Steve Pond's Blog, page 59

‘Weapons’ Ending Explained: The Maybrook Mystery Concludes (Or Does It?)

“Weapons,” out now, is one of the very best movies you’ll see this year and an instant horror classic, combining elements of Paul Thomas Anderson (a sprawling, multi-pronged story told from multiple characters’ perspectives) and John Carpenter (creeping dread, sly social commentary). And honestly, the less you know the better, since the power of “Weapons” comes from the movie’s slow reveal of the truth behind the disappearance of an entire classroom’s worth of little kids.

As the film unfolds, we get the mystery investigated and expanded upon by a host of townsfolk – the teacher of the missing kids (Julia Garner), a father of a missing boy (Josh Brolin) and a local beat cop (Alden Ehrenreich), among others. And then when the truth is finally revealed, it’s a doozy. “Weapons” hails from “Barbarian” director Zach Cregger, so you know that it’s full of twists, turns and oddly laugh-out-loud funny humor.

But we can’t express how powerful the ending is so if you haven’t seen “Weapons” or still want to see it, turn back now. This is a very big spoiler warning. We’re going deep.

First question: what happened to the kids who disappeared?

The kids, who all got up at 2:17 a.m. and ran out of their respective homes, into the darkness, were under the control of a power spell. They ran into the home of Alex Tilly (Cary Christopher), the one kid from Miss Gandy’s class who didn’t disappear. As it turns out his “aunt” Gladys (Amy Madigan), who is a witch, collected the kids to (presumably) suck their life force out to keep her alive. Gladys had Alex steal something from each of the kids, which is essential to the ritual working. The police investigated Gladys’ home but never found the kids because she hid them.

How do they find the kids?

Anthony (Austin Abrams), a local drug addict and vagabond, discovers the kids after breaking into the house. He brings it to the attention of Paul Morgan (Ehrenreich), a local cop. Of course they go to the house only to come under the spell of Gladys and her mystical powers. Eventually, Archer Graff (Brolin) and Miss Gandy (Garner) do their own investigation and reach the same conclusion – the kids are in the Tilly house. Time to rescue some abductees.

How do they rescue the kids?

You’re asking the wrong question.

Sorry, do they rescue the kids?

Not really.

Go on.

When Miss Gandy and Graff get into the house, they are attacked by Morgan and Anthony, under the spell of Gladys. Miss Gandy has to kill Morgan, her ex-flame, and Graff has to beat Anthony, nearly to death, before he’s shot to death by Miss Gandy. (She steals Morgan’s service weapon.) And young Alex gets to help out too. He breaks into the room where his evil aunt has been staying and uses her techniques to possess the kids in the basement once again – this time weaponizing them against her. In a bravura, go-for-broke sequence towards the very end, Gladys is chased through the neighborhood by the horde of children, as they break through glass windows and trash the interior of houses. Finally, they get ahold of her and literally rip her to pieces (one kid pulls half of her head off), before stopping and going into a catatonic state.

Wow.

Yeah, big time wow. Graff finds his son and is seen, at the very end, walking away with him. But it’s not some happy ending. In fact, our young narrator, who has done a great job leading us through the story, said that most of the kids who ran away remained catatonic. But some started speaking again. Grim.

Amy Madigan in ‘Weapons’ (Warner Bros.)What does it mean?

Well, “Weapons,” at its heart, serves as an allegory for school shootings and the way that a mass tragedy impacts the community around that event. It also satirizes the “magical thinking” employed by conservatives around these events – treating the kids’ disappearance as an actual supernatural conspiracy, like something out of a fairy tale. And, as the narrator says at the beginning of the movie, it’s something that has been covered up and forgotten about in the years since – just like every major tragedy (which is always followed by another major tragedy).

These traumas are something to be wished away, which the events of “Weapons” are too – mass possession, witchcraft, murder – all something that can be prayed away. The ending represents that these events have a way of scarring the community, not in the immediate aftermath but deep down in the town’s bones. This will be something they will be dealing with for generations, even if they want to sweep it under the rug or wish it away. The pain, the death, all of that suspicion, it seeps into the ground, gets into the water, and will be felt for decades to come.

The post ‘Weapons’ Ending Explained: The Maybrook Mystery Concludes (Or Does It?) appeared first on TheWrap.

Bill Maher Compares ICE Agents, Unfavorably, to Child Molesters, Jokes ‘America Is United Behind One Thing: Fleeing’ | Video

“I’ll say this for child molesters, when they grab you off the street and throw you into a van, at least they do it because they love it,” Bill Maher joked during his monologue on Friday’s “Real Time.” The context? He was basically joking that child molesters are better than Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

He got to that joke by first talking at length about the implementation of Donald Trump’s draconian (likely illegal) tariffs, and, after explaining several of the likely terrible effects of these tariffs — and how confusing and unpredictable they are — Maher joked, “If all this seems counterintuitive to you, it’s because Jeffrey Epstein wasn’t at your wedding.”

“I really I don’t get Trump,” Maher continued. “I really don’t. The tariffs? Not popular. ICE going around there with their masks, throwing people into vans? Not popular. And yet he’s doubling down on unpopular.”

“I mean, the ICE thing, they’re just going after more, they need more people, so they’re having a big recruitment program, no age limit, they announced this week. Doesn’t matter how young you are, you can be 18. You can be old as dirt. If you like wearing a mask and throwing people in a van,” Maher said. “Also a signing bonus. You have $50,000 signing bonus. You could put a porch on your house for that. Good luck to find anyone who could build it.”

Maher then talked about former “Lost & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” star Dean Cain, who announced this week that he’s joining ICE.

“He joined because heard that lots of migrants were coming into this country.
And it works out he was already living in a van,” Maher said. “Okay, I kid Dean Cain, but no, I think he joined because he heard that lots of migrants were coming into this country, and a lot of them were bad actors.”

