened” reveal spill feels somewhat convoluted, trite, and rushed in areas; however, it still takes some commentary/connection to the previous film and solidly expands on it. This opens the gateway for testing new approaches in future Scream films, especially with some lingering threads in the mix. Overall, Scream VI gave us cleverness, camp, kills, and thrills to cement itself as a solid sequel and affirm the franchise is in good hands with Radio Silence.

Scream VI hits theaters on March 10.

Scream VI ⭐ (4 of 5)

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Hello, Sidney… or should we say Sam? The Scream franchise is rolling full steam ahead after a 10 year hiatus. The “requel” Scream (2022) brought in a new generation of fresh meat and a new pair of final girls, Sam and Tara, as this ongoing saga moves forward. Shortly after the film’s release, we got big news about a sixth Scream (Scream VI) film coming our way. Who can resist more Ghostface, more slicing and dicing, and keeping up with the many horror movie rules?

Here’s everything we know about Scream VI. 

Title

The title for this film is Scream VI (also stylized as Scream 6), which is wild considering they decided to not call the previous film Scream 5.

Scream VI’s Plot 

We don’t know much about the film’s plot at this time. But, the official synopsis from Paramount Pictures is a small hint at what’s to come:

Following the latest Ghostface killings, the four survivors leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter. In SCREAM VI, Melissa Barrera (“Sam Carpenter”), Jasmin Savoy Brown (“Mindy Meeks-Martin”), Mason Gooding (“Chad Meeks-Martin”), Jenna Ortega (“Tara Carpenter”), Hayden Panettiere (“Kirby Reed”), and Courteney Cox (“Gale Weathers”) return to their roles in the franchise alongside Jack Champion, Henry Czerny, Liana Liberato, Dermot Mulroney, Devyn Nekoda, Tony Revolori, Josh Segarra, and Samara Weaving.

Scream VI will take place in New York City. So that evens the score with three films in Woodsboro and three taking place elsewhere. Tara, Mindy, and Chad are attending college in the Big Apple while Sam tags along to help keep her little sister safe. Jenna Ortega revealed in an Entertainment Weekly interview that there’s once again tension with Sam and Tara. “At the top of the film we see my character Tara avoiding her trauma and desperately trying to reclaim her teenage experience and become normal college student,” says Ortega. “There’s a lot of tension between her and Sam, she feels as though she’s too protective and unwilling to allow them both to move on. She feels suffocated.”

And, according to Melissa Barerra, its only been around a year since the previous film’s events. That’s fascinating to hear. Sometimes time jumps can enhance a movie, but sometimes its best to keep the timeline tight. In any case, we’re excited for this Scream VI timeline because it will allow us to really see how the characters are dealing with and evolving from the horrors they encountered in the previous movie. One of those people is Gale, who works and lives in the city. So she will easily come back into the fold.

The film is really leaning into the NYC-ness of it all with this fun New Year’s Day graphic expressing Ghostface’s resolution to “travel more.” And by traveling, he (or she… or they) mean killing more people.

Really interesting details, especially with Kirby’s station being closed and how all the lines lead to Sam. While the franchise is moving forward with a new chapter, perhaps we will still get some nods to the past after all.

We also get our first look at everyone in action in the first teaser for Scream VI.

Interestingly, a closer look at Ghostface revealed a new rendition of the iconic mask. In Scream VI, Ghostface is donning an aged, weathered-looking incarnation.

Director Tyler Gillett had this to say about Ghostface’s new look.

It will all make sense in the context that you see it in the movie…That was another one of the really interesting risks and creative approaches in this movie. It’s meta in a different way, and the mask very much factors into that.

Fellow director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin concluded, “It was not an arbitrary choice.”

Behind the Scenes 

Radio Silence’s Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett will return to direct Scream VI, with James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick penning the script. The film was shot in Montreal and finished filming in August 2022.

Scream VI’s Cast

Melissa Barerra and Jenna Ortega will obviously return as sisters Sam and Tara Carpenter. Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding are also reprising their roles as Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin.

Unfortunately, Neve Campbell will not come back Sidney Prescott, citing salary dispute issues. It will be the first Scream movie to not have Sidney, which is rather sad. However, Courteney Cox is bringing the infamous Gale Weathers back in some capacity. And, in perhaps the biggest delight for fans, Hayden Panettiere is bringing back Kirby for Scream 6. There’s been speculation that Kirby survived the events of Scream 4 and, after a couple of clever Easter eggs in Scream (2022), it became certain. It’s not clear how Kirby will fit into the picture at this time but Panettiere says Kirby is still the same, just older and wiser. In fact, we get a good look at her and the entire cast on this new poster.

In November 2022, Ortega spoke to Entertainment Weekly about how the film is so “gore-heavy” that fans may not notice Sidney’s looming absence. She also affirms that Scream VI will still honor Sidney’s legacy. “But it’s very clear, like, there’s references to Sidney, of course,” said Ortega. “You know, it’s nice because there’s still a protectiveness in the script and that’s something that the actors had naturally over her because obviously we respect her and we want the best for her. She’s missed and thought of.” So it will be interesting to see what references come up about Sidney in this film.

