I’m a big fan of The Addams Family. I grew up with the ‘90s movies, and while I didn’t watch the original series too often, I always enjoyed it when I got a chance to see it. So naturally, Wednesday is one of my most anticipated TV shows of the year, and I’m happy to report that Netflix has finally given us our first trailer for it.
The streaming service is describing the series as “a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy,” and if the trailer is any indication, it’s going to be awesome.
Right from the start, this thing had me totally hooked. Not only does Jenna Ortega look the part, but she has the mannerisms down as well. In fact, if I didn’t know any better, I’d probably think this was a de-aged Christina Ricci. Ortega has absolutely mastered the deadpan sadism that makes this character so great, and even when she does crack a smile, she still manages to make it feel totally cold-hearted.
That being said, this trailer does imply that Wednesday is going to be a bit different from the Addams Family we all know and love. In particular, the scene where Wednesday drops two bags full of piranhas into a swimming pool goes well beyond anything I remember seeing before from these characters. Sure, they’ve always had a penchant for deadly and death-defying amusements, but I don’t remember seeing them actually murder or maim anybody.
But that’s exactly what Wednesday does in that scene, and I really like it. Not only does it set this version of the family apart from previous iterations, but it does so in a way that feels totally natural. Like I said, the Addamses (and Wednesday in particular) have always enjoyed pulling stunts like this, so it makes perfect sense that their antics would have real consequences.
In a nutshell, this trailer looks like the perfect blend of the old Addams Family vibe with a touch of bloody realism, and I can’t wait to see how it turns out. Wednesday hits Netflix some time this fall, and when the service announces an exact date, we’ll be sure to let you all know. In the meantime, check out the trailer below and a recently released image of the entire family.