Then he got to talking about ICE agents specifically.

“Well, if that’s not enough, we have another wildfire heading toward LA. Oh, the smoke is so thick. Some of the ICE agents are wearing two masks,” Maher continued. “I’ll say this for child molesters, when they grab you off the street and throw you into a van, at least they do it because they love it. You know what I’m saying?”

“Whether you are fleeing ICE, or you are fleeing the wildfires, or you’re a democratic Texas legislator who’s fleeing the state, it’s great to know that America is united behind one thing: Fleeing,” Maher added as he wrapped up his monologue.

Watch part of the monologue below:

The post Bill Maher Compares ICE Agents, Unfavorably, to Child Molesters, Jokes ‘America Is United Behind One Thing: Fleeing’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

Every Renewed, Canceled or Ending TV Show in 2025

With every year comes difficult decisions for networks and streamers alike to either hold on to their series or let them go.

2025 is expected to see several beloved series coming to an end, including “Bel-Air,” “Billy the Kid” and “Power Book IV: Force,” among others. Netflix’s “The Upshaws” and “Heartbreak High” similarly have ends in sight, though it’s unknown exactly when that might be. Some of Netflix’s biggest and longest running shows are also coming to a close this year, including “Stranger Things,” “Squid Game” and “Big Mouth.”

For the full list of all of the TV shows that have been renewed, canceled or are expected to end in 2o25, see below. This list will be updated with renewals and cancellations as the year goes on.

“The 1% Club” (Fox) – Renewed

“The 1% Club” has been renewed for a second season, with the game show set to move from Amazon’s Prime Video to Fox. Joel McHale will take over as host for Season 2, replacing Patton Oswalt.

“9-1-1: Lone Star” (FOX) – Ending

The “9-1-1” spinoff will come to a close with Season 5, which began in September 2024 and airs its final episode early in 2025. The series finale is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 3.

“Abbott Elementary” (ABC) – Renewed

The Quinta Brunson-created and led sitcom was renewed for a fifth season in January.

“American Ninja Warrior” (NBC) – Renewed

The summer competition show will be coming back with Season 18.

“Andor” (Disney+) – Ending

The critically acclaimed “Star Wars” series and “Rogue One” prequel will end after its second season on Disney+, star Diego Luna has confirmed. Season 2 will span a period of four years across 12 episodes, leading up to the events of “Rogue One” and is set to premiere on April 22.

“Animal Control” (Fox) – Renewed

The workplace comedy starring Joel McHale was renewed for a fourth season in May. In addition to McHale, the series stars Michael Rowland, Vella Lovell, Ravi Patel and Grace Palmer.

“Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches” (AMC) — Renewed

AMC renewed its witchy drama series starring Alexandra Daddario and Harry Hamlin for Season 3 in April. Season 2 ended on March 2 and remains among the top shows on AMC+, according to internal data.

“Based on a True Story” (Peacock) – Canceled

“Based on a True Story” was canceled in April after two seasons on Peacock. Season 2 aired in November 2024.

“Bel-Air” (Peacock) – Ending

Peacock’s reimagining of the ’90s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” was renewed for a fourth and final season in December, which, based on the show’s previous release cadence, could arrive sometime in 2025.

“Big Mouth” (Netflix) – Ending

Netflix’s longest-running comedy with end with Season 8, set to debut in 2025. Created by Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett, “Big Mouth” first premiered in 2017 and was renewed for an eighth and final season in 2023.

“Billy the Kid” (MGM+) – Ending

“Billy the Kid” will debut its third and final season in 2025 after being renewed in late 2024.

“Bosch: Legacy” (Prime Video) – Ending

Amazon’s “Bosch” revival series will end with Season 3, announced to debut in March 2025. However, author Michael Connelly also confirmed in his announcement that a new show focused on Renée Ballard is on the way and “you haven’t seen the last of Harry Bosch.” The Ballard-centric series is set to debut in Fall 2025.

“The Chelsea Detective” (Acorn TV) – Renewed

The British crime drama starring Adrian Scarborough and Vanessa Emme was renewed for a Season 4 by Acorn TV and ZDF in August. At the time, production on the new episodes was already underway in London with a planned 2026 debut.

“The Chi” (Showtime) – Renewed

The drama series created by Lena Waithe was renewed for an eighth season in May, becoming one of the contenders for the second longest-running scripted series in Showtime’s history.

“Cobra Kai” (Netflix) – Ending

Netflix’s hit “Karate Kid” sequel series started airing its final season in July 2024, and will release the third and final batch of episodes on Feb. 13, 2025.

“Colin from Accounts” (Paramount+) – Renewed

The show, which stars and is written by Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer, was renewed for a third season in April.

“Common Side Effects” (Adult Swim) – Renewed

Joe Bennett and Steve Hely’s trippy thriller is coming back for more. “Common Side Effects” centers around a fungi expert who finds a mushroom capable of curing all illnesses. But when Marshall (Dave King) optimistically tries to bring his discovery to the world, he finds himself hunted by government officials and cutthroat pharmaceutical heads.

“Joe and Steve did their job by crafting a boundary-pushing and genre-defining piece of television that re-frames what ‘adult animation’ is capable of,” Adult Swim president Michael Ouweleen said in a statement to press. “And you all did your job by showing up on Adult Swim and Max to support the show and lighting up your socials to spread the word. So, see? We CAN have nice things.”

“The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin” (Apple TV+) – Canceled

Apple axed its Noel Fielding comedy after its star pulled out of production three-quarters through Season 2’s shoot. The British tabloid The Sun was the first to report the news.

“Conan O’Brien Must Go” – Renewed

O’Brien is hitting the road once again. Ahead of the premiere of Season 2, Max renewed the unscripted series. This renewal comes while O’Brien’s stock is particularly hot after the comedian’s gig hosting the Oscars.