We don’t know too much about what either Gale or Kirby will be doing in this next installment of Scream… But, one thing is for sure: they are going THROUGH IT, based on these photos.

For new cast, Dermot Mulroney will portray a cop while Samara Weaving, Henry Czerny, and Spider-Man‘s Tony Revolori  have also joined the cast in undisclosed roles. Jack Champion will portray a character named Evan, Devyn Nekoda will be Alison, Liana Liberato will play Carly, and Josh Segarra rounds things up as David. We don’t know much about these characters but we can assume that the former three are college students alongside Tara. Segarra’s David is a bit older so maybe he’s an ill-fated NYC cop or even a love interest for Sam.

Scream VI’s Release Date 

Scream VI will release on March 10, 2023. 

Originally published on September 30, 2022.

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NYC is considered by many to be one of the greatest cities in the world. There’s so much food, entertainment, and general iconicness at the tips of your fingertips. The energy is unmatched and, as they say, if you can make it in New York City, you can make it anywhere. But, for Sam, Tara, Mindy, and Chad, making it in the Big Apple is a lot harder because there’s a masked killer on their trail. Scream VI is bringing ample terror to NYC’s subways and bodegas and, based on this first trailer, this Ghostface is more ruthless than ever. 

The Scream VI trailer starts off quite intense with Ghostface already hunting Sam and Tara. This one is certainly different, taking people down publicly with no mercy. Ghostface with a gun in a bodega?! Bodegaface, perhaps? And whoever this one is obviously has an obsession with the lore behind this killer. It’s harrowing to see all of this going down in an unfamiliar city for our crew.

And, I don’t know what’s going on with Sam, but she’s holding Ghostface’s weathered mask and talking about the darkness inside her in the Scream VI trailer. Speaking of that mask, it’s unlike any of the masks we’ve seen before. They always look like a freshly purchased Party City item. Is this perhaps one of the original masks that Billy and Stu wore over 25 years ago? What does it mean, exactly? Prior to this trailer, Radio Silence hinted that it ties into Scream VI‘s meta storyline. So perhaps the past is coming back to haunt them in some way, which sort of explains why we have someone like Kirby in the mix. She is a legacy character and a rare person who cheated death.

Hmmm. We will have to find out all the gory answers when Scream VI hits theaters on March 10. In the meantime, catch up on all you need to know about the Scream universe to make sure you’re ready for another round of Ghostface.

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Netflix’s Wednesday series resonated with viewers in a way that many didn’t expect. The series, starring Jenna Ortega as the infamous Addams family daughter, hit the streaming service right before Thanksgiving weekend for a story about mayhem and murder. Very appropriate timing, to be honest. And that long weekend along with eight episodes of fantastic action, verbal slices, and mystery paid off. Netflix gave us the renewal announcement that we’ve been wanting, revealing that Wednesday will return for season two. Since then, we’ve learned a little more about what season two of the series will entail. Let the ongoing shenanigans at Nevermore Academy continue. 

Wednesday Will Be Back for Season Two

Here’s what producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar told Tudum.com about this great news:

It’s been incredible to create a show that has connected with people across the world.  Thrilled to continue Wednesday’s tortuous journey into season two. We can’t wait to dive head first into another season and explore the kooky spooky world of Nevermore. Just need to make sure Wednesday hasn’t emptied the pool first.

The Wednesday season two renewal announcement shouldn’t shock anyone. Wednesday nabbed the record for most hours viewed in a week for an English-language series on Netflix with a whopping 341.2 million hours. And it became #1 in 83 countries, tying the record set by Stranger Things 4. We all know that Stranger Things is Netflix’s darling, so anything that can rival that is worth keeping around. And, to be honest, Wednesday Addams is a true legend with a legion of fans. Add in the fact that Jenna Ortega is coming into her full star power with yet another Scream movie on the way, and, well, the smell of success is stronger than Thing’s hand cream. 

Here’s What Season Two of Wednesday Has in Store

Wednesday season two will presumably pick up when the students return to Nevermore. We will get to discover who is watching Wednesday and if she decided to go visit Enid during their impromptu break. Recently, Ortega also shared that in season two, Wednesday would lean into its more horror-filled aspects and ditch a romantic story. Oretega offered, “We’ve decided we want to lean into the horror aspect of the show a little bit more. Because it is so lighthearted, and a show like this with vampires and werewolves and superpowers, you don’t want to take yourself too seriously.” She added, “We’re ditching any romantic love interest for Wednesday, which is really great.”

Most recently, Ortega echoed these sentiments and offered about the season, “We’re definitely leaning into a little bit more horror. It’s really, really exciting because, all throughout the show, while Wednesday does need a little bit of an arc, she never really changes and that’s the wonderful thing about her. There’s really, really good one-liners and I think everything’s bigger. It’s a lot more action-packed. Each episode will probably feel a little bit more like a movie, which is nice.”

