Known for his gothic fantasy and horror films, director Tim Burton explains why rising star Jenna Ortega is the most suitable actress for the role of the macabre daughter of The Addams Family.
When Ortega was cast for the role of Wednesday Addams, it received mixed reactions from long-time fans of the film series. After all, the original actress, Christina Ricci, did a fantastic job bringing the character to life in the 1991 movie adaptation. Ortega’s role will focus on the teenager version of Wednesday, a fresh new take on the fan-favorite character.
The showrunners of Netflix’s Wednesday, Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, had to elevate Ortega’s character. Together with the series director, Tim Burton, they created a different narrative for the Addams family. Wednesday will attend Nevermore Academy, a school for outcasts. She will navigate through high school while solving a family mystery, and at the same time, deal with the growing pains of teenage life.
Tim Burton Praises Jenna Ortega’s Performance In Netflix’s Wednesday
Jenna Ortega’s first look as Wednesday Addams has been released a few weeks ago, and in a new feature video by Netflix, Wednesday Addams: Inside the Character, they talked about how the actress prepared for the role. She would practice playing the cello, fencing, and even walking to get that eccentric aura. Burton commended Ortega for her exceptional efforts. Christina Ricci also praised Ortega’s performance.
Fans of The Addams Family series who have doubts about Ortega’s ability to portray the iconic character should take note of Burton’s vision for the modern series, including casting the star for the role. The director even likened Ortega to a ‘silent movie actress’ which only proves her understanding of Wednesday Addams’ personality.
For a genius artist like Tim Burton, his choices for his films have always exceeded people’s expectations. He is confident about Jenna Ortega’s talent and determination. With this in mind, fans can be assured they will get a really spooky show once Netflix’s Wednesday debuts this fall.