“The Conners” (ABC) – Ending

The sitcom and “Roseanne” spinoff will end with Season 7, which will debut in March 2025 as a part of ABC’s midseason slate.

“Days of our Lives” (Peacock) – Renewed

Peacock renewed the soap for a 62nd and 63rd season in July.

“Deb’s House” (WE tv) – Renewed

Deb Antney’s search for the next chart-topping superstar will continue. But in Season 2, the mogul is focusing on R&B instead of rap. There will be eight hourlong episodes in this coming installment, which will air exclusively on WE tv and be available to stream on ALLBLK.

“R&B has always held a special place in my heart,” Antney said in a statement to press. “This season is all about capturing the nostalgia of the golden era of R&B, while forging a new path for future stars.”

“Diarra From Detroit” (BET+) – Renewed

The Diarra Kilpatrick-led series scored a second season renewal in late April.

“The Empress” (Netflix) – Ending

The story of Empress Elisabeth and Emperor Franz will be coming to an end after one final installment. In January, Netflix renewed “The Empress” for Season 3.

“It sometimes leaves me speechless to see how many people we have been able to reach and touch all over the world with ‘The Empress.’ To be able to continue and conclude this story together with our team and the unique ensemble cast is nothing less than a gift,” showrunner Katharina Eyssen said in a statement to press.

“Étoile” (Prime Video) – Canceled

The ballet drama from Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino was canceled in June, less than two months after its premiere on Prime Video.

“The Equalizer” (CBS) – Canceled

The Queen Latifah-led show was canceled by CBS after five seasons in May.

“Expedition Files” (Discovery Channel) – Renewed

The Discovery Channel original follows Josh Gates as he travels through history to uncover answers to the world’s biggest mysteries

“FBI” (CBS) – Renewed

The flagship “FBI” series was renewed through the 2026-27 TV season by CBS.

“FBI: International” and “FBI: Most Wanted” (CBS) – Canceled

 The two Dick Wolf series did not earn renewals at CBS for the 2025-26 season.

“The Franchise” (HBO) – Canceled

The comedy series about the making of a big-budget superhero series was canceled in January after one season at HBO. The show starred Himesh Patel and was executive produced by Jon Brown, Armando Iannucci and Sam Mendes.

“Frasier” (Paramount+) – Canceled

The reboot, which brought back Kelsey Grammer as the title character, was canceled by Paramount+ after two seasons in January.

“Fubar” (Netflix) – Canceled

The Arnold Schwarzenegger-led spy drama was canceled in August after two seasons. The series had strong viewership in Season 1, but failed to keep the same momentum in Season 2.

“The Gilded Age” (HBO) – Renewed

The period drama series from Julian Fellowes was renewed for a fourth season in July ahead of its Season 3 finale in August.

“God. Family. Football” (Fox Nation) – Renewed

Fox Nation is doubling down on its football docuseries. “God. Family. Football” was renewed for two more seasons ahead of its Season 3 premiere in August.

“Going Dutch” (Fox) – Renewed

The workplace comedy starring Dennis Leary was renewed for a second season in May. In addition to Leary, the series stars Taylor Misiak, Danny Pudi, Laci Mosley and Hal Cumpston.

“Goosebumps” (Disney+) – Canceled

The horror anthology series based on the R.L. Stine books will not return for a third season, the streamer announced in August.

“The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu) – Ending

Emmys favorite “The Handmaid’s Tale” was renewed for its sixth and final Season all the way back in September 2022 and will finally debut sometime in Spring 2025.

“Happy Face” (Paramount+) – Canceled

Robert and Michelle King’s crime drama series, starring Annaleigh Ashford and Dennis Quaid was canceled after one season at the streamer.

“Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking” (Food Network) – Renewed

The competition series, hosted by “Harry Potter” actors James and Oliver Phelps, was renewed for a second season in January.

“Heartbreak High” (Netflix) – Ending

The YA series was renewed for a third and final season in May 2o24 by Netflix, which began production in November.

“High Potential” (ABC) – Renewed

The Kaitlin Olson-led detective series was renewed for a second season in January.

“House of David” (Prime Video) – Renewed

Before Prime Video’s Biblical drama even concluded, the series was renewed for a second season. Jon Erwin (“Jesus Revolution”) and Jon Gunn (“Ordinary Angels”) will return as directors, writers and executive producers for the series, and Michael Iskander will reprise his role as David.

“Hustlers Gamblers Crooks” (Discovery Channel) – Rewnewed

This series that tells the stories of true stories of those who risked their lives to make their fortunes will be returning.

“Hysteria!” (Peacock) – Canceled

The horror thriller starring Julie Bowen and Anna Camp was canceled after one season at the streamer.

“In the Eye of the Storm” (Discovery Channel) – Renewed

Told through the firsthand accounts of everyday people, “In the Eye of the Storm” covers the horrors and trauma of recent natural disasters.

“Invincible” (Prime Video) – Renewed

The adult-animated superhero series was renewed for a fifth season ahead of its Season 4, which is set to debut in 2026.

“The Irrational” (NBC) – Canceled

The Jesse L. Martin-led drama series was not renewed by NBC for the 2025-26 season.

“King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch” (Netflix) – Renewed

The show headed up by Ken Goldin was renewed for a third season in July.

“The Last Woodsmen” (Discovery Channel) – Renewed

Set in the Pacific Northwest, the unscripted series follows logger Jared Douglas as he risks his life and livelihood to harvest some of the most valuable timber on Earth.

“Law & Order” and “Law & Order: SVU” – Renewed (NBC)

The legal drama series were renewed by NBC for the 2025-26 season, bringing , “Law & Order” to its 25th season and “SVU” to its 27th. The decision was made in early May, just ahead of upfronts.

“The Legend of Vox Machina” (Prime Video) – Renewed and Ending

Prime Video renewed the show for a fifth and final season in July ahead of the debut of Season 4, which is slated for a 2026 release.