Wednesday Season Two Release Date and Casting Information

Most recently, Variety reported that Wednesday season two was tentatively scheduled to begin production in April 2024. Good news for all excited fans.

And, of course, everyone wants to know if Christina Ricci will return to Wednesday as Laurel Gates. Either way, we hope we get those new episodes quicker than we can snap twice.

Originally published on January 6, 2023.

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It feels like Scream 5 (or, as they prefer to call it, just Scream), just came out. But here we are, about to get a follow-up sixth film in 2023, just one year later. And now we have our very first trailer for Scream 6 (Scream VI). Ghostface is back to terrorize once again, but this time, they are out for blood in the big city. The only thing more terrifying than Ghostface masks on an empty subway is Ghostface masks on a full one. If you’ve ever been on one, you know there is literally nowhere to run. And that’s what our favorite new gang of heroes quickly find out. You can watch the new trailer right here:

As always, who is under the mask and wielding the knife is a big mystery. Will they be related to a previous killer? A previous victim? Or is this just going to be a fanboy/fangirl thing? Although, they kind of did that in the last movie. We don’t think they’ll repeat themselves. The bigger question the Scream 6 trailer poses is where in NYC can one change into a Ghostface outfit in private? It’s true no one would even blink if someone wearing the mask fled down the steps… But getting access to a public toilet is nearly impossible.

In this latest installment, the description for the Scream 6 trailer shares, our survivors of the most recent Ghostface killings leave Woodsboro behind for a fresh start. (And really, we can’t blame them, we wouldn’t want to stay there either). Neve Campbell/Sidney Prescott will not be around this time. However, Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega (currently ruling as Wednesday Addams), will return as sisters Sam and Tara Carpenter. Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding also return as Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin from the previous film.

Although we are absent one Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox is bringing the infamous Gale Weathers back, although just how much she’s going to be in it is a mystery. We don’t yet see her in the Scream 6 trailer. And, in perhaps the biggest delight for fans, Hayden Panettiere is bringing back Kirby from the fourth film for Scream 6. Radio Silence’s Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett return to direct Scream 6, with James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick penning the script. And, hopefully, we could even see Scream 7 going into production right on the heels of part six. For now, we can’t wait to learn more about Scream 6 and the big city mysteries it holds.

Scream 6 will release on March 10, 2023.

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Jenna Ortega’s turn as Wednesday Addams in the recent series Wednesday is the deadpan perfection we’ve come to know and love from the quirky young family member. Ortega is perfectly cast but thankfully now we know that she does smile and laugh behind the scenes. Netflix shared a short blooper reel from season one of the popular show. As many commenters pointed out, Ortega laughs (and blinks) more in the one minute video below than her character does in all eight episodes of the show. So it turns out that the perfect line delivery is the result of fumbled takes and do-overs. And everyone gets to join in on the dancing.  

We don’t see any of Christina Ricci’s Mrs. Thornbill or Fred Armisen’s Uncle Fester in these silly outtakes. But we do get Gwendoline Christie as Principal Weems and Emma Myers as Enid Sinclair. Plus some great moments with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán as Wednesday’s parents, Morticia and Gomez Addams.

In a true moment of method acting, Ortega also growls at a plane that interrupts a take. Based on the number of plane flyovers mentioned in the bloopers, it seems to be an ongoing interruption. Ortega also says she growls at people to make them go away. How very Wednesday Addams of her. Director Tim Burton also gets some face time in the blooper reel for this delightful series that he helped bring to life.

If you’re looking for more insights, there’s a lot of behind the scenes moments and interviews with the cast of Wednesday on the Still Watching Netflix YouTube channel. There’s also fun blooper reels from other Netflix shows and movies, like Stranger Things and Enola Holmes 2. We’ll never get tired of watching actors from our favorite shows goofing around and enjoying each other’s company.

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth. 

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Christina Ricci is a prominent actress now, known for her roles on shows like Yellowjackets and films like Monster. But Christina Ricci started out as a child star, and her breakthrough role was as the acerbic Wednesday Addams in the ’90s Addams Family films. Although the entire casts of those films are fantastic, without a doubt, it was her take on Wednesday that stole the show every time. So fans were thrilled to learn that Christina Ricci was joining the cast of the series Wednesday, starring Jenna Ortega in the lead role, since she helped define the character for a whole generation. Here’s who Christina Ricci plays on Wednesday and the importance of Mrs. Thornhill to this brand-new take on the Addams Family dynamics.

Who Does Christina Ricci Play on Wednesday?

When we first met Christina Ricci’s character in episode one of Wednesday, she was the only “normie” teacher at the Nevermore Academy, Mrs. Marilyn Thornhill. In the series, Nevermore is a school for outcasts located near the small town of Jericho. The term outcast could mean you’re a vampire, a werewolf, a siren, or just an undefinable weirdo like the members of the Addams clan. A “normie” is just their word for the rest of us. And as far as we knew throughout the Wednesday series, Mrs. Thornhill was a normie.

