From Penny Dreadful to Wednesday: Billie Piper’s Gothic Evolution

Netflix has released the first official look at Billie Piper as the latest cast member for Wednesday season 2. 42-year-old Piper plays Isadora Capri, the enigmatic head of music at Nevermore Academy.

Renowned for playing Brona Croft/The Bride of Frankenstein in Penny Dreadful, Piper has a long history of gothic and supernatural roles. Wednesday‘s season 2 official synopsis describes Isadora Capri as “the former child prodigy with a keen interest in Wednesday’s musical ability.” The character is also listed as a music teacher for werewolf student Enid Sinclair (played by recurring cast member Emma Myers).

Billie Piper made her character debut in the first official trailer for Wednesday season 2, released alongside a series of major updates to the record-breaking show. Season 1 debuted on Netflix back in November 2022 to widespread critical acclaim, making it an immediate global hit. Topped only by Stranger Things in terms of total views, Wednesday has been watched by 252 million Netflix users worldwide, making it the biggest English-language show in Netflix’s entire history. Renewed for a second season back in January 2023, Wednesday has now been officially given an August 2023 release date.

The show is a darker take on the classic Addams Family franchise, with Wednesday Addams, played by 22-year-old Jenna Ortega, attending Nevermore Academy, a school for the supernatural and bizarre. A genre mashup of horror, comedy, and teen angst, Wednesday became an unexpected breakout success upon its release. It received Emmy nominations and developed a strong cult following in its first year.

Wednesday Is Renewed For Season 3, And a Potential Spin-Off Series is In The Works

Billie Piper’s casting in the upcoming second season wasn’t the only big update from Netflix. Wednesday has officially been renewed for a third season, as well as a spin-off series that is reportedly in the works. The Hollywood Reporter reports that discussions around a spin-off series are “already underway.”

Netflix has confirmed that “development is ongoing,” but is keeping details under wraps. Co-creator Alfred Gough left the door open for the rumor in a new interview, stating, “It’s something we’re noodling; there are other characters we can look at.”

Twitter was abuzz with joy as news of the announcement hit. Wednesday‘s A-list cast was quick to celebrate with co-star Catherine Zeta-Jones, even confirming the renewal in an Instagram post of her own. Reading, “When Wednesday comes, a better day. Wednesday season three. It’s official… we shall return,” Zeta-Jones received countless replies of congratulations from fans.

“I can’t wait to see the second season, I’m waiting for it with great curiosity and it’s not even released yet… and the third is already official, fantastic news!” wrote one viewer. “Wednesday must be a blessing in my life. I hope it continues for many more seasons.”

Fans have also pointed to the potential cast waiting in the wings as a sign that a third season may well be bigger and better than the first. On top of Billie Piper, cast members include Lady Gaga, Steve Buscemi, Joanna Lumley, and Thandie Newton. The returning cast is an equally star-studded roster, with returning series regulars Gwendoline Christie as headteacher Larissa Weems and Luis Guzmán as Wednesday’s father, Gomez Addams.

Elsewhere, Ortega herself has a more hands-on role in the making of the upcoming second season. Reports recently surfaced that Ortega and the show had a rocky start in development. In a controversial podcast interview, Ortega said that in the early stages of production, she “changed lines” with the writing and had to “put her foot down” after not being happy with “random bits and bobs.” After the interview was released, Ortega took to social media to address the “miscommunication,” but has since taken a more involved role, stepping up as an executive producer for the second season.

Director Tim Burton, 66, also jumped to Ortega’s defense, as well as emphasizing how creative the actress had been in her critique. Co-creator Alfred Gough also told reporters that Ortega’s new title “totally made sense,” pointing out that the actress was “super-involved” with the creative process, regularly providing notes on the scripts.

Excitement is also high for new cast member Joanna Lumley. The star told the press in a new interview that, “There’s always something thrilling about working for Tim Burton. His whole mind takes him to a different world, and the world that they’ve created here for Wednesday and Nevermore and the family is just intoxicating.”

With Billie Piper joining the cast, a third season confirmed, and a spin-off series reportedly in the works, the world of Wednesday shows no sign of slowing down. As fans eagerly count down to August, anticipation is only increasing for what the macabre, mysterious world of Nevermore will bring next.