“The Lincoln Lawyer” (Netflix) – Renewed

The legal drama based on Michael Connelly’s book series was been renewed for Season 4 in January, with Neve Campbell returning as a series regular.

“Lopez vs. Lopez” (NBC) – Canceled

The George and Mayan Lopez-led sitcom was canceled after three seasons on NBC.

“Mo” (Netflix) – Ending

“Mo” Season 1 debuted all the way back in 2025, and Mo Amer’s series will return for a second and final season on Jan. 30, 2025.

“Mr. Throwback” (Peacock) – Canceled

“Mr. Throwback,” starring Adam Pally, Ego Nwodim and Steph Curry, was canceled in April, almost a year since its debut on Peacock in August 2024.

“Mud Madness” (Discovery Channel) – Renewed

The series revolves around the world of extreme Big-Tire UTV mud racing as the drivers compete for the coveted MUD CUP.

“Murderbot” (Apple TV+) – Renewed

 The Alexander Skarsgård-led and executive produced show was renewed for a second season in July.

“Murder in a Small Town” (Fox) – Renewed

The murder mystery series starring Kristin Kreuk and Rossif Sutherland was renewed for a second season by Fox in January.

“Night Court” (NBC) – Canceled

The reboot sitcom series led by Melissa Rauch was not renewed for the 2025-26 broadcast season by NBC, but producer Warner Bros. TV is hoping to find a new home for the show.

“North of North” (Netflix) – Renewed

Netflix renewed the Canadian family dramedy for Season 2 on April 29, almost three weeks since its debut on the platform. The show marks Netflix’s first series commissioned from Canada and is a co-production with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), in partnership with APTN.

“On Call” (Prime Video) – Canceled

The police drama series starring Troian Bellisario and Brandon Larracuente was canceled by Prime Video in May.

“The Pitt” (Max) – Renewed

The Noah Wyle-led medical drama was renewed for a second season in February.

“Poppa’s House” (CBS) – Canceled

The CBS sitcom starring Damon Wayans was canceled after one season in April.

“Power Book IV: Force” (Starz) – Ending

The third and final season of the Joseph Sikora-led series is anticipated to arrive sometime in 2025. At the time of the announcement in June 2024, showrunner and EP Gary Lennon was already in the midst of developing another show within the “Power” universe.

“The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh” (Prime Video) – Canceled

The family comedy series starring Naveen Andrews was canceled in February, three months after premiering on Amazon’s Prime Video. The show was part of Amazon Freeve’s comedy slate, which moved to Prime Video after the free, ad-supported sibling platform was folded into the larger streamer as “Pradeeps” was premiering.

“The Quiz with Balls” (Fox) – Renewed

Jay Pharaoh is returning to Fox this summer as he hosts a game show that pits two families against each other as they battle for the chance to win $100,000.

“Scariest House in America” (HGTV) – Renewed

The Retta-led series was renewed by HGTV in April

“School Spirits” (Paramount+) – Renewed

Peyton List’s drama about the afterlife will officially be returning for a Season 3, which is set to premiere in 2026. This renewal came after Season 2 of the Paramount+ original saw a 94% increase in viewership compared to Season 1.

“SisterS” (IFC and AMC+) – Renewed

The dark comedy starring Sarah Goldberg (“Barry”) and Susan Stanley will be returning to IFC and AMC+. Filming is currently taking place in Canada, and Donal Logue and Sophie Thompson are confirmed to reprise their roles as Jimmy and Sheryl, respectively. The series is eyeing a 2026 premiere date for Season 2.

“Sullivan’s Crossing” (The CW) – Renewed

The romance drama starring Morgan Kohan, Chad Michael Murray and Scott Patterson was renewed at the CW for Season 4 in July, on the heels of airing the Season 3 finale. The renewal arrived as the show made a splash debut upon its U.S. release on Netflix.

“The Summit” (CBS) – Canceled

The reality competition series hosted by Manu Bennett was canceled after one season in April.

“Squid Game” (Netflix) – Ending

The mega-hit Korean series just debuted Season 2 for Christmas 2024 and it will make a quick return for a third and final season in 2025.

“Squid Game: The Challenge” (Netflix) – Renewed

While “Squid Game” comes to an end with its third season, the reality TV show inspired by the drama series was renewed for a third season in July, ahead of Season 2’s premiere in November.

“Stick” (Apple TV+) – Renewed

The Apple TV+ comedy series led by Owen Wilson and set around the world of golf landed a Season 2 renewal in July, the day it released its Season 1 finale.

“The Sticky” (Prime Video) – Canceled

The Margo Martindale-led comedy series was canceled in February, more than two months after the debut of the six-episode first season on Prime Video.

“Stranger Things” (Netflix) – Ending

Netflix’s supernatural sensation starring Winona Ryder, David Harbour and Millie Bobby Brown will return for its long-awaited fifth and final season in 2025. No release date is set yet, but filming is already wrapped.

“S.W.A.T.” (CBS) – Canceled

“S.W.A.T.” was canceled again by CBS in March, leaving the Shemar Moore-led procedural with eight seasons.

“Tamron Hall” (Syndicated) – Renewed

The daytime talk show hosted by Tamron Hall was picked up for a seventh season by ABC-owned TV stations and Hearst Television in February. 

“Teacup” (Peacock) – Canceled

James Wan’s horror thriller series was canceled by Peacock after one season in January.

“Tires”(Netflix) – Renewed

Shane Gillis’ comedy series was renewed for Season 3 less than a month after the premiere of it second season. New episodes are expected to debut in 2026.

“Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black” – Renewed

Roughly a week after debuting Part 2 “Beauty in Black,” Netflix renewed the Tyler Perry series for a second season. The first part of this series spent four weeks in Netflix’s Top 10 list of its most-watched English language series.

“Ugliest House in America” (HGTV) – Renewed

HGTV renewed the Retta-led show for a new season premiering in 2026.