Thornhill was also the Academy’s so-called “dorm mom,” as well as the botanical sciences teacher at the school. Importantly, Christina Ricci’s Mrs. Thornhill was very friendly to Wednesday at first and took her under her wing. Or at least tried to. Wednesday didn’t exactly let folks get close to her. It’s also likely that Mrs. Thornhill’s first name was an Easter egg to the Addams Family’s rival series, The Munsters, where the “normie” of the family was also named Marilyn.

What Is Mrs. Thornhill Really Up to on Wednesday?

Fans were hoping that Mrs. Thornhill might be a secret relative of Wednesday’s, perhaps her Aunt Ophelia from the old TV series. This would have made sense, given Christina Ricci’s history with the Wednesday role. Ultimately though, Mrs. Thornhill’s character wasn’t any kind of Addams relative or time-traveling Wednesday from the future. And she didn’t have Wednesday’s best interests at heart. At all. Mrs. Thornhill’s real identity actually tied into the whole decades-old plot of the series, which had Wednesday investigating a murder mystery involving her parents. When her folks were students at Nevermore, Gomez had been accused of killing local rich kid Garret Gates. The notoriously anti-outcast Gates family all died under mysterious circumstances.

In the final episode of season one, Wednesday realizes that Mrs. Thornhill isn’t really Mrs. Thornhill at all. No. Christina Ricci was actually playing a character whose real name is Laurel Gates on Wednesday. Laurel faked her own death in a drowning accident as a child. She was the last surviving member of the powerful and outcast-hating Gates family of Jericho. Laurel changed her name and infiltrated Nevermore, waiting to exact her revenge. She used her knowledge of plants to create a chemical that would unlock the “Hyde” (hidden monster) persona of local teenage Tyler Galpin, which she planned to use as a weapon of revenge against the Nevermore Academy—and the Addams clan in particular. We guess it’s a good thing Wednesday didn’t fall for Mrs. Thornhill/Laurel’s smiley ways, although Christina Ricci is, of course, incredibly charming.

Christina Ricci’s Big Villain Speech in Wednesday

In a wonderful piece of villain monologuing by Ricci, Mrs. Thornhill explained how her family was committed to serving the cause of the local town of Jericho’s founder, Joseph Crackstone, her ancestor. He was a notoriously anti-outcast bigot from Colonial times. Thornhill used her knowledge of magic, gained from a book of spells from Wednesday’s ancestor Goody Addams, to use an incantation to resurrect Joseph Crackstone. Since Goody Addams used a blood spell to imprison the soul of Crackstone, it needed someone from the Addams bloodline to unlock the curse. That someone was Wednesday.

When Wednesday arrived at the Academy, Gates pretended to befriend her. Waiting for the night of the Blood Moon to perform the spell. Luckily, Wednesday, with the help of her Nevermore friends, was able to defeat undead Joseph Crackstone. A desperate Marilyn/Laurel tried to shoot Wednesday, but Wednesday kicked her square in the face.

What Happened to Christina Ricci’s Character at the End of Wednesday?

Did Laurel Gates go to jail? Did she die? Wednesday‘s finale kept all of that vague, should they want to bring Christina Ricci’s evil character back. But as the season finale teased us at the end, there are still more secrets in the town of Jericho that have you to be uncovered. If Wednesday gets a second season, we may see Christina Ricci come back as Laurel Gates again.

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Wednesday Addams may have a penchant for all things dark and spooky but her new series is sparking a ton of internet delight. (And we can always use more of that!) From her sharp and often witty quotes to her upgraded yet classic black-and-white wardrobe, there’s so much to love about the Addams family daughter. But the scene we really love from this series is when Wednesday Addams hits the dance floor for a fun and very goth-inspired routine. 

In the series, Wednesday attends Nevermore Academy’s school dance. Is it somewhat against her will? Sure. But she went anyway. Of course, she bucks convention and shows up at the all-white affair in a stunning black gown. A fashion icon, always. And, when Wednesday hits the dance floor with Tyler, she gets into it when her song comes on.

The song in question is The Cramps’ “Goo Goo Muck,” an ‘80s cover version of Ronnie Cook and the Gaylads 1962 song of the same name. The songs lyrics and overall feel certainly sound like something that Wednesday would enjoy. And her dance persona fits her personality perfectly, making the crowd stop and stare in awe at her rare moment of having “normal fun.” 

Wednesday Addams’ dance scene has quite the backstory in a couple of ways. First, actress Jenna Ortega choreographed it herself. According to an interview, she said she felt quite nervous about the routine; however, she obviously pulls it off with style. Ortega’s moves were inspired by some rad artists, including Siouxsie Sioux and Bob Fosse as well as some footage of ‘80s goths getting down.

