Netflix’s “The Addams Family” spin-off series “Wednesday” has become a global phenomenon for the streamer, becoming only the third title to cross one billion hours viewed on Netflix within one month and on track to break more records.
Combined with a quite positive reception from critics and superb reception from audiences and subscribers, you would think that a second-season renewal order would have been handed out by now.
Sadly that hasn’t happened yet, even if it does seem like more of a formality at this point. Certainly, co-showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar have both discussed the potential for several seasons of the Jenna Ortega-led series.
Netflix has been more gunshy about handing out renewals lately, as seen with the second season of “The Sandman” which took three months from its release to be handed out. Speaking with Variety, Netflix’s head of U.S. and Canada scripted series Peter Friedlander played coy about renewal talk:
“You may know what I’m going to say — but I have nothing to confirm at this time. I am optimistic about ‘Wednesday.’ We’ll leave it at that.”
Sadly it’s not a confirmation, but Friedlander then went into further detail as to why they’re not handing out said renewal order just yet:
“Weirdly, because it feels different, but we’re just two weeks into the launch of ‘Wednesday’. So we’re still really at the beginning of this cultural phenomenon. And there’s a lot to absorb and learn about it.
It’s striking how quick something like this can explode on Netflix, and there is a lot you want to hear back from fans and audiences. It’s not just the dance, it’s people dressing up and buying makeup and wanting to look like Wednesday Addams.
The resurgence, for me, it’s something that’s been in the culture for a long time – but never this pronounced. It’s something that we want to study and understand why this is such a phenomenon.
And I think so much of it is Jenna’s extraordinary performance at the center. But that supporting cast, across the board, are legends.”
Friedlander also highly praised the show’s marketing strategy, which was not only creative but ubiquitous and really got the word out that the show was coming. That has led to viral moments for the show, including the infamous TikTok trend featuring people doing the Wednesday dance to Lady Gaga’s Bloody Mary.
“Wednesday” is currently streaming on Netflix.
