Hailey van Braam
It was a long time coming, but Netflix finally did it. Back in November, it was reported that a live-action TV series revolving around Wednesday Addams was in the works from legendary storyteller and director, Tim Burton. However, the only issue was that no streaming platform or network was interested in the series. That’s where Netflix swoops in to save the day and give Burton a chance at proving other streamers wrong.
On Wednesday (of course it had to be on a Wednesday, out of all days, right?) afternoon, Netflix announced the project. We see you, Netflix. We see you.
Tim Burton is bringing Wednesday Addams to Netflix in a live-action coming-of-age series!
Burton will also make his TV directorial debut on the sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery that follows Wednesday as a student at Nevermore Academy pic.twitter.com/8ei3wIUrxq
— Netflix (@netflix) February 17, 2021
What is Wednesday Addams about?
At this juncture, Netflix has been loving their coming-of-age stories, and Wednesday is no different. The series will be following Addams as she makes an effort to solve a “supernaturally infused mystery” while serving as a student at Nevermore Academy––and for the heck of it, no one knows what a “supernaturally infused mystery” means, Burton.
Considering his style of writing and the past projects he’s made, he was built for the supernatural. However, this project means more than just a simple Netflix series––it’s basically his first TV effort in about two decades with The World of Stainboy. Either way, the streaming giant’s newest Netflix show in Wednesday (as it is simply titled) welcomes Burton to his first of many (hopefully) in the streaming world!
Who are attached to the project?
Wednesday is basically the brainchild of showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar, both of whom did their parts as writers for Smallville.
“When we first heard Al Gough and Miles Millar’s pitch for Wednesday we were struck, like an arrow from a crossbow, right in our hearts. They nailed the tone, the spirit and the characters, but gave us a fresh way into this story,” Netflix’s head of original series, Teddy Biaselli, wrote in a corporate blog post.
“The upcoming eight-episode series is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday’s years as a student at the peculiar 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 of the strange and diverse student body.“
Obviously, Burton is on-board to both direct and executive produce. Joining him as executive producers are Andrew Mittman for 1.21, Kevin Miserocchi of the Tee and Charles Addams Foundation, Kayla Alpert, Jonathan Glickman for Glickmania, and Gail Berman––a team very familiar with the Addams as Mittman, Berman, and Miserocchi have all executive produced the 2019 animated Addams Family film.
Over the history of Addams Family, Wednesday has gotten her fair share of both actors and voice actors alike––from Lisa Loring’s portrayal in the 60s, Christina Ricci’s in both Barry Sonenfeld’s film adaptations in 1991 and 1993, and Chloë Grace Moretz’s voice from the 2019 animated movie. The quality has always been high––giving Wednesday a pedestal it can stand on to grow even bigger as the most iconic goth-related character in the world.
What does it mean for Burton’s career?
As stated, the show will mark one of the very few TV projects in Burton’s career. As far as we’re concerned, his previous projects include the likes of episodes for Alfred Hitchcock Presents and an executive producer for Beetlejuice. His film work has gotten more praise, though, as he was responsible for iconic characters such as Edward Scissorhands, Batman and Batman Returns, Ed Wood, and Mars Attacks.
“Tim has had a history of telling empowering stories about social outsiders like Edward Scissorhands, Lydia Deitz, and Batman. And now he brings his unique vision to Wednesday and her spooky classmates at Nevermore Academy,” Biaselli said.
