November 2024 will mark two years since Wednesday first premiered on Netflix, which leaves viewers wondering why Wednesday season 2 is taking so long. Tim Burton’s The Addams Family spinoff stars Jenna Ortega as the eponymous Wednesday Addams. The dark comedy series follows the gothic teen as she attends Nevermore Academy, a boarding school for “outcasts.” While there, Wednesday becomes infatuated with a string of mysterious crimes, which leads her to uncover a villain hiding in plain sight.
✕ Remove Ads

Wednesday was a massive hit for Netflix. Audiences of all ages and demographics were invested in the unblinking and slightly sadistic Wednesday Addams, to the point where Wednesday remains the third-most-watched Netflix show in its first month of streaming. After binging all eight episodes of the first season, many audience members were eager for season 2. Wednesday season 1 left many unresolved questions like who Wednesday’s stalker was, what would happen to Tyler, and if Principal Weems is really dead. Unfortunately, the wait has been much longer than anticipated.

Filming For Wednesday Season 2 Didn’t Begin Until May 2024

Why Filming Took So Long

The first big reason for Wednesday season 2’s delay is that the show didn’t even start filming until May 2024. Notably, Wednesday season 2 was formally confirmed and announced in January 2023, but it took almost a year and a half for Wednesday’s cast and crew to start filming. Even now, the shooting process may not be as quick as viewers would hope, as director Tim Burton and lead actress Jenna Ortega have been busy promoting their new movie, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Thus, Wednesday has taken a back seat after its overnight season 1 success.

Although Jenna Ortega was boosted to new levels of fame after portraying Wednesday Addams, she is an in-demand actress juggling multiple film and TV roles.

In reality, other projects are one of the biggest reasons why Wednesday season 2 has taken so long. Although Jenna Ortega was boosted to new levels of fame after portraying Wednesday Addams, she is an in-demand actress juggling multiple film and TV roles. For example, since releasing Wednesday, Ortega has starred in various projects, including Scream VI, Miller’s Girl, and Winter Spring Summer or Fall. The same goes for other Wednesday cast members like Emma Myers, who recently starred in A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.

Hollywood Labor Strikes & Actor Schedules Delayed Wednesday Season 2 Production

The SAG-AFTRA and WGA Strikes’ Effect Explained

Another factor that comes into play when discussing Wednesday season 2’s release is the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike. Starting in May 2023, Hollywood’s writers held a months-long strike. During that time, screenwriters fought for better pay and protections from A.I. at picket lines. In July 2023, actors and performers represented by SAG-AFTRA also went on strike. While the strikes were over by the end of 2023, their consequences halted countless film and TV productions for months. Wednesday was one of the many shows that was affected.

Wednesday might have premiered earlier if it wasn’t for the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Because Hollywood was essentially on pause for five months, a number of shows and movies that should have made progress in that time were put on hold. No scripts were written, no stories were developed, and no footage was shot. This had a massive effect on Hollywood’s release schedule. Movies that should have been out in November 2023 were shoved back by months. Any projects set for after that were pushed even further. Wednesday might have premiered earlier if it wasn’t for the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Wednesday Season 2 Will Release Over Two Years After The First Season Came To Netflix

What Wednesday’s Hiatus Means

Although Wednesday season 2 has no release date yet, the second installment will most definitely premiere over two years after the first season came out. There’s a chance that the hiatus will last a full three years if Wednesday season 2 doesn’t release until November 2025. This wait is definitely disappointing, but production of Wednesday is currently in motion. Filming is happening, new cast members have been added, and Jenna Ortega and Tim Burton have proved that they continue to make a great pair. Hopefully, Wednesday season 2 will be well worth the wait.

Another popular Netflix show that was pushed back due to the SAG-AFTRA Strike was Stranger Things, which will also premiere in 2025.

However, there are a couple of hiccups that come with a long hiatus. Audiences may not remember exactly what happened at the end of Wednesday season 1, so another binge-watch may be in order. There is also a chance that Wednesday will simply lose its spark after so much time, and viewer interest in Wednesday season 2 may have dissipated over time. Yet, audiences should still hold out hope that Wednesday can continue to be king of the streaming charts when it finally premieres.