Wednesday Season 2 & Jenna Ortega: A New Set of Challenges

Jenna Ortega: The Rising Star

Before taking on the role of Wednesday Addams, Ortega had experience working on TV shows after notable roles in Jane the Virgin and Stuck in the Middle. She also worked heavily in horror projects, starring in movies such as Insidious: Chapter 2, The Babysitter: Killer Queen, Scream, and X. Due to her penchant for horror, she seemed like a great fit for the highly-anticipated Addams Family adaptation focused on the teen with an interest in the darker elements of life.

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Pressure and Expectations for Wednesday Season 2

While there was a lot of excitement surrounding Wednesday's release, especially due to Tim Burton's involvement, it was difficult to gauge expectations. Previous projects dove into the lives of the entire family, so the Netflix show was entering new territory by primarily focusing on Wednesday and her time at Nevermore Academy. Now that the series and Jenna Ortega have become such a draw for Netflix, there's extra pressure on season 2 and higher expectations for where the story will go for Wednesday and the supporting characters.

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In many ways, this added pressure and expectations match what happened with Stranger Things season 2. There was some initial excitement surrounding the Duffer Brothers' new sci-fi series, but word of mouth and rave reviews propelled Stranger Things into becoming Netflix's biggest show. As popularity continued to grow as the cast gained a bigger following, the hype for Stranger Things season 2 increased. Like with what Stranger Things season 2 experienced, Wednesday season 2 will have that same pressure of getting the story right and continuing a path of success for Ortega.

Jenna Ortega staring into the camera and standing in a colorful room in Wednesdsay.

The Future of Wednesday and Jenna Ortega

It's no secret that Wednesday has become Netflix's Stranger Things replacement. With Stranger Things ending with its upcoming season 5, Netflix will put even more emphasis on Wednesday being a programming highlight. More effort will likely be made to pay off Wednesday's prominent following in ways that go beyond viewership. While that's good news to fans of Wednesday, it could also mean bigger production and longer times between seasons, something that Stranger Things has dealt with over the course of its run.

Custom image of Wednesday at Nevermore Academy and the Addams Family saying goodbye

Jenna Ortega certainly seems up for the challenge of tackling the role of Wednesday for season 2, but it will be interesting to see how long that continues. Netflix couldn't afford to lose Wednesday or the series star, but the plot will need to go beyond the high school setting and dive into deeper storylines if it wants to fulfill Ortega's growing potential. With Ortega constantly adding to her filmography and growing in popularity, Netflix will need to work with her ever-growing schedule, especially if the show continues filming outside of the US, like Wednesday season 2's plan to film in Ireland.

Wednesday dancing with her hands in Wednesday