“The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On” (Netflix) – Renewed

The reality dating show from Chris Coelen was renewed for a fourth season in July.

“The Upshaws” (Netflix) – Ending

The comedy series starring Mike Epps and Wanda Sykes will come to an end with a 12-episode Part 7, which will follow Part 6’s debut in early 2025.

“Vanderpump Villa” (Hulu) – Renewed

Hulu’s European getaway reality series led by Lisa Vanderpump was renewed for Season 3 in July, a couple months after the release of Season 2. The new installment will feature a new location and staff as they tend to Vanderpump’s lineup of VIP guests.

“Virgin River” (Netflix) – Renewed

The Alexandra Breckenridge-led series was renewed for an eighth season in July.

“Watson” (CBS) – Renewed

The modern-day Sherlock Holmes-inspired drama starring Morris Chesnut was renewed for a second season in March to be broadcast during the network’s 2025-2026 television season.

Watch What Happens Live (Bravo) – Renewed

Andy Cohen’s “Watch What Happens Live” was renewed by Bravo through 2027 in June. In addition to serving as the late night show’s host, Cohen, who also extended his first-look deal with NBCUniversal through 2028, will continue to host reunions and specials, as well as serve as an executive producer on the “Real Housewives” franchise.

“Wednesday” (Netflix) – Renewed

Netflix renewed the Addams Family-inspired series for a third season in July ahead of its Season 2 debut in the fall.

“The White Lotus” (HBO) – Renewed

The Mike White anthology series was renewed for a fourth season in January, ahead of the debut of its Thailand-set third season in February.

“Women in Blue” (Apple TV+) – Renewed

The Spanish-language drama crime series led by Bárbara Mori was renewed by Apple TV+ in May.

“XO, Kitty” (Netflix) – Renewed

The “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” spinoff series was renewed for a third season in February.

The post Every Renewed, Canceled or Ending TV Show in 2025 appeared first on TheWrap.

Tom Hanks Makes Touching Tribute to ‘Apollo 13’ Astronaut Jim Lovell: ‘Godspeed You, on This Next Voyage’

Tom Hanks paid touching tribute to “Apollo 13” astronaut Jim Lovell on Friday as news of the 97-year-old’s death circulated online.

The Oscar-winning actor starred in Ron Howard’s Oscar-winning 1995 feature, “Apollo 13,” as the real-life commander of the 1970 space mission that nearly ended in tragedy.

“There are people who dare, who dream and who lead others to the places we would not go on our own,” Hanks wrote on Instagram. “Jim Lovell, who for a long while had gone farther into space and for longer than any other person of our planet, was that kind of guy.

“His many voyages around Earth and on to so-very-close to the moon were not made for riches or celebrity, but because such challenges as those are what fuels the course of being alive — and who better than Jim Lovell to make those voyages,” the actor continued.

Hanks concluded his post, expressing how fitting it was that Friday is a full moon — one that will see Lovell through to the great unknown.

“On this night of a full moon, he passes on — to the heavens, to the cosmos, to the stars,” he wrote. “Godspeed you, on this next voyage, Jim Lovell.”

Credit: Instagram/@tomhanks

Lovell was the naval aviator and mechanical engineer most famous for commanding the space mission Apollo 13 safely back to Earth after mechanical issues led to an aborted moon landing in 1970. He died Thursday in Lake Forest, Illinois.

NASA Administrator Sean Duffy shared the news of Lovell’s death on Friday in a special tribute.

“NASA sends its condolences to the family of Capt. Jim Lovell, whose life and work inspired millions of people across the decades,” Duffy wrote on NASA’s official website. “Jim’s character and steadfast courage helped our nation reach the Moon and turned a potential tragedy into a success from which we learned an enormous amount. We mourn his passing even as we celebrate his achievements.”

Lovell also co-authored the 1994 nonfiction account of the Apollo 13 space launch, “Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13.” That book with Jeffrey Kluger served as the source material for Howard’s “Apollo 13.” The film co-starred Bill Paxton and Kevin Bacon.

“Apollo 13” director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer also shared their sympathies for the astronaut’s passing in two statements obtained by TheWrap.

“Rest in peace, Commander Lovell. Navy test pilot, Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 and, of course, Apollo 13. Simply knowing Jim has been a tremendous honor,” Howard said. “His combination of intellect, courage and commitment to duty made him one of the most remarkable individuals I’ve ever met. His support of our movie-making efforts inspired authenticity and elevated our process in so many ways. Thank you, sir, for your service to our country and to humankind.”

Grazer remembered Lovell as “a true American hero whose courage, intellect and grace under pressure inspired a nation. He was not only a legend in space exploration, but also an incredibly generous, kind and inspiring man. Thank you, Commander Lovell, for showing us the best of what we can be.”

The post Tom Hanks Makes Touching Tribute to ‘Apollo 13’ Astronaut Jim Lovell: ‘Godspeed You, on This Next Voyage’ appeared first on TheWrap.

James Cameron Warns AI Could Cause ‘Terminator-style Apocalypse’ but ‘Utterly’ Rejects Idea It Could Replace Artists

“Terminator” writer-director James Cameron fears that his classic film about artificial intelligence nearly destroying humanity could end up coming true if the real world version of AI is ever connected to weapons systems.

Simultaneously, the “Avatar” director also insists he doesn’t think AI could ever actually replace people — at least artists, anyway.

Cameron’s comments come from a lengthy new interview with Rolling Stone, where he said in part, “I do think there’s still a danger of a Terminator-style apocalypse where you put AI together with weapons systems, even up to the level of nuclear weapon systems, nuclear defense counterstrike, all that stuff. Because the theater of operations is so rapid, the decision windows are so fast, it would take a superintelligence to be able to process it, and maybe we’ll be smart and keep a human in the loop.”

