Wednesday, from Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar, offers their distinct perspectives on the well-known Gothic figure.
The narrative follows the murderous adolescent while she attends the strange Nevermore Academy, where she tries to unravel a paranormal mystery involving her parents and put an end to a horrific killing spree wreaking havoc on the adjacent community. The eight-episode freshman season is led by Jenna Ortega (Jane the Virgin, Scream), who plays Wednesday and delivers ghastly one-liners with the right deadpan delivery.
Gough describes Ortega’s casting as “she had intelligence and an intensity.” “She had the impression of an old soul, which is precisely what Wednesday is. Her strategy was quite focused. She put much effort into working on her posture, her non-blinking, and how she would deliver the lines. She makes up 95% of the program, and we shot in Romania for eight months, so it’s a character you embody, and I believe she did that.
Because Christina was pregnant and filming Yellowjackets, Gough says, “We weren’t sure we could make it happen.” She wanted to do it, so we had to adjust the timetable. She collaborated with Tim [Burton] on Sleepy Hollow, adores Wednesday, and was smitten with the project’s concept. We felt strongly that it was vital to respect the legacy of the past.
On the WB series Smallville, Gough, and Millar did something similar by casting Christopher Reeve as the iconic live-action Superman to appear alongside Tom Welling, who played a younger version of the character, in Season 2. Gough observes that “passing the torch to the next generation” is important for viewers who are familiar with the originals. For us, it had a lot of significance.
Even though Wednesday and Smallville are two quite distinct projects, Millar saw some similarities between the two.
Superman was said to be always impermeable and behaving like a Boy Scout. Superman is not a concern, Millar continues. “She was always the snarky kid in the Addams Family who had one-liners to share after the scene. But Wednesday never caused anyone any concern. It was: Who is this character? for us. And perhaps more crucially, how do you convey her story? How do you make her feel things while keeping Wednesday’s loyalty intact? Wednesday embodies who she is in every way.
Superman was said to be always impermeable and behaving like a Boy Scout. Superman is not a concern, Millar continues. “She was usually the snarky kid in the Addams Family who had one-liners to give after the scene. But Wednesday never caused anyone any concern. It was: Who is this character? for us. And perhaps more crucially, how do you convey her story? How do you make her feel things while keeping Wednesday’s loyalty intact? Wednesday embodies who she is in every way.