The highly anticipated second season of Wednesday has officially unveiled its first full-length trailer, offering fans an eerie and thrilling glimpse into what’s to come.
As Netflix’s most-watched show in history, the stakes are high, and the trailer doesn’t disappoint. It introduces fresh faces—including legendary actors Joanna Lumley and Steve Buscemi—alongside the show’s beloved returning characters.
The streamer also revealed a new release strategy: the season will be split into two parts, with the first batch of episodes dropping on 6 August and the second arriving on 3 September.
Jenna Ortega returns as the iconic Wednesday Addams, now more confident, more cunning, and just as sarcastically deadpan as ever. In this season, she heads back to Nevermore Academy, which has undergone a major leadership shake-up.
Taking over as the new principal is Barry Dort, played by Steve Buscemi, whose character is being positioned as a quirky but mysterious figure with secrets of his own.
“This guy walks into the halls of Nevermore like he’s carrying a history you can’t quite pin down,” said showrunner Alfred Gough. “Buscemi brings that layered intensity we wanted.”
Joining Wednesday on campus this time is her younger brother, Pugsley Addams, played by Isaac Ordonez. Executive producer Tim Burton teased that Pugsley will bring a fresh dynamic to the show.
“Pugsley’s an outcast among outcasts,” he explained. “He’s awkward, kind-hearted, and terrifyingly gifted in ways no one expects.”
Burton hinted that sibling tension and family chaos will play a central role this season, as the Addams children clash, bond, and unearth dark secrets buried deep within Nevermore’s twisted past.
Another twist in the tale is the increased presence of Wednesday’s parents, Morticia and Gomez Addams. According to Netflix, their time on campus will be “a rare new form of torture for the fiercely independent amateur sleuth.”
Their involvement is sure to stir drama, with Morticia—played once again by Catherine Zeta-Jones—bringing her poised elegance and razor-sharp intuition, while Gomez (Luis Guzmán) adds flair and unpredictability.
Their parenting style, a mix of macabre affection and cryptic wisdom, will challenge Wednesday’s autonomy in ways she’s not used to.
The trailer begins with Wednesday encountering airport security, setting the tone for her unorthodox world. As she passes through the metal detector, it beeps furiously, forcing her to reveal an arsenal of bizarre and dangerous items: a knuckle duster, a cattle prod, several knives—and Thing, the ever-helpful disembodied hand.
When a security guard challenges her about a seemingly harmless tube of sun cream, her response is pure Wednesday: “I burn better that way.”
Speaking at the trailer’s release, Jenna Ortega shared her excitement about stepping into Wednesday’s shoes once more. “Wednesday Addams is one of the coolest characters of all time,” she said. “So to have gotten the opportunity to play her once was incredible, and then to be able to slip into the costume and tone again, it’s so much fun.”
Ortega added, “She runs circles around everyone that she has a conversation with, so to play someone who’s so much more intelligent than you will ever be, it’s quite funny and strange and enjoyable.”
One of the standout additions to the cast is Joanna Lumley, who takes on the role of Hester Frump—Wednesday’s eccentric and formidable grandmother.
Described as her granddaughter’s closest ally, Hester is set to shake things up in a big way. “The first day on set when Joanna walked on, she just was Hester and she nailed every single line,” co-creator Miles Millar said. “She’s perfect and hilarious.”
Lumley, for her part, seemed to relish the gothic absurdity of the show. “It’s wonderful,” she said. “I get to wear many, many huge wigs, one on top of the other—and lots of quite constraining clothes, so I love it.”
Morticia’s return to Nevermore doesn’t go unnoticed. In the trailer, she coolly observes that this is the first time Wednesday has returned to school willingly.
Wednesday, ever morbid, replies with a smirk: “It’s like returning to the scene of the crime. I already know where the bodies are buried.”
Her words, dripping with metaphor—or possibly not—suggest that this season will dig even deeper into the Academy’s secrets and supernatural lore.
Another darkly comic scene shows Wednesday hosting a macabre tea party for a group of dolls arranged in various states of distress.
It’s a moment that highlights the show’s signature blend of gothic whimsy and psychological complexity. As she pours imaginary tea, Wednesday mutters, “Wherever there’s murder and mayhem, you will always find an Addams.”
It’s a line that hints at the trouble ahead—and the chaos she might just be planning.
One particular line in the trailer, referencing “mayhem,” has sparked fresh speculation that Lady Gaga could be making a cameo.
Fans have latched onto the coincidence, noting that Gaga recently released an album titled Mayhem, and has previously teased her admiration for the series.
Netflix has neither confirmed nor denied her involvement, keeping audiences guessing—and the internet buzzing.
Netflix’s decision to split the new season in two appears to be a strategic move aimed at sustaining excitement and maximizing viewership.
With streaming platforms under pressure to retain subscribers in an increasingly competitive market, this approach allows for a staggered rollout that keeps the show in the public eye for longer.
By spacing out the release, Netflix hopes to reignite conversation and build momentum between the two drops.
While fans eagerly await the unfolding mysteries, the show’s creators assure viewers that Season 2 will be “bolder, darker, and even more twisted” than the first. “We’re taking more risks this time,” said Burton.
“Wednesday is diving into territory she’s never explored before, and the things she uncovers could change everything.”
Teasing surprises and unexpected alliances, the creators remain tight-lipped about major plot points.
The creative team behind Wednesday has emphasized their desire to maintain the quirky charm and layered storytelling that made the first season such a global hit.
Visual stylings will remain distinctly gothic, with bursts of vibrant weirdness, intense character arcs, and cryptic plot twists.
“This season is like a poisoned apple,” Gough quipped. “Beautiful on the outside—deadly on the inside.”
Behind the scenes, the team credits Jenna Ortega not just for her performance, but for shaping the direction of the character. “Jenna understands Wednesday on a cellular level,” said Millar.
“She brings ideas, she rewrites her lines, she pushes the envelope. She’s a huge part of what makes this show work.” Ortega’s influence is likely to continue as Wednesday becomes more than just a character—she becomes a cultural icon.
With its bold visual identity, sharp writing, and star-powered cast, Wednesday Season 2 is shaping up to be one of the biggest TV events of the year.
As Nevermore Academy opens its gates once again, fans can expect thrills, chills, and perhaps a few unexpected heartwarming moments.
One thing is certain: wherever Wednesday Addams goes, the shadows are never far behind.