“But humans are fallible, and there have been a lot of mistakes made that have put us right on the brink of international incidents that could have led to nuclear war,” he added.

The “Avatar” director also explained that he considers “superintelligence,” meaning an as-yet uncreated version of AI, an existential threat alongside climate change and nuclear weapons.

“We’re at this cusp in human development where you’ve got the three existential threats: climate and our overall degradation of the natural world, nuclear weapons, and superintelligence,” he said.

“They’re all sort of manifesting and peaking at the same time,” Cameron said, though he also wondered if “superintelligence is the answer,” adding that he’s “not predicting that, but it might be.”

Cameron also told the magazine that “people make a little too much about me predicting artificial intelligence being a bad thing, especially when associated with nuclear weapons. But we exist in that world right now, and whether a superintelligence can help us or whether it gets weaponized and put in charge of our missile defense because it can react much faster than we can, who knows? We could be entering that world as we speak.”

Despite those dire warnings, Cameron rejects at least one of the biggest claims boosters of AI keep making — that the technology could make human labor obsolete.

Cameron explained that while he’s “leaning into teaching myself the tools of generative AI so that I can incorporate them into my future art… I utterly reject the premise that AI can take the place of actors and take the place of filmmakers and all that sort of thing. So we always have to approach any technology as being potentially dangerous and potentially helpful.”

The post James Cameron Warns AI Could Cause ‘Terminator-style Apocalypse’ but ‘Utterly’ Rejects Idea It Could Replace Artists appeared first on TheWrap.

Greg Gutfeld Reminds Jimmy Fallon of the Time They Wrestled While ‘Wasted’ and Ended Up at a Gay Bar | Video

Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld made a memorable late night appearance on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” — in large part thanks to him reminding the program’s host about a roving drunken night 15 years ago that Fallon didn’t seem to remember himself.

It started at an “illegal speakeasy” in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood where Fallon tackled Gutfeld “like a giant golden retriever,” and it ended at a nondescript gay bar in the same neighborhood.

“This is hilarious. We’ve met before,” Fallon said at the top of Thursday night’s interview.

“Yes, you have no memory of it, which is understandable, because we were wasted,” Gutfeld said.

The self-professed King of Late Night then went on to describe his friend Tracy, a mutual friend of Fallon’s who’s “a cross between a Viking and a larger Viking.” Tracy apparently opened a speakeasy “the size of a shipping container” where the inside, by Gutfeld’s measure, looked like a place “where special ops forces waterboard terrorists.”

“It wasn’t that bad,” Fallon interjected — before Gutfeld reminded him that there was actually no bar inside the space, just a cooler.

“You’re not making this up. I totally know what you’re talking about,” Fallon admitted. “I think I remember bringing beer into the bar, and then him charging me for my own beer.”

The “Gutfeld!” host continued, detailing how he was with a friend when he ran into Fallon, who he didn’t know at the time, and the “Tonight Show” host, drunk, ran towards him and tackled him.

“You’re like, on top of me. And so we’re wrestling, we’re wrestling. And then you change, and you start wrestling my buddy Andy, and you’re wrestling him,” Gutfeld recalled. “You guys get on the ground. You guys are now on the ground wrestling. And I pull out a cigarette, I light a cigarette, and I’m smoking it, and you stop, and you come over to me, and you grab it, and you crinkle it, and you go, ‘These things will kill you.’ And you threw it.”

The story continued with Fallon leaving the bar and buying Gutfeld more cigarettes, the group of them continuing to have a “weird” time at the speakeasy and leaving for a bar around the corner. While the establishment was a straight bar during the day, Gutfeld said it “goes gay” later in the night while they were there — “You can tell it goes gay because the bartender at 6 o’clock takes off his shirt.”

“Then we’re in there for a while. That’s where the story ends,” Gutfeld concluded.

Fallon apologized for tackling him and Gutfeld just gushed. “It was great. It was all very good natured, and it was a great memory, and I’m so glad I finally got to tell you about it,” he said.

Watch Gutfeld’s full interview on “The Tonight Show” in the video above.

The post Greg Gutfeld Reminds Jimmy Fallon of the Time They Wrestled While ‘Wasted’ and Ended Up at a Gay Bar | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

‘Outlander: Blood of my Blood’ Stars Break Down Fated Love Stories, Tease Obstacles to Come

Note: This story contains spoilers from “Outlander: Blood of my Blood” Episodes 1 and 2.

As Starz prepares to bid farewell to Sam Heughan’s Jamie and Caitriona Balfe’s Claire when “Outlander” airs its final season next year, the franchise turns its attention to the fated love stories of their parents with prequel series “Blood of my Blood.”

Harriet Slater and Jamie Roy play Jamie’s parents, Ellen MacKenzie and Brian Fraser, who struggle with what the actors liken to a “Romeo and Juliet” conflict coming from rival clans, while Hermione Corfield and Jeremy Irvine play Claire’s parents, Julia Moriston and Henry Beauchamp, who unite amid the treacherous conditions of WWI only to be split up again.

As the newcomers took on the roles, they faced a careful balancing act of finding “core similarities” between their characters and either Jamie or Claire, while trying not to replicate Heughan’s or Balfe’s performance. “You’re never a carbon copy of your parents,” Corfield told TheWrap. “I focus on the resilience and the intelligence they both have — their quick wittedness and their romantic elements — [Julia and Claire] both lead from the heart.”

Irvine echoed Corfield’s sentiments, noting that Henry and Claire’s similarities of intelligence and quick wit were also on the page, saying, “it definitely didn’t feel right to go and do a copycat exercise.”

“The spirit of Jamie Fraser was the most important thing that I really wanted to capture,” Slater said, noting that she drew from Sophie Skelton’s Brianna (Ellen’s granddaughter) and Laura Donnelly’s Jenny (Ellen’s daughter) for inspiration on playing the “badass” heroine. “She goes through some awful, awful experiences, and yet she comes out stronger from each and every one, and she uses her intelligence, her powers of persuasion and her determination to keep fighting. She’s a survivor.”

