The Uncle Fester Wednesday Spinoff: Exploring the Potential of a New Addams Family Series

The Unexpected Potential of Uncle Fester

A spinoff of the hit Netflix show Wednesday is reportedly in development. Starring Jenna Ortega as the titular Addams Family member, the show's 2022 release was met with massive success on Netflix. Wednesday season 2 has since been announced, and is currently in development at Netflix.

Wednesday and Fester standing side by side staring ahead

As per Bloomberg, a Wednesday spinoff based on another one of the Addams Family members is in talks at Netflix. This show would focus on Uncle Fester, who is played by Fred Armisen in Wednesday. According to the source, the Fester-based show is only in early conversations, and there is no guarantee that it will happen. Amazon, who has the rights to the Addams Family properties, is supposedly willing to partner with Netflix again.

Fred-Armisen-Wednesday-Trailer

Why Uncle Fester Deserves a Spinoff

In some ways, Armisen’s Uncle Fester is a surprising pick for a Wednesday spinoff. Though he becomes plot crucial by the end of Wednesday season 1, Armisen is in but one episode of the first season: Wednesday season 1, episode 7, “If You Don’t Woe Me By Now.” In this episode, Uncle Fester arrives while Wednesday is trying to figure out who the serial killer is, and helps her identify what kind of monster they might be.

Fred Armisen as Uncle Fester and Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams in Wednesday episode 7

Despite being a minor member of the Wednesday cast, his character has a lot of potential plot avenues to explore. Like his protagonist-niece, Uncle Fester has a Sherlock Holmes-ian penchant for picking up on subtle clues in order to solve a mystery. Rather than just the oddball he has been portrayed as in some past The Addams Family adaptations, he is somewhat of a criminal mastermind. This quality would be ripe for a spinoff season, for, like Wednesday, the quintessential Addams Family jokes could merge with a mystery story.

Fred-Armisen-Uncle-Fester

An Uncle Fester spinoff would also work well because of one key reason: Armisen. Even in a small role in Wednesday, he is a scene-stealer, bringing his off-kilter humor to the part. The actor has shown this capability in countless other roles, including his time on Saturday Night Live, as well as shows including Los Espookys and Documentary Now! With his comedic timing and knack for the unusual, Armisen is the perfect actor to continue the story of Uncle Fester, should this Wednesday spinoff happen.

Fred Armisen Shooting Lightning as Uncle Fester in Wednesday

The Potential of an Uncle Fester Spinoff Series

The concept of an Uncle Fester spinoff series holds promise for a variety of reasons. Despite being a minor character in the original series, Uncle Fester's character has the potential to be a compelling lead in his own series.

An Uncle Fester spinoff presents an opportunity to delve deeper into the enigmatic character's background and explore the darker, more mysterious aspects of the Addams Family universe. This, in turn, could open up new avenues for storytelling and provide a fresh perspective on the beloved Addams Family franchise.

Furthermore, an Uncle Fester spinoff series would offer viewers a chance to experience the unique blend of comedy, mystery, and eccentricity that defines the Addams Family world. By placing Uncle Fester at the center of the narrative, the spinoff could provide a fresh and captivating take on the iconic family, while also introducing new and exciting storylines.