And, she also namechecks Lisa Loring, who played the ‘60s TV version of Wednesday. In the show, she teaches Lurch how to do “The Drew” and Ortega’s Wednesday gives a small nod to her predecessor’s cute jig. If you wanna scroll back up and spot it, it comes up at around the :51 mark.

It’s really cool to see an iconic character like Wednesday Addams get a new version. And it is even sweeter to see her making an impact on pop culture. Our mysterious and spooky goth girl deserves all the praise. We’d party with you any day, Wednesday Friday Addams.

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Wednesday Addams—the creepy, kooky child of Morticia and Gomez, and creation of cartoonist Charles Addams—is a goth girl prototype. She’s been around since the 1930s, when Addams brought the family to life in the pages of the New Yorker. Her legacy traces back to other goth girls of yore, like the women of Brontë or Shelley novels, or the Annabel Lees of Edgar Allen Poe. But she also traces her way forward to another beloved goth girl, one who set the stage for a long succession of onscreen follow-ups: Lydia Deetz.

Tim Burton’s Wednesday is currently on Netflix and we finally get to see our favorite goth dad’s take on the Addams daughter. She’s the latest in his cauldron of spooky sisters, which really started with Deetz. She’s his first true sad girl in black and star of his second feature film Beetlejuice, released in 1988. Winona Ryder famously brought the character to life in the first of many collaborations with Burton.

It’s easy to see what he saw in Wednesday: charmingly disaffected, macabre but non-threatening, effortlessly smart and endlessly cool. These words describe Lydia too, with her all-black ensembles and striking dark makeup. Only Winona Ryder could say that famous Lydia line–“I myself am strange and unusual”–and keep it from feeling utterly cringe.  

In Beetlejuice, Lydia is an outsider by nature and therefore a perfect heroine for Burton’s expressionistic worldview, which was especially fresh in the late ‘80s. She is the daughter of Charles and stepdaughter of the eccentric Delia. The family moves to an old farmhouse that, unbeknownst to them, is already occupied by the recently deceased Adam and Barbara Maitland.

The ghostly couple are appalled when Delia remodels their delightfully cottagecore home into something freakish and modernist. Desperate to drive the Deetzes from the house, they summon the eponymous ghoul to help them scare the family away. But not before they befriend Lydia, who can easily see what others cannot by virtue of her interest in oddities.

Unfortunately for her, that penchant for darkness also makes her an object of affection for Beetlejuice, who attempts to make her his bride. Beetlejuice is raucous and morbid and funny and cutely bizarre, with story zigs and zags that all lead back to a pleasant co-existence between the Maitlands and Deetzes. But Beetlejuice’s manic energy and the disorderly families wouldn’t work without Lydia as an anchor. Despite her unusual demeanor, she has a soft heart, and it’s her love and good-natured purity that saves the day. Even though he didn’t write the script for Beetlejuice, Burton must have liked what he and Ryder conjured on screen, because he copy-and-pasted Lydia’s template into so many of his successive films.

There are shades of Lydia in Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman in Batman Returns, Natalie Portman’s Taffy Dale in Mars Attacks!, and Christina Ricci’s Katrina Van Tassel in Sleepy Hollow. Her pale face and hollow eyes already existed in Burton’s pre-Beetlejuice artwork, but she helped solidify what we continue to see in his work. Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, to name a few. Lydia Deetz would fit nicely into every one of Burton’s fantasy films, because she helped lay the groundwork for an enduring aesthetic.  

Lydia remains one of pop culture’s primary goth girls, even outside of the film. She’s a major Halloween costume almost 35 years later. You still see people hiding behind a big camera and swooping black hat at Halloween parties, or draped in her trademark red bridal gown. Even her cartoon TV show alter ego is recognizable in costume form. Her iconic gelled bangs feel utterly modern and classically timeless all at once. And her face and famous quotes still adorn apparel from Hot Topic and Spencer’s and other outlets. She will never really go out of style, because she set her own vibe. There’s no one quite like her.

Which is why Burton’s foray back to weird girl territory with Wednesday is so exciting. It seems wild that this is his first time in the Addams Family household; it’s understandable to assume he’s been there all along. Maybe that’s because of how perfectly he captured Lydia way back when. Like the Wednesday we’ve already seen in the classic live-action TV show and the Barry Sonnenfeld films, Lydia is dry-mannered and obsessed with dead things.

They both have the dark plaits, the witty comebacks, the dead-eyed stare. Christina Ricci, who popularized the modern take on Wednesday (and appears in Burton’s series), is a former Burton girl herself. She even played Ryder’s sister in another beloved film, Mermaids. The lineage is clear. Lydia and Wednesday are of a single piece. Burton siblings separated by a generation, ready to unite in his canon forever. It’s easy to see that Jenna Ortega has the right spooky sauce to make this new Wednesday pop. She’ll fit nicely into the strange and unusual canon that Lydia Deetz helped set forth.

