Following the recent addition of Luis Guzmán as Gomez Addams, Netflix has announced Oscar-winning actress Catherine Zeta-Jones has officially signed on for the role of Morticia Addams in Tim Burton’s upcoming live-action series Wednesday. This marks the acclaimed actress’ latest TV project after recently appearing for a recurring role in the second season of Prodigal Son. Zeta-Jones and Guzmán will be joining titular lead Jenna Ortega (You, Yes Day).
The Addams Family matriarch was first portrayed by the late Golden Globe winner Carolyn Jones in the original live-action TV series in 1964, followed by the iconic performance of fellow Oscar winner Anjelica Huston in the live-action film adaptations in 1991 and 1993. The most recent iteration of the character was Charlize Theron in the 2019 animated film.
Our Addams family is expanding!
Catherine Zeta-Jones will step into the iconic silhouette of Morticia Addams while Luis Guzmán will bring to life the debonair Gomez Addams in the upcoming TV series Wednesday, starring Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams and directed by Tim Burton. pic.twitter.com/MiofyWIbwy
— Netflix (@netflix) August 9, 2021
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Wednesday will be executive produced and directed by Tim Burton (Beetlejuice, Corpse Bride) in his television directorial debut. This wasn’t Burton’s first attempt at adapting the Addams Family as he was previously attached to write and produce an animated film for Illumination Entertainment. However, three years after the project was announced, it was ultimately canceled.
The 8-episode series is described as a coming-of-age comedy that will be a sleuthing, supernaturally-infused mystery. “It will chart the titular heroine’s years as a student at the peculiar Nevermore Academy as she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability,” reads the synopsis, “While also thwarting a monstrous killing spree terrorizing 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.”
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Based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles Addams in 1938, Wednesday is created and written by Al Gough and Miles Millar, who are also set as showrunners. Executive producers are Andrew Mittman, Kevin Miserocchi, Kayla Alpert, Jonathan Glickman, and Gail Berman, with MGM and United Artists also attached to produce.
