Top 20 Behind-the-Scenes Facts About Netflix's Wednesday

#20: Jenna Ortega Becomes a Producer

From what weve heard, the Wednesday set has always been a collaborative space. Well, Ortega took that on in a more official role when she was offered a seat at the Producers table ahead of season two. For Ortega, the all-hands-in approach was a dream and something she champions greatly. Having been on the scene since childhood, shes been no stranger to hearing voices shut out of conversations just because they didnt have the right job title or status. However, Tim Burton always kept her in the loop, helping her shape Wednesday into something that felt just right. And we have no doubt shell keep being that sounding board for everyone else this time around.

#19: A Cut Above for Character Commitment

As well see later on, Ortega went above and beyond to shape the Wednesday that captured all our hearts. However, before all that, she had to find the look. As Ortega recalled during a hair and makeup test, she tried all sorts of styles, from varying types of braids to silver strands. At one point, the hairstylist brought out a clip-on fringe. Burton was intrigued, but Ortega felt it wasn't quite right, so instead she suggested they just cut her hair into bangs. If she hated it, there was time to grow it out, right? Well, it worked and it stuck. Fred Armisen showed similar shear dedication, shaving his head to play Uncle Fester.

#18: Wednesdays Uniform Was Handpainted

What does one do when their school uniform is an almost color-shifting purple but theyre allergic to color? Well, get your own custom-made black and grey version, of course. Only, costume designer Colleen Atwood didnt love the look of what was readily available. So instead, she had the uniform handcrafted. They actually drew and painted the stripe pattern by hand, then used a method called silkscreening, which is basically pressing paint through a stencil, to apply the design to the fabric. The result was a softer, more matte finish, and a look that was totally unique, and unmistakably Wednesday.

#17: The Man Behind the Monster

Season one introduced us to the terrifying Hyde, a large, monstrous creature inspired by Jekyll and Hyde. The creature becomes the center of the mysterious series of murders Wednesday investigates. You might think a creature that nightmarish would be a full CGI job, and to an extent, youd be right. However, while Hunter Doohan, who plays Tyler Galpin, is probably the name that springs to mind first when you think of Hyde, hes not the only one who brought the creature to life. Daniel Himschoot, a stuntman and double, has also shared how he helped animate the terrifying monster. Huh, doesnt seem quite as scary now in this new light, does it?

#16: Hunter Doohan Took a Driving Test for One Scene

Remember when you took your driving test? Maybe you passed on the first try, or the second. Maybe your attempt count goes into double digits. Now imagine having to take it again, just for a single scene. Scratch that, what if you had to take it for just a fraction of a scene? In the episode where Wednesday lures Tyler and Enid to check out the Gates Mansion, we briefly see Tyler pulling away from Nevermore. Well, as Hunter Doohan told Seventeen, he had to take a driving test to make sure he wouldnt stall on their slightly unconventional journey. What would they have done if hed failed?

#15: Lady Gaga's VIP Treatment

Netflix pulled out all the stops to announce one of the newest members of the Nevermore faculty, but for Lady Gaga, this performance was really just another, well, Wednesday. Ooky and kooky has basically been her brand since day one. It seems that Netflix didnt just go all out for Gaga at their Tudum event, but also on the set of Wednesday. According to Ortega, on the day the singer arrived, suddenly everything about the production stepped up. Theyd really rolled out the red carpet for her, or should we say black carpet. The star joked that without Gagas presence, everything returned to normal pretty quickly.

#14: The Two Lakes of The Poe Cup Race

According to Joy Sunday, who plays Bianca Barclay, the entire cast had early call times to learn how to canoe, and racing was definitely encouraged. She described the experience as grueling. Still, all those hours of training paid off when it came time to film the Poe Cup race. In the series, the teams race along the Jericho River. Jericho, Vermont, where the series is set, is a real place. The Jericho River, though? Not so much. Well, at least not here. The production used not one but two locations: Brneti Lake and Sterbei Lake, near Bucharest. In fact, most of Season one was filmed in Romania, which brings us to our next point.