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Wednesday Addams is finally getting the leading role that a child of woe deserves. Tim Burton’s Netflix series Wednesday takes her to Nevermore Academy for a wild mystery. She tries to find her place among a sea of fellow outcasts and stings everyone with her classic caustic personality. The Wednesday series certainly gives us a new perspective of her with the most notable change being her cool set of powers. That’s right, Wednesday is not only clever and spooky, she also has the perfect powers to solve murder and evade mayhem. Let’s break it all down.

What Are Wednesday Addams’ Powers on the Netflix TV Show?

Wednesday has the gift of psychic visions. We see this pretty early in episode one when she touches her brother Pugsley. She’s able to see which of their classmates bullied her brother. In her psychic visions, Wednesday can witness a scene down to seeing others’ faces and hearing dialogue. In fact, it is her sinister (but not wrong, in my opinion) retaliation against them that leads to her enrollment at Nevermore Academy.

Wednesday Addams reveals in a voiceover that having powers is a recent development for her. Her psychic visions come into play several times throughout the season. First, it is a generational gift (that feels like a curse) from her mom Morticia. But, while Morticia is a dove and her visions are more positive, Wednesday’s dark viewpoint makes her a raven. Her visions are more potent and macabre and also allow her to look into the past and future. Wednesday does get a lot of benefit from her psychic vision powers once she gets into the mysteries of Nevermore Academy. She can see important items and details that give her strong clues. However, Morticia warns Wednesday that she must learn to control them. If not, she runs the risk of losing her mind.

And control certainly seems to be an issue as Wednesday’s powers grow. At first, they are quite short and hazy like dreams. Her body is typically upright with her eyes open and head to the ceiling. But as they become stronger, Wednesday becomes immersed into another time and can even interact with people in that space. We see her doing this with Goody Addams, an ancestor who died at the hands of the pilgrims in Jericho, the “normie” town near Nevermore. And, in reality, Wednesday sometimes finds herself on the ground (or unable to stand) and very vulnerable during a vision. This isn’t great considering the visions can happen at any time, including when she bumps into someone or touches specific objects, like Rowan’s glasses.

She seeks out Goody to help her hone her powers. But Goody tells her there is no controlling a raging river and that she must learn to navigate it. She also tells Wednesday that she’s prime for a lonely life. Principal Weems also warns Wednesday that her powers can be dangerous because of their unpredictability and that they may not tell the full truth. To Wednesday’s chagrin, the ability does lead her down a wrong path that nearly costs her fledgling friendships and initially puts the wrong person behind bars. But the visions reveal the truth of who the real monster is: Tyler. Oh dear. 

Interestingly, she doesn’t have any visions in the final episode. Which is a good thing really considering that she’s fighting against the not-so-surprisingly evil Ms. Thornhill, Tyler, and a revived Joseph Crackstone. It is assumed that she still retains those powers and can also use her talisman to conjure spirits. Sadly, Goody healing Wednesday means her spirit won’t return again.

Have Addams Family Members Had Powers Before?

While this power is a first for Wednesday, it is not unusual for the Addams family in general. There have been many versions of this family over the years, including some that allude to other family members having otherworldly abilities. In the 1960s TV show, Morticia loves to “smoke,” her word for basically having smoke emit from her body. Is it a helpful power? No. Do we love its weirdness? Sure. Uncle Fester can also produce electricity, which we have seen in the past as well as in Wednesday.

Thing, who is totally a family member, is a literal hand that can communicate and pull off elaborate schemes. And ’60s Grandmama was a witch who cooked up scary (and often sentient) things in a pot. The family as a whole seems to be able to survive things that others would possibly succumb to, like fires, poison, and being shocked by electricity. And, the latest version of Uncle Fester seems to be quite okay after having several lobotomies. So, it is safe to say that supernatural abilities/powers have always played some role in the Addams family tree. But this is the first time we have seen Morticia and Wednesday share a power.

We don’t know if this latest version of Wednesday will get more episodes or even a movie. The ending certainly sets the stage for more stories with a stalker and a possibly bigger conspiracy in Jericho. But we dig how those incredible psychic powers add a little more kooky to a character we already adore.

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One of the most anticipated shows coming this fall is Netflix’s Wednesday, which chronicles the adolescent adventures of everyone’s favorite member of the Addams Family. The series will showcase the titular Wednesday Addams adjusting to her new “school for outcasts,” the Nevermore Academy. The new series is continuing the vibe of the brilliant ’90s Addams Family movies. And it also marks the return of director Tim Burton to his Gothic aesthetic. The Addams Family has always been well known for its theme music, and now, Burton and Danny Elfman have collaborated to bring you a whole new theme song and opening credit sequence.

We bet there are a whole lot of fun Easter eggs for fans to uncover in Wednesday‘s opening credits.

