Something mysterious and spooky is coming to Netflix, and by that, I mean Tim Burton's live-action Addams Family series. The eight-episode spin-off revolves around the iconic brother-torturer herself, Wednesday Addams, for a concept that's altogether creepy and kooky.
Titled Wednesday, the coming-of-age comedy, written by Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar and to be directed by Burton, 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.
The show, which sounds an awful lot like Netflix's answer to canceling Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, represents Burton’s first live-action show and his TV directing debut. Burton will also executive produce and act as showrunner on the series alongside Gough and Millar. Andrew Mittan will executive produce for 1.21, with Kevin Miserocchi, Kayla Alpert, Jonathan Glickman for Glickmania, and Gail Berman all executive producing as well.
“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,” Teddy Biaselli, Netflix’s Director Original Series said, calling Wednesday “the ultimate lone wolf” character. “We then got the call that visionary director and lifelong Addams Family fan Tim Burton wanted to make his television directorial debut with this series. 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.”
Created by American cartoonist Charles Addams in 1938, The Addams Family originally included Gomez and Morticia Addams, their children Wednesday and Pugsley, extended family members Uncle Fester, Grandmama, their undead butler Lurch, and Pugsley's pet octopus Aristotle. Sometime later, the characters Thing (a disembodied hand), and Gomez's Cousin It were introduced to fans of the macabre family.
During its storied history, The Addams Family has had several big-screen adaptations, both of the live-action variety as well as animated. It's also had two live-action television series, which remain a mainstay of classic TV to this very day.
For the uninitiated, The Addams Family is a tight-knit family unit that isn't afraid to embrace the darker aspects of their unique lives. They live in a quasi-enchanted manor filled with many dangers, delightful traps, and deranged delicacies that would turn the stomachs of anyone not on their level. While harmless in many regards, the Addams family are often looked upon as deviants and a nuisance for those who fail to understand their mysterious and spooky way of life.
Dear Netflix, my body is ready. I feel as if I've been waiting for this announcement since 1993 when Christina Ricci last played the character for Barry Sonnenfeld's Addams Family Values. I can only begin to imagine what manner of dark tricks Wednesday will play on her classmates, or who she'll be partnered with as a roommate at Nevermore Academy. Let's get spooky!