#13: From Romania to Ireland

Yes, for season one, the Wednesday crew took off to Romania. The countrys gothic look was spot-on for the shows dark and spooky style. Tim Burton even said it just weirdly fit into the Addams Family world. If youre a superfan, you can find plenty of guides online to check out the filming spots like Cantacuzino Castle, which stood in for Nevermores grounds. Then for season two, it was announced that theyd be filming in Ireland, another place that captures the eerie feel of the series. Plus, Dublin-born Bram Stoker, the mastermind behind Dracula (which, by the way, is set in Romania), was apparently part of the inspiration too.

#12: The Carrie-Esque Shoot Needed Multiple Takes

Season one episode four is perhaps best remembered for Wednesdays now viral dance, but there was another moment in that episode that kept the crew on their toes. Lucas and his friends seem to take some loose inspiration from the 1976 flick Carrie and use the sprinklers to rain red down on the students. While Wednesday is seemingly unnerved by this turn of events, the hair, makeup, and costume teams werent having much fun off in the sidelines. You see, theyd been told this would just take one take, which, of course, it did not. They were on standby with backup wigs, but apparently fake blood takes quite a bit of cleaning to remove.

#11: The Werewolf Bootcamp

Emma Myers does a phenomenal job playing Enid, and did you know she actually did a fair share of her own stunts? Think thats impressive? Well, what if we told you that she attended werewolf bootcamp along with her pack to truly get into character. Yes, that is a thing, apparently, and it sounds like she really learned to unleash her inner beast. Turns out being a werewolf requires a lot of stamina and a high level of athleticism. Although we have to say we definitely need to see Myers and co chasing after their instructors while they pretend to be sheep. We really hope that footage exists.

#10: Jenna Ortegas Gory Audition

The actress was shooting another movie called X when she auditioned to play Wednesday Addams. Shed just finished filming a rather eventful scene when she hopped onto the Zoom call covered in fake blood and other stage makeup. Luckily for the actress, Tim Burton famously has a taste for the macabre, so when he saw her, he couldnt help but laugh. Reportedly, Burton reached out to the actress himself as he was very interested in her playing the iconic role and has since said he cant imagine any other Wednesday. If you ask us, it sounds like an audition story that would make Wednesday herself very proud you know, if she cared more.

#9: Tim Burton Easter Eggs

Tim Burton was meant to direct the 1991 The Addams Family movie but passed since he was filming Batman Returns at the time. Fortunately, the opportunity to revisit the altogether ooky family rolled around once again. Burtons aesthetic is evident throughout the series, but production designer Mark Scruton also added some easter eggs calling back to the directors previous works. Check out the back wall of the Weathervane cafe and see how many nods you can spot. Here, well get you started. That Headless Horseman gives us real Sleepy Hollow vibes. Also, composer Danny Elfman was supposedly influenced by original cartoonist Charles Addams drawings and incorporated a harpsichord to connect this series to the 60s television series.

#8: Why Nevermore's Roof Looks Familiar

As one Reddit user pointed out, Wednesdays new school, Nevermore, and her familys home share a similar aesthetic, and their roofs could almost be mirror images. Indeed, this reflects Burtons style, which tends to dip into the Gothic and German Expressionism, among other art movements. So its pretty handy that The Addams Family world lends itself perfectly to the Burtonesque style. But apparently, this was also a deliberate choice so that the school matched the shows famous look while a few digital touches gave it a more modern edge. Meanwhile, hardcore Addams Family fans mightve also noticed a teddy bear in Principal Weemss office that calls back to one from the Addams home in the original television show.

#7: Thora Birch Was Reportedly Meant to Play a Key Role

The actress, who you may know best as Dani Dennison from Hocus Pocus, was originally meant to play Wednesdays dorm mother and resident normie, Tamara Novak. She reportedly filmed the bulk of her scenes before abruptly leaving due to a personal matter. However, based on an interview with Entertainment Tonight, it sounds like there could be more to the story. Rather than recast the role, the writers created a brand new character, Marilyn Thornhill, played by former Wednesday Addams, Christina Ricci. The actress shared that she was thrilled and really flattered by the offer. You know what they say; sometimes things have to fall apart to make way for an epic throwback (or something to that effect).