Behind the Scenes of Wednesday

Additionally, in a brand new look from Netflix, we go behind the cameras of the new Wednesday series. It features interviews with X star Jenna Ortega, our new Wednesday Addams, as well as Burton and the series’ writers. You can watch the full 3-minute featurette down below:

This sneak peek at the series gives us a better look at what the creators have in store. Showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar make certain the audience knows “this isn’t a remake or a reboot. This is just a new chapter in Wednesday Addams’ life.” For the first time in the Addams franchise, Netflix’s Wednesday will show us what the Addams children look like as teens. Jenna Ortega explains all the preparation she went through to play Wednesday, including fencing and cello lessons twice a week.

It certainly looks like the Nevermore Academy is the dark and brooding cousin to Xavier’s School from X-Men. And as the former showrunners of Smallville, Gough and Millar know all about schools with unusual students. Unlike previous Addams Family projects, Wednesday will have a plot-driven throughline, all about our heroine solving a bizarre murder mystery.

Wednesday and Tim Burton

You can also check out this shorter featurette where Jenna Ortega, Catherine Zeta-Jones (Morticia Addams), and showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar further discuss the genius that is Tim Burton.

The rest of the cast includes Gwendoline Christie (Principal Larissa Weems), Luis Guzmán (Gomez Addams), and Isaac Ordonez (Pugsley Addams), and original movie Wednesday herself, Christina Ricci as Marilyn Thornhill. Netflix’s Wednesday premieres on November 23.

Originally published on August 24, 2022.

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When it comes to the Addams family, some members are a little more kooky while others are a little more spooky. Then there’s Gomez and Morticia’s daughter. She’s unlike the rest of her unusual kin. That’s why we’re not surprised she’s the one getting her own television series from Tim Burton. But while the latest trailer for Wednesday has us excited to see her go to school, we know one group that won’t be – her classmates.

Something tells us attacking the swim team with piranhas will seem tame by season’s end. Especially because Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday Addams will have bigger fish to fry. Here’s the series’ official logline from Netflix:

The series is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy, where she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the murder mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore.

Forget fish. That’s an entire ocean worth of issues. Of course, we trust Wednesday will still find time to torture her schoolmates, which we see in the trailer. And with her we mean that literally. Not that we need to tell Pugsley that. This official image from the series shows this new version of Wednesday has the same old animosity for her brother.

Wednesday isn’t the only Addams along for the fun, as we see in the latest trailer. The show also stars Catherine Zeta-Jones as her mother Morticia, Luis Guzmán as her dad Gomez, and Isaac Ordonez as her little brother Pugsley. The series also features: Gwendoline Christie, Jamie McShane, Percy Hynes White, Hunter Doohan, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Naomi J Ogawa, Moosa Mostafa, Georgie Farmer, Riki Lindhome, and a former Wednesday Addams, Christina Ricci.

While Tim Burton directs, Alfred Gough and Miles Millar serve as showrunners and writers. The series will also arrive—when else?—during the spooky season. Wednesday debuts this fall. That’s great news for us, but not for her fellow students. That’s barely enough time to transfer somewhere else.

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We learned last year that Tim Burton was coming to live-action TV with a Netflix series based on The Addams Family. But that wasn’t the whole story. Announced officially by Netflix is Wednesday, a new series focusing on a slightly older Wednesday Addams. Directed and produced by Burton himself, Smallville’s Al Gough and Miles Millar are returning to TV as the series showrunners. The first season will consist of eight episodes.

Jenna Ortega, who most recently starred in the new Scream movie, will play the titular Wednesday Addams.  Meanwhile, Luis Guzman will play Gomez, and Catherine Zeta-Jones will play Morticia. And in an extremely exciting bit of news, an Addams Family alum will star as well. Christina Ricci, who famously played the character in The Addams Family films and continues to unnerve us in Yellowjackets, has joined the cast. According to Deadline, which first shared the news, Ricci’s character is under wraps—but she’ll be a series regular. Netflix’s Geeked Twitter account confirmed Ricci’s casting as an “exciting new character.”

Here’s the official synopsis for Wednesday:

“The series is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy. Wednesday’s attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago—all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore.”

So this sounds very much like Riverdale, but with a Gothy Burton bent. In the Addams Family movies from the ’90s, Cristina Ricci as Wednesday was absolutely the biggest scene-stealer. Especially in the superior sequel, Addams Family Values. So it makes sense to focus a series on her. This way, it’s not just another take on the Addams clan living in their creepy and kooky mansion.

The aforementioned above quartet are joined by quite a cast. Includes Hunter Doohan, Georgie Farmer, Moosa Mostafa, Emma Myers, Naomi J. Ogawa, Joy Sunday, Percy Hynes White, Riki Lindhome, and Jamie McShane. Additionally Game of Thrones alum Gwendoline Christie has joined the cast. Per Deadline, she’s playing Larissa Weems, Morticia Addams’ nemesis and principal of Nevermore Academy.

Netflix also shared a little more about these ten new characters in a release and on Twitter:

• Hunter Doohan will play Tyler Galpin. A townie who strikes up an unlikely friendship with Wednesday Addams.  Tyler has a troubled relationship with his father, the local sheriff.

