Jenna Ortega Talks About Being Misunderstood While Wednesday Season 2 Promises a Darker, Wilder Ride

Jenna Ortega quickly became a huge star after Wednesday first appeared on Netflix in 2022. Now, with the second season coming this August, we are all looking forward to seeing our favorite Addams Family member face even more supernatural threats while staying her wonderfully morbid self. Lately, the actress playing her has been honest about wanting to "speak to everybody like Wednesday" after finding herself on "the wrong side of the rumor mill."

One of the best things about the Wednesday series was how it perfectly captured Wednesday Addams’s unapologetic dark sense of humor. She is also the type to just say what she thinks, bluntly and without any apologies. Jenna Ortega told Harper’s Bazaar that when the show first went viral she felt "incredibly misunderstood." Many social media users shared critical and sometimes mean comments. She also learned about the "rumor mill" firsthand.

Ortega shared her feelings saying "I feel like being a bully is very popular right now. Having been on the wrong side of the rumor mill was incredibly eye-opening." It is sad to see the world become a place where some people spend their time being unkind to accomplished individuals. It reminds me of what Millie Bobby Brown said before about journalists writing about her "mommy makeover" and how it amplified an insult.

Jenna Ortega's Past Comments And How She Wished She Could Just Be More Direct

Dealing With Social Media Misunderstandings And Wishing For Wednesday's Unfiltered Honesty

Back in March 2021 Jenna Ortega faced some criticism. She guest-starred on The Armchair Expert podcast and made comments about Wednesday. On that podcast the Scream actress said she stood her ground on set whenever she felt her character was not shown properly. This included admitting she changed lines and did not read what was originally written in the script.

Once Jenna Ortega’s comments became widely discussed a writer for Daredevil called the actress "beyond entitled and toxic." Ortega later looked back on that tough time. She reflected on how she could have chosen her words differently. She also saw the harsh truth of not being able to make everyone happy. The Emmy-nominated actress has seen how social media has hurt her career. Her sarcastic remarks have been misunderstood and her words twisted. It is during these moments that she wishes she could speak like Wednesday. She explained her feelings on the matter.

She said "We’re incredibly desensitized and disconnected from real interaction. I mean, God, if you could speak to everybody like Wednesday—just say what you truly mean—it would be amazing!" Wednesday Addams always seems to get away with her bluntness. This is what makes her character so entertaining. Her friends seem to accept her personality even if what she says is not always sweet. But in the real world we are expected to be careful about what we say to avoid offending anyone.

Wednesday Addams comes from a family that is "creepy" and "kooky" in a bold way. She was taught not to worry if people were put off by her dark habits. She is clearly one of those "what you see is what you get" kind of girls. She has no plans to change. Jenna Ortega also discussed the irony of playing such a quiet character who now gets so much attention. She notes how Wednesday would hate all this popularity.

"She doesn’t care. It’s pretty funny, when you think about it. She’s an outsider, but now she’s on these mugs, cereal boxes, and T-shirts. You’re just thinking, Oh, man, she would hate this!" The quiet character would probably hate all this attention. She would likely burn every piece of merchandise with her face on it. But that is the cost of fame when the world sees you as a pop culture symbol. Jenna Ortega's wish to "speak to everybody like Wednesday" is easy to understand. It is about not wanting to hide your thoughts or personality even when people talk bad about you. It is possible to stay true to yourself while still choosing your words with care.

New Details About Wednesday Season 2: A Darker Tone And Exciting New Cast Additions

From Lady Gaga Joining Nevermore Academy To Pugsley's New Powers, What To Expect

Wednesday season 2 may still be a few months away but Netflix is giving fans a taste of what is to come. At Tudum the streamer showed the first six minutes of the show's second season. Jenna Ortega is back as Wednesday Addams. Her family also comes along for her second year at Nevermore Academy. From the trailer we know she has never gone back to the same school for a second year. So Nevermore must be special in a way Wednesday would never admit.

In the first six minutes we see what Wednesday did over the summer before returning to Nevermore. She wakes up in the basement of a serial killer’s home. She is next to a doll she gives Enid later in the season. She talks about mastering her psychic ability over the summer. With this skill she is determined to meet a serial killer she has been obsessed with since childhood. She uses her abilities to find him. Haley Joel Osment plays him. Because she is Wednesday she quickly outsmarts the serial killer. The preview ends with a scary Wednesday moving toward him asking if he wants to play with dolls.

Creators Miles Millar and Alfred Gough hinted at a darker tone for season 2. Millar explained that the new season will have more straightforward horror moments. He also said they are aware the show is watched by all age groups. They want to make sure it is never too intense. But there will be enough grit so it feels like there are real consequences and that people can die in this world. It will be scary at times. This balance between comedy and horror is a big change for the show.

Adding a darker tone and a strong cast for season 2 sets the show up for good reviews. Millar said that for season 2 they really aimed to push themselves. They wanted to see what the show and characters could do. Gough added that the season 2 mystery is "more complex." He also feels the world is bigger and you get to really see other characters. From the trailer we know Wednesday’s little brother Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez) will join her at Nevermore. He will have some cool electrokinetic powers. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán will also return as Morticia and Gomez Addams. Many guest stars like Billie Piper and Steve Buscemi will appear. There will be many different storylines in this bigger world.

Lady Gaga's Surprise Role And What It Means For Wednesday's Future At Nevermore

A Pop Icon Joins The Cast, Adding Even More Excitement To The Upcoming Season

The cast of Wednesday took the stage at Tudum to roaring applause. Jenna Ortega was clearly one of the audience’s favorite faces. She took in the moment and thanked the screaming crowd. The second series is set to release on August 6. Ortega, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, Isaac Ordonez, Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo, Jamie McShane, and Fred Armisen will all return. But there was a truly huge reveal: Lady Gaga is joining Wednesday season 2 as a Nevermore teacher! Gaga even closed the show. She came out of a coffin before performing a medley that turned the venue into a wild goth-glam party.

This addition of Lady Gaga is a massive deal for the show. Her style and personality fit right into the world of Nevermore Academy. Fans are already excited to see what kind of teacher she will be and how she will interact with Wednesday and the other students. It hints at even more bizarre and fun moments to come. Her presence alone will draw even more eyes to the series. It shows the show is not holding back on big surprises.

Jenna Ortega’s sense of humor and her desire to stay true to herself are quite evident. She navigates the challenges of fame and social media scrutiny with a surprisingly grounded perspective. The return of Wednesday with its promises of darker themes and exciting new characters like Lady Gaga seems like a perfect fit for her. The show continues to be a platform where her unique talents can shine. It will be interesting to watch how this next season unfolds. It will also be interesting to see how Wednesday Addams, the ultimate outsider, continues to conquer the world of pop culture while Ortega herself wishes for a bit more of that character's unfiltered honesty.