‘Wednesday’ Season 2 Trailer Unveils Steve Buscemi, Joanna Lumley and a Split Release Plan on Netflix

Netflix has unveiled the first official trailer for the much-anticipated second season of Wednesday, the platform’s most-watched show to date. Alongside returning cast members, the teaser offers a first look at newcomers Joanna Lumley and Steve Buscemi.

The new season will be released in two parts — with the first batch of episodes dropping on August 6 and the second half arriving on September 3.

What’s New in Season 2

Jenna Ortega returns as Wednesday Addams, who is once again enrolled at Nevermore Academy. The school now operates under the guidance of new principal Barry Dort, played by Steve Buscemi.

Also enrolling this term is Wednesday’s younger brother Pugsley, portrayed by Isaac Ordonez. Executive producer Tim Burton has described Pugsley as an “outcast among outcasts.”

This time, Wednesday’s parents will spend more time at Nevermore, adding what Netflix calls “a rare new form of torture for the fiercely independent amateur sleuth.”

Teaser Trailer Highlights

The trailer, released appropriately on a Wednesday, opens with Wednesday navigating airport security. She’s seen removing weapons and Thing — the disembodied hand — from her bag, only to be stopped over a tube of sun cream.

“Wednesday Addams is one of the coolest characters of all time,” said Ortega during the trailer launch. “To have gotten the opportunity to play her once was incredible, and then to be able to slip into the costume and tone again, it’s so much fun.”

New Additions: Lumley and Buscemi

Joanna Lumley joins the cast as Hester Frump, Wednesday’s grandmother and strongest ally. “The first day on set when Joanna walked on, she just was Hester and she nailed every single line,” said show creator Miles Millar.

“She’s perfect and hilarious.” Lumley described the set as “intoxicating,” adding that she enjoys the extravagant costumes.

Steve Buscemi plays the new principal, Barry Dort. “Something about him is not right, but he loves the school and he has real outcast pride,” he said of his character.

Season One’s Legacy and What’s Ahead

The first season of Wednesday was a record-breaker for Netflix and helped cement Ortega’s status as a global star. She has since appeared in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Death of a Unicorn, and Scream XI.

In the trailer, Morticia Addams, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones, notes this is the first time her daughter is returning to school willingly. Wednesday herself likens it to “returning to the scene of the crime,” saying she “already knows where the bodies are buried.”

Eerie Easter Eggs and Potential Cameos

A clip in the trailer shows Wednesday at a tea party with dolls, declaring, “Wherever there’s murder and mayhem, you will always find an Addams.”

The word “mayhem” has led fans to speculate about a cameo from Lady Gaga, who recently released an album with that title.

Cast and Creators

Season 2 stars Jenna Ortega, Emma Myers, Steve Buscemi, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzman, Isaac Ordonez, Joy Sunday, Billie Piper, and others.

Guest appearances include Lady Gaga, Jamie McShane, Joanna Lumley, Fred Armisen, Thandiwe Newton, Christopher Lloyd, and Frances O’Connor.

Directors include Tim Burton (episodes 201, 204, 207, 208), Paco Cabezas (202, 203), and Angela Robinson (205, 206). Jenna Ortega is also taking on a producer role this season.

Strategy Behind the Split Release

Netflix’s decision to divide the season into two parts likely serves to boost subscriber retention and create more sustained buzz. Each part will contain four episodes.

As Ortega noted in an interview, “I feel a bit more empowered to speak my mind… Tim and I would talk with the writers, cross out lines, and they would supplement new ones.”

With Wednesday Season 1 still available for streaming, fans can catch up before diving into what promises to be a darker, more intense continuation later this year.