#6: A Nod to Alfred Hitchcock

Burton wasnt the only master of the macabre on the Wednesday set. According to costume designer Colleen Atwood, her inspiration for Nevermores principal, Larissa Weems, came from a poster of Tippi Hedren in Alfred Hitchocks The Birds. She approached Gwendoline Christie with the image and told her, this is who I think you are. The actress loved it and said, It is the first time Ive ever felt beautiful on screen. She definitely looks stunning, and the fact that shes a walking tribute to one of horrors most iconic movies is a bonus. Getting to emulate Melanie Daniels without the fear of being attacked by killer birds sounds like a pretty awesome experience.

#5: The Symbolism of Nevermores Gargoyles

No Gothic building would be complete without some Gargoyles to give us the creeps. But theres more to those who reside around Nevermore than meets the eye. When you first approach the building, the gargoyles hovering over the entrance represent the different cliques at the school. But thats not all! Pay close attention to the grotesque statues throughout the film, as their expressions differ based on their angle or the scenes action. Talk about attention to detail! It kind of makes the Gargoyles feel like additional characters, dont you think? Also, as Scruton told Variety, the ones seen in the quad contain nods to other Burton characters. Did you notice any?

#4: Jenna Ortega Didnt Ask Christina Ricci for Character Notes

It's a huge challenge to bring a well-known character to life and still put a unique spin on her. So you might think that having a former Wednesday on set would be pretty helpful. However, according to Ortega, she and Ricci didn't share notes since their two characters are "very different people." The actress didn't want to copy her predecessor's performance, while Ricci seemingly wanted to give Ortega the space to make Wednesday her own. Although, it's worth noting that Ricci's Wednesday was a child while Ortega's is a teenager, so they were always going to be different to some extent. Still, we love both interpretations equally, and both are undeniable icons.

#3: How Thing Got Around

Youre probably thinking, well, thats obvious! Its the 21st century; clearly, either theyre using CGI, or its animatronic. Well, in both cases, youd be wrong because this Thing was played by Victor Dorobantu, who had the famous hand built around his real one. Behind-the-scenes photos show the actor in a blue suit crouching, laying, or standing in positions that look less than comfortable. In some shots, you can see him lying across a motorized platform that gives the illusion of the hand walking around. Incidentally, like Christopher Hart, who played Thing in the 90s, Dorobantu is also a magician. Youve got to hand it to them; this is excellent casting. And Dorobantu really adds a magic touch.

#2: Jenna Ortega Learnt New Skills for the Role

Unlike previous Wednesdays, this ones picked up a few more hobbies besides torturing Pugsley. Ortega put in the hours to learn her characters favorite pastimes, including lessons in fencing, archery, and canoeing, and she took cello lessons two times a week. Also, if you want to learn more about fudge and colonialism in German, shes your gal! Needless to say, the hours she put in paid off as she masters the Rolling Stones Paint It Black beautifully, and her fencing skills are on point! Another way that this Wednesday stands out is that she never blinks. Apparently, Ortega filmed one take without blinking, and Burton liked it so much that he decided to make it a character trait.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Perfection Is Never Rushed

Apparently, Catherine Zeta-Jones Would Spend About 2.5 Hours Getting into Her Morticia Glam

George Burcea Is the Shortest Live-Action Lurch

Coming In at 66, Rumor Has It He Wore Lifts in His Shoes

A New Netflix Record

It Out-Streamed Stranger Things Season 4, Becoming the Biggest English-Language Series in a Single Week

#1: Jenna Ortega Choreographed That Dance

In one of the series most talked about moments, we see Wednesday hit the dance floor to Goo Goo Muck by The Cramps. But did you know that those killer moves were Jenna Ortegas creation? Really, if there was any dance style to personify Wednesday and her kooky family, this is it. The actress took inspiration from various influences, including Bob Fosse, Siouxsie Sioux, 80s goths in nightclubs, and more. Eagle-eyed Addams Family fans will even spot nods to the original Wednesday, Lisa Lorings signature move. It almost feels like she channeled the entire Addams ancestry to come up with the perfect moves, and she had to perform the dance soon after contracting COVID.

Whats got you most excited about Wednesday Season 2? Let us know in the comments