For Roy, the task of playing Jamie’s father came naturally. “I’ve just been told time and time again that Sam and I not only look very similar, but we act similar,” he said. “So I have it easy.”

Sam Heughan in “Outlander” and Jamie Roy in “Outlander Blood of my Blood” (Starz)

The premiere episode of “Outlander: Blood of my Blood” plunges viewers into 18th-century Scotland in the wake of the death of Ellen’s father, Jacob MacKenzie, which prompts her to begin fearing for her agency and ability to remain unwed. It’s not until a clan gathering that Ellen and Brian first lay eyes on each other, and the duo quickly start to become close.

While Ellen and Brian don’t know each other’s clans during their initial meeting, the stakes are upped when they discover their “Romeo and Juliet” situation, which Roy and Slater hoped to convey as their characters struggled to resist their attraction.

“If we choose to go down this path, then we’re putting our lives in total danger from here on, and this could potentially ruin us both,” Roy said.

While the couple faces troubled road ahead, the actors wanted to convey the childlike nervousness felt by the couple, as Roy explains Brian’s sentiments as “holy s–t, I’ve just met the love of my life.” “Both these characters experience butterflies,” Roy said. “I want to hold your hand, but I shouldn’t be holding your hand because that’s not allowed, but I’m going to do it anyway.”

“They want one thing, but they’re really being pulled in another direction,” Slater added. They’re both completely torn by this situation that they have found themselves in”

Jamie Roy and Harriet Slater in “Outlander: Blood of my Blood” (Starz)

While the premiere episode spotlights the beginnings of the romance between Ellen and Brian, viewers first meet Claire’s parents, Julia and Henry, as a married couple, who, while visiting the Scottish highlands on vacation, get torn apart when the infamous Craigh na Dun stones send Julia back from the 20th century to the 18th century, where Ellen and Brian’s love story is taking place. [Be on the lookout for quick glances of where Julia and Henry end up after some time in 1714]

Their love story is laid out in Episode 2, which sees Julia receiving an open letter from Henry deep from the trenches in WWI, kick-starting a pen-pal relationship between the pair as they ponder war and humankind and share literature with one another, which quickly turns into what Corfield calls an “epistolary romance.”

“They’re falling in love with each other’s words before they see their faces … there’s something very beautiful about that,” Corfield said. “They find a common interest in literature and in a view of the world, I think Julia falls in love with the way his mind works.”

Henry’s love for Julia becomes his driving force to get through the war. When he finally gets his leave granted, he finds Julia in the busy London crowd, and their months of back-and-forth pay off in a sweeping embrace. Their meeting marked the scene Corfield had shot outside of the studio, and the vast set in a park in Glasgow seemed to fit the “vital moment.”

“Jeremy [was] saying, ‘how does she know [it’s him] if he says that one line?’ How do we make that work?’ And I just did in the moment,” Corfield said. “You believe that they can sense each other. You believe that they would know instinctively that that was the person. And thank goodness they fancy each other.”

Jeremy Irvine and Hermione Corfield in “Outlander: Blood of my Blood” (Starz)

Henry and Julia tie the knot very shortly afterwards, and work through Henry’s PTSD from the war as they have their daughter, Claire. It’s not until Claire is five years old that the couple leaves her with her uncle as they voyage to Scotland, though their holiday gets extended when Julia is transported to the 18th century and is quickly kidnapped and brought to Castle Leathers — where Brian and the Fraser clan live — as a form of payment from her kidnappers.

As Julia gets acquainted with her newfound situation — which includes a handsy laird — Corfield likens Julia to a “caged lion” as her animalistic panic zeroes in a means to escape. “She soon realizes that escaping is not going to be easy, and that she’s in the middle of nowhere, and even if she could get out the castle, there’s no transport or any way of getting away from that, or knowing where she should even be going,” Corfield said.

Julia even receives some help from Brian, who takes the blame for her attempted escape in a dynamic Corfield compares to a brother-sister relationship, saying “Julia’s got a little bit more life experience than him, so I feel like it’s almost like an older sister talking to her younger brother.”

Hermione Corfield in “Outlander: Blood of my Blood” (Starz)

Henry follows Julia through the stones, and confirms she’s there after seeing a rock engraved with “S.W.A.K.,” to indicate the couple’s signature signoff, “sealed with a kiss.” Once he crosses through and struggles to find Julia, all that’s on Henry’s mind is survival, according to Irvine, leading him to quickly form an alliance with the wealthy Grant clan as their new advisor, which grants him safety as he searches for Julia.

“He’s got to somehow try to fit into this mad world,” Irvine said. “I didn’t want to play him like, ‘Oh, I know where this is’ … it takes him a while to come to terms with the fact that this is not the time he’s from. He’s just surviving moment-to-moment, and trying not to slip up.”

While Julia is already quite vulnerable without Henry as she barely escapes the laird’s desires, her pregnancy — which is not yet noticeable — makes her even more vulnerable, with Corfield teasing “Julia finds she has to take drastic measures to protect her baby, because it becomes clear that the baby would not be safe in that house … if anyone finds out about the pregnancy.”

“She’s not with her husband, she’s not with her daughter,” Corfield said. “She’s so worried about Claire — she’s five years old and she knows she’s safe with Uncle Lam, but the longing she feels for her daughter is out of control.”

“Outlander: Blood of my Blood” airs weekly on Fridays at 8:00 pm ET/PT on Starz in the U.S. and at 9:00 pm ET/PT in Canada. Episodes are available to stream Fridays on the Starz app.

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John Leguizamo Blasts Ex-Superman Dean Cain for Joining ICE: ‘What a Moron’ | Video

John Leguizamo just hit Dean Cain with a healthy dose of Kryptonite.

