The Hidden Secrets Behind Netflix's Wednesday Filming Locations Exposed!

Summary

The Netflix series

Wednesday

, based on

The Addams Family

characters, was filmed in Romania due to its perfect gothic and medieval architecture.

Cantacuzino Castle, Casa Monteoru, Casa Niculescu-Dorobantu, and Bucharest Botanical Garden were among the filming locations in Romania.

At Bucharest Film Studios, sets were constructed for different locations, such as the town of Jericho and the quad of Nevermore Academy.

In order to capture the gothic atmosphere of the iconic Addams Family characters, the Netflix comedy-horror series Wednesday used various locations during filming. Led by executive producer Tim Burton, who also directed four episodes of the first season, Wednesday showcases his signature whimsically dark fantasy vibes. With its darkly comedic dialogue and Jenna Ortega's captivating deadpan performance, the show's success is not only attributed to its talented cast, but also to its carefully selected filming locations.

The story of Wednesday is set in the quaint small town of Jericho, Vermont, where the human townspeople clash with the outcast species of Nevermore Academy. While many small towns in media are fictional, Jericho is a real place, although the portrayal in Wednesday is purely fictionalized. Within the show's universe, Jericho was founded by Joseph Crackstone, a Pilgrim leader with a significant connection to Nevermore's outcasts. Given the importance of capturing the essence of this New England setting, finding the right filming location was crucial for Wednesday, which also features a supernatural boarding school nestled in a nearby forest.

11 Wednesday Was Filmed Entirely In Romania

According to an interview with Alma Bacula, head of production at Icon Films, and David Minkowski from Stillking Films, Wednesday was initially supposed to be filmed in Toronto. However, due to high costs and a mismatch with the desired atmosphere, the production team decided to explore locations in Romania instead. Romania's gothic and medieval architecture perfectly captured the desired aesthetic for Nevermore Academy and the town of Jericho. Tim Burton, in a press release, expressed how Romania surprisingly blended well with the Addams Family world. He also mentioned the interesting challenge of making Romania resemble Vermont, but they managed to find new locations with the help of production designer Mark Scruton and Icon Films Romania. There were a few specific locations that Wednesday consistently used for filming.

10 Cantacuzino Castle

To bring the esteemed Nevermore Academy to life, a variety of buildings were utilized, including Cantacuzino Castle. Situated in Busteni, Romania, amidst the breathtaking Carpathian Mountains, this neo-Romanian castle was originally built in 1911 as a summer retreat for the Cantacuzino family, descendants of Prince Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino. Utilized for the exteriors and aerial shots of Nevermore, the castle's captivating appearance was intricately enhanced with CGI, giving it a more gothic and Addams Family-style aesthetic. Undoubtedly, this stunning piece of architecture, with its rich history and eerie allure, serves as the perfect backdrop for the illustrious and spooky Nevermore.

9 Casa Monteoru

The palatial building Casa Monteoru, located in downtown Bucharest, played a significant role in the filming of Wednesday's interior scenes for Nevermore. Erected in 1874, this grand castle had served as the headquarters of the Union of Writers of Romania until 2013, before being transformed into a dynamic multicultural center in 2015. Its magnificent interior design, comprising lavishly adorned rooms, harmoniously aligns with the atmosphere of Nevemore Academy and complements its ornate exteriors. House Beautiful reveals that Casa Monteoru acts as Principal Weems' (Gwendoline Christie) office in the series, and it additionally serves as the captivating backdrop for Wednesday's unforgettable dance scene at the Rave'N, Nevermore's school dance.

8 Casa Niculescu-Dorobantu

The impressive Casa Niculescu-Dorobantu, a historical landmark nestled in the heart of Bucharest, showcases a magnificent French neo-Gothic architectural style. This exquisite setting served as the backdrop for additional interior scenes of Nevermore in Wednesday. Within the captivating castle, the audience is treated to a grand staircase, adorned with glamorous embellishments, alongside captivating stained-glass windows that exude a sense of awe. These remarkable elements notably make an appearance in season 1, episode 6 of Wednesday titled "Quid Pro Woe," as Bianca engages in conversation with Lucas, the mayor's son. The sheer beauty of the stained-glass windows effortlessly explains the production team's desire to showcase them in the show.

