Christina Ricci Praises Jenna Ortega And Tim Burton For Upcoming Addams Family Spinoff "WEDNESDAY"
Actress Jenna Ortega has some big shoes to fill in the upcoming Tim Burton Addams Family series, WEDNESDAY, as she will be playing the titular character of Wednesday Addams. Not only because of the character's history, but also because the character was previously played by the acclaimed Christina Ricci, but even Ricci herself is impressed with Ortega's work, recently expressing how delighted she was by the performer.
Not only is Ricci reuniting with the Addams clan by starring in the series but it is another reunion for her since this will be the first time since Sleepy Hollow she has worked with director Tim Burton.
"I was beyond flattered, particularly because it is Tim Burton and I respect and admire Tim so much," Ricci recalled to Deadline. "So, to have him ask me to come back and play this part in that world was really gratifying on a sentimental level."
"She's so incredibly talented and professional, and really seems to love film and TV making, and is involved in every step along the way of the show," Ricci shared of Ortega. "And her Wednesday is a really, really great, smart, modern take on that character."
The series is set to focus on Wednesday as a teenager and student at Nevermore Academy.
Despite what fans may know about Wednesday as a little girl, Ortega herself previously shared what makes this version of the character different from other interpretations.
We've never seen her as a teenage girl," Ortega explained to Entertainment Weekly. "You know, it's funny and sweet and almost charming to hear this eight-year-old's obsession with murder and blood and guts. As she gets older, that nasty attitude or [those] biting remarks, it's almost kind of hard to not make it sound like every other teenage girl. So, it's like, how do we establish this character and give her the same fire without letting her become something that she's not? Also, it's eight-hour series so, for an emotionless character, there has to be some sort of an emotional arc."
She added, "That's been really interesting to figure out in terms of, okay, well, she's got to be able to push the story forward in some way but how do we keep her true to her deadpan self? It's been a bit of a challenge and I'm curious to see how it plays. I've never had the opportunity to play an iconic character before. I know she's well-loved and well-respected and I just don't want to mess her up."
Stay tuned for details on Wednesday before it premieres later this year on Netflix.
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