Netflix has announced that Game of Thrones alum Gwendoline Christie has officially signed on for one of the leading roles in Tim Burton’s upcoming live-action Addams Family series Wednesday. The Emmy-nominated actress is set to portray the role of Larissa Weems, the principal of Nevermore Academy who still has an axe to grind with her former classmate Morticia Addams, set to be played by Catherine Zeta-Jones.
In addition, the streamer also enlisted ten more actors to round out the cast including: Victor Dorobantu as Thing, Isaac Ordonez as Pugsley Addams, and George Burcea as Lurch, along with Tommie Earl Jenkins as Mayor Walker, Iman Marson as Lucas Walker, William Houston as Joseph Crackstone, Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo as Deputy Santiago, Oliver Watson as Kent, Calum Ross as Rowan, and Johnna Dias Watson as Divina.
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Wednesday is an 8-episode series described as a coming-of-age comedy that will be a sleuthing, supernaturally-infused mystery. The live-action series will be led by Jenna Ortega (Yes Day) in her major TV project as the titular lead along with Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams, and Luis Guzmán as Gomez Addams.
“The series will chart the titular heroine’s years as a student at the peculiar Nevermore Academy as she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability,” reads the synopsis, “While also thwarting a monstrous killing spree terrorizing the local town and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships of the strange and diverse student body.”
Joining them are Hunter Doohan, Georgie Farmer, Moosa Mostafa, Emmy Myers, Naomi J. Ogawa, Joy Sunday, and Percy Hynes White, who have been tapped to portray Nevermore Academy’s supernatural students. Meanwhile, Thora Birch, Riki Lindhome, and Jamie McShane have been cast as members of Nevermore Academy’s faculty.
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Wednesday will be executive produced and directed by Tim Burton (Beetlejuice, Corpse Bride) in his television directorial debut. This wasn’t Burton’s first attempt at adapting the Addams Family as he was previously attached to write and produce an animated film for Illumination Entertainment. However, three years after the project was announced, it was ultimately canceled.
Based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles Addams in 1938, Wednesday is created and written by Al Gough and Miles Millar, who are also set as showrunners. Executive producers are Andrew Mittman, Kevin Miserocchi, Kayla Alpert, Jonathan Glickman, and Gail Berman, with MGM and United Artists also attached to produce.
