Jenna Ortega is now a Producer on Wednesday After Creative Dispute

Netflix has given fans their first look at Billie Piper in her new role for Wednesday season 2. In the new footage, the 42-year-old joins Wednesday star Jenna Ortega for what appears to be the start of a school play.

The British actress will play a new character for season 2 of Wednesday. Billie Piper joins the show as Isadora Capri, the new head of music at Nevermore Academy. Piper will play the intelligent, intimidating, and supremely talented former child prodigy who takes a keen interest in Wednesday Addams’ musical ability. She also coaches werewolf student Enid Sinclair, played by recurring cast member Emma Myers.

Piper is no stranger to the gothic, as her most notable role before Wednesday is Brona Croft/The Bride of Frankenstein from Penny Dreadful. Some fans were quick to note the character’s similarities to Penny Dreadful’s Van Helsing character, played by Pip herself.

Netflix released the first footage of Billie Piper in Wednesday alongside the major announcement on the future of the record-breaking series. The original series launched in November 2022 to become an instant global sensation. It was watched by 252 million viewers around the world and became Netflix’s biggest English-language series of all time. The show was promptly renewed for a second season in January 2023, and now we know it will land on the streaming service in August this year.

Wednesday is a new take on the Addams Family franchise that stars Wednesday Addams, played by 22-year-old Jenna Ortega. The show follows Wednesday as she attends Nevermore Academy, a school for supernatural misfits. Horror, comedy, and teen rebellion are combined to create a show that became a huge success for Netflix, earning Emmy nominations and its rabid fanbase.

Wednesday Season 3 Renewed and Spin-Off Series Being Developed

Netflix didn’t just drop a bombshell with the confirmation of Billie Piper as a new cast member. Alongside the first look at her new role, the streamer also confirmed more big news about the future of Wednesday. The show has been renewed for a third season, while there is also a spin-off series in active development.

Spin-offs were reportedly “already in the works” before the original series had even premiered, according to a June 2022 article by The Hollywood Reporter. Although details are currently being kept under wraps, co-creator Alfred Gough teased that there is a “something we’re noodling, other characters we can look at.”

Fans were naturally delighted by both announcements when they dropped on social media. Catherine Zeta-Jones, who plays Morticia Addams, also confirmed the renewal herself in a playful Instagram post. “When Wednesday comes a better day. Wednesday season three. It’s official … we shall return,” the star captioned the photo.

The comments were flooded by fans, many of whom wrote, “And for many, many seasons,” and “I can’t wait to see the second season, I’m waiting for it with great curiosity… and the third is already official, fantastic news!”

Others seemed relieved that the start of filming might not be too far off. They called for a shorter wait between seasons this time, after it was announced in January 2023, but it is set to air over two years after the original series debut. “I’ll be gripping the sheets in agony waiting, but please… don’t let us wait 3 years again,” wrote one viewer.

Tim Burton, 66, is back as executive producer and director for the new episodes. The iconic filmmaker also recently collaborated with Ortega on Beetlejuice, the upcoming sequel to the 1988 classic of the same name.

Billie Piper is just one of several new additions for season 2. The cast will also include Lady Gaga, Steve Buscemi, Joanna Lumley, and Thandie Newton. The full return cast list has not yet been released, but some previously recurring actors have been confirmed. Gwendoline Christie will return as headteacher Larissa Weems, and Luis Guzmán will also be back as Wednesday’s dad, Gomez Addams.

Wednesday star Jenna Ortega has also taken a larger role behind the scenes. After what Ortega called a “learning experience” earlier this year in a controversial podcast interview, she has now taken on an official producing role. Director Tim Burton defended her in a comment, and said her words had been “taken out of context.” Co-creator Alfred Gough went on to praise the decision to make her a producer, saying, “I think it makes sense because Jenna, in my opinion, is already a producer… she’s very involved, she’s on set every day, and she gives notes on scripts like any other producer.”

Joanna Lumley is one of the new cast members who has already spoken about joining the show. The actress said, “There’s always something thrilling about working for Tim Burton because his whole mind takes him into a different world, and the world that they’ve created here for Wednesday and Nevermore and the family is just intoxicating.”

Billie Piper’s addition, a third season renewal, and a spin-off in the works mean the Wednesday universe will only continue to grow. While fans wait for August and the return of Wednesday, excitement is only increasing for what’s next in the sinister, mysterious halls of Nevermore Academy.