Netflix's Wednesday Finally Gives Us A Look At Christina Ricci's Character
"The Addams Family" has made their triumphant return into the spotlight, and this time around, the horrifyingly wholesome group is headed to Netflix for a series titled "Wednesday" with Tim Burton at the helm. There have been many on-screen versions of "The Addams Family," but Netflix's take is the first to showcase the dark-hearted daughter Wednesday, played by Jenna Ortega, over everyone else. The creative minds behind the series couldn't have made a better choice when they chose Ortega for the titular role. She has absolutely made quite a name for herself in the industry with stellar performances in several endeavors, including, "Scream" and "X."
But Ortega is certainly not the first talented actor to play the character, as six others have played the persona in either live-action or in voice-over. Out of all the people to play her, one of the more arguably notable turns came from actor Christina Ricci in "The Addams Family" in 1991 and "Addams Family Values" in 1993. Luckily for old-school fans, the next chapter of the "Addams Family" legacy will also have Ricci in the mix as she has been cast in the series in a different role (via Deadline). The release of the first official trailer on October 8, 2022, at New York Comic Con gave fans their first look at Ricci's return to the franchise.
Christina Ricci plays Maryllin Thornhill in Wednesday
Fans got their first glimpse of Christina Ricci's Ms. Marilyn Thornhill toward the end of the trailer, who introduces herself to Wednesday Addams and her roommate Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers). While little is known about her character, it seems she is someone that works at the school, possibly as a teacher or guidance counselor. Whatever it turns out to be, there is no denying it's exciting that she is involved. Although, for some having her on set has been a bit intimidating.
Jenna Ortega told Empire in an interview she was a bit nervous when Ricci came on set. "I was fine meeting her, but the first time we did a scene together, and she had to see me done up the way she was done up 30 years ago, it was nerve-racking." It's never easy taking on a prominent role, but it turns out Ortega had nothing to be worried about, as Ricci only has nice things to say about the new Wednesday. "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 told Deadline. "And her Wednesday is a really, really great, smart, modern take on that character."
Many would agree that Ricci's personality and skill set made her a perfect fit for Wednesday Addams in the previous entries. Now she has respectfully passed the torch to someone she believes is ideal for the role, and it will be interesting for "Addams Family" fans to see what her character Ms. Thornhill will be getting up to when they finally get to watch "Wednesday" on Netflix in November.