7 Bucharest Botanical Garden

The Bucharest Botanical Garden, known as the Gradina Botanica Dimitrie Brândza in Romanian, is situated in the Cotroceni neighborhood of Bucharest, as mentioned in Marie Claire. Founded in 1860, this botanical garden was later named after its founder, the esteemed botanist Dimitrie Brândză. The greenhouse within the establishment served as a filming location for scenes set in Nevermore Academy's greenhouse, where Marilyn Thornhill, the esteemed Wednesday, taught her botanical science classes. Spanning across 45 acres, these gardens boast an impressive collection of over 10,000 plant species, making it an ideal setting for the splendid greenhouse depicted in Nevermore.

6 Buftea Studios

According to House Beautiful, Wednesday was filmed on 70 sets, many of which were constructed at Bucharest Film Studios, also known as Buftea Studios. The studio was responsible for building sets such as the town of Jericho, the Pilgrim World amusement park, the sheriff's house, and Nevermore Academy's quad. House Beautiful points out that Jericho was inspired by traditional New England towns and that minimal CGI was used in its creation; everything was specifically built for the show. Mark Scruton revealed in a Netflix Tudum interview that many of the town's storefronts were directly influenced by the original illustrations of cartoonist Charles Addams, paying homage to the beloved Addams Family comic strip.

5 Conacul Olga Greceanu Mansion

Located in the outskirts of Bucharest, Conacul Olga Greceanu Mansion dates back to the 19th century. This stunning mansion served as the setting for Garrett Gates' forsaken residence in the first season of the television series "Wednesday," in the episode titled "Quid Pro Woe." House Beautiful interviewed Scruton, who disclosed that the production team meticulously transformed the interior to resemble an abandoned house. Additionally, they constructed a spacious double garage, a new entrance, and an imposing driveway adorned with iron gates. With their exceptional skills, Wednesday's production crew successfully imbued Gates' mansion with an eerie and desolate ambiance.

4 Sterbei & Brănești Lakes

Sterbei and Brănești, two picturesque lakes situated near Bucharest, serve as the breathtaking backdrop for the challenging canoe race in episode 2, "Woe is the Loneliest Number," of season 1 of Wednesday. Competing in the prestigious Poe Cup held annually at Nevermore, Wednesday and Enid test their skills by navigating their canoes across the Jericho River, which encompasses both the Sterbei and Brănești lakes. These stunning bodies of water add a touch of natural beauty to the thrilling race.

3 Gara Regala

Gara Regala, also known as the Royal Train Station, is situated in Sinaia, a picturesque town and mountain resort nestled in Romania's Bucegi Mountains. Once exclusively designated for the use of the Romanian royal family and their esteemed guests at Peleș Castle, the majestic station, Gara Regala, also served as the Burlington train station - the closest stop to Jericho. Keep an eye out for Gara Regala in Wednesday season 1, episode 2, as the enigmatic Wednesday sends Thing to discreetly trail Rowan after his departure from Nevermore.

2 Politehnica University Of Bucharest

1 Bazinul De Înot Dinamo Tolea Grințescu (The Dinamo Swimming Pool)

Founded in 1818, Politehnica University of Bucharest is Romania's largest technical university, situated in the capital city of Bucharest. In the opening scene of Wednesday's first episode, the university was chosen as a film location, specifically as the setting for Nancy Reagan High School, where Wednesday and Pugsley are seen attending before Wednesday's expulsion. As Wednesday walks down the hallway, viewers can catch a glimpse of a staircase within the university.

Situated within the Dinamo Sports Park, the Dinamo Olympic Swimming Pool was formerly a versatile stadium primarily utilized for soccer matches; however, it ceased operations in the year 2022. Notably, this pool plays a significant role in the opening sequence of the first episode, where Wednesday orchestrates a revenge scenario that involves releasing piranhas upon the tormentors of Pugsley.

Sources: Little Black Book, House Beautiful, Country & Town House, Marie Claire, Netflix Tudum