• Georgie Farmer will play Ajax Petropolus. A student at Nevermore Academy who also happens to be a Gorgon.  Awkward and shy, Ajax is anxious about looking anyone in the eye.

• Moosa Mostafa will play Eugene Otinger. One of Nevermore Academy’s quirkiest students and president of the school’s bee-keeping club.

• Emma Myers will play Enid Sinclair. She is Wednesday’s sunny and colorful Californian roommate at Nevermore Academy.  Enid hails from a pack of San Francisco Werewolves.

• Naomi J. Ogawa will play Yoko Tanaka. A vampire with Harajuku-inspired Goth flair and one of the cool kids at Nevermore Academy.

• Joy Sunday will play Bianca Barclay. One of Nevermore Academy’s most popular students, Bianca descends from a long line of Sirens with a mesmerizing power to persuade.

• Percy Hynes White will play Xavier Thorpe.  A charismatic and supernaturally artistic Nevermore Academy student, who comes from wealth thanks to his celebrity psychic father.

• Riki Lindhome will play Dr. Valerie Kinbott. A local therapist in the sleepy town of Jericho who takes a particular interest in her newest patient Wednesday Addams.

• Jamie McShane will play Sheriff Donovan Galpin. Born and bred in Jericho, this Sheriff has always had an issue with Nevermore Academy and a vendetta against former student Gomez Addams.

Originally published February 17, 2021.

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Walking into X you might think that you’re getting another Texas Chain Saw Massacre inspired slasher that longs to relive the heydays of that game-changing 1974 horror. And director Ti West doesn’t hide how much Tobe Hooper’s iconic proto-slasher shaped his 1979-set film. But there’s far more hiding under the wrinkled, sun baked skin of X. In fact, this delightfully dark and surprisingly complex flick feels unbelievably fresh. Its influences inspire innovation rather than shackling X to the other derivative tropes we’ve come to expect from ’70s throwback horror.

West’s cast collaborates with him on his exploitation exploration and makes X feel heftier than your average slasher. The subtly brilliant Martin Henderson’s Wayne leads our ragtag group of wannabe filmmakers. He’s our 40-something patriarch who sees the outsider success of recent pornos like Debbie Does Dallas as a way to escape the doldrums of everyday life. Encouraging him is his young girlfriend Maxine (Mia Goth), who dreams of a life beyond that of a stripper. Goth is a standout, bringing that x-factor that everyone claims to see in Maxine to the forefront of every scene. Along for the ride is Maxine’s fellow stripper Bobby-Lynne (a career best Brittany Snow), her on-off boyfriend Jackson (a career high for Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi), aspiring filmmaker RJ (a hilarious Owen Campbell), and his boom mic-operating girlfriend Lorraine (the ever delightful Jenna Ortega).

Together, the crew is off to rural Texas to film The Farmer’s Daughters. Unfortunately, Wayne’s choice of homestead for the shoot happens to be home to a very unsettling older couple. This group isn’t going to let something as simple as creepy old people mess up their plans, though, and so they begin to shoot their movie. Snow and Mescudi bring a heart and humor to these scenes that evoke Boogie Nights. West flits between shooting the porn and showing us the porn as it looks on screen to hilarious and saucy effect. It’s clear this is a film about the love of filmmaking as much as it’s about sexually enlightened folks getting killed with pitchforks.

This is no simple morality play, however. West paints a far more empathetic and complicated picture of our antagonists. As funny and radical as our pornographers are, there’s something tragic and deeper to unpack when it comes to Pearl and Howard, the owners of the land. To dig too far into their roles and story is to spoil some of the film’s best moments, so I’ll not say much more other than I cannot wait for West’s recently teased Pearl-centered X prequel. Saying that, there are a couple of slasher tropes that don’t get the subversive treatment the movie regularly delivers on, but that barely hold this rip-roaring horror back.

The director brings a surprising amount of restraint to his terrifying tale. This is slow burn horror to the max until the moment it decidedly isn’t. That beautifully bloody moment features a kill that’s so prolonged and brutal that both this reviewer—and director Ti West, according to a Q&A that followed the screening—were shocked that the film managed to get an R-rating and not the X-rating that it takes its name from. West has always been great at delivering inventive kills. That said, along with co-editor David Kashevaroff, West delivers some unforgettable deaths here utilizing startlingly technical edits and smash cuts that had the New Beverly crowd gasping. It’s that attention to detail both technically and narratively that makes X sing.

This is a movie that delights in practical effects, quiet character moments, and bombastic kills. It has sterling turns from every cast member, including a likely star-making one for Goth. There’s so much more to dig into here that would ruin the secrets at the heart of the film. But let me just say it’s refreshing to watch a slasher movie that loves women as much as it loves killing them. So yes, if you feel comfortable then rush out to see X on the biggest screen possible. This is West’s best film yet, and if there’s any justice in the cinematic world it’ll also be his biggest hit.

4.5/5

Featured Image: A24

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