On Wednesday, Cain announced that he would be joining ICE “ASAP” as part of President Donald Trump’s mass anti-immigration campaign. It’s a move that many, including the Colombia-born Leguizamo, have taken to task.

Leguizamo, a Tony- and Emmy-winning actor and comedian, went on Instagram Friday to share some choice words for the former “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” star.

“What kind of loser volunteers to be an ICE officer?” Leguizamo asked. “What a moron. Dean Cain, your pronouns are Has/Been.”

You can watch the video below:

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A post shared by John Leguizamo (@johnleguizamo)

Both Superman and Cain have reentered the public eye in recent months. In July, “Superman” (2025) director James Gunn spoke about the Man of Steel’s immigrant origins, calling the story of Superman “the story of America,” and one of “basic human kindness.” Cain took offense to this framing.

“I’m rooting for it to be a success, but I don’t like that last political comment,” Cain told TMZ in July.

This started a conversation in July about whether Cain understands the origins of the character he portrayed for four years on “Lois & Clark.” A clip began circulating online of a scene from the series where Cain’s Superman is grounded by immigration officers due to his status as an alien.

“Dean Cain volunteered to be an ice agent!” Leguizamo said in the post. “I got one word for you LOSER!”

The post John Leguizamo Blasts Ex-Superman Dean Cain for Joining ICE: ‘What a Moron’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

‘Wednesday’ Season 1 Recap: What to Remember Before Season 2

With “Wednesday” Season 1, Netflix delivered a creepy, kooky, altogether ookie new spin on the Addams Family, taking audiences to Nevermore Academy, where teenage Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) attends a school full of monsters, freaks and Outcasts (as the monsters and freaks are called in the world of “Wednesday”).

Learning to tap into her powers as a psychic while unraveling mystery after mystery, Wednesday spent Season 1 on the hunt for a Hyde monster, fell for the wrong guy and dug deep into some horrible truths hiding beneath the pages of local history.

If you need a refresher, here’s a thorough “Wednesday” Season 1 recap with all the characters, twists and turns you need to remember.

Welcome to Nevermore AcademyJenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams in “Wednesday” (Netflix)

In the pre-credits sequence, Wednesday finds her brother, Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez), stuffed in a locker, and when she touches him, she has a vision of the swim jocks who put him there — naturally, her solution is to go set piranhas loose in the school pool. She’s promptly expelled.  

In the car with her family, she’s headed to Nevermore Academy, and she’s a legacy — her parents met and fell in love there, and her mom wasn’t just a student, she was the student: Captain of the fencing team, Queen of the Dark Prom and president of the seance society. It’s a legacy Wednesday isn’t thrilled to carry and a shadow she doesn’t want to stand in, but Nevermore is full of fellow Outcasts (kids with various supernatural abilities) and she’ll be among her peers. 

“Wednesday” Season 1 (Netflix)

Morticia was even roommates with Nevermore’s current principal, Larissa Weems (Gwendoline Christie), who places Wednesday in her mother’s old dormitory, Ophelia Hall. Her roommate? The perky people person and late-blooming werewolf Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers), who’s every bit as chipper and colorful as Wednesday is gloomy.

Enid gives Wednesday the tour, and we get to take in the sights and students of Nevermore. Built in 1791 as a refuge for Outcasts, monsters and freaks of all kinds. This year, however, is a bit of a curiosity as Nevermore is hosting its “first Normie teacher,” Marilyn Thornhill (played by iconic former Wednesday Addams actress Christina Ricci).

As Enid explains, Nevermore’s cliques are currently broken up into Fangs (vampires), Furs (werewolves), Stoners (gorgons) and Scales (sirens). The resident popular girl, Bianca Barclay (Joy Sunday), is a siren who shares a complicated relationship with her mother too, and used to date the “resident tortured artist,” Xavier Thorpe (Percy Hynes White).

… and the neighboring town of JerichoThe town of Jericho in “Wednesday” Season 1 (Netflix)

Nevermore Academy and the neighboring town of Jericho have a tense but mutually beneficial relationship that proves to be a false veneer slapped over some heinous history full of hatred, bigotry and generational grudges — but we’ll get to all that.

We first get to explore Jericho when Wednesday is brought into town for her required therapy session with Dr. Kinbott (Riki Lindhome). Wednesday promptly sneaks out, runs into a man carrying a crate of Apples and has a vision of his death, his neck snapped in the cabin of his truck. Ducking into the local coffee shop, Wednesday has her meet cute with the barista, Jericho local Tyler Galpin (Hunter Doohan), when she helps him fix his espresso machine. 

One thing we quickly learn about Jericho? The town is obsessed with its pilgrim heritage. Specifically, its founder, Joseph Crackstone. When three trouble-making teenage boys dressed as pilgrims come to the coffee shop, Wednesday handily beats all three of them in a fight.

It’s a satisfying moment, but not a great first impression for Sheriff Galpin (Jamie McShane), Tyler’s father. He doesn’t like Outsiders, and he certainly isn’t too fond of the Addams family, telling Wednesday that her father belongs in jail for murder.

Weems finally tracks Wednesday down, and during their drive back to campus, they see the man with the apple crate dead in his truck, neck twisted, just like Wednesday saw in her vision. 

Detective Wednesday and the mysterious un-death of Rowan LaslowThe Hyde in “Wednesday” Season 1 (Netflix)

Just as Wednesday arrives at Nevermore Academy, a monster starts attacking innocent people around Nevermore and Jericho. The victims seem unconnected — a hitchhiking backpacker, a Nevermore student on the brink of madness, a vagrant squatting in a local historical establishment — but Wednesday, who’s three books deep into writing her own teen detective series, is determined to crack the case.

And she gets up close and personal with it at the Harvest Festival, where she runs into her schoolmate Rowan Laslow (Calum Ross). Literally. When they touch, she sees a vision of the monster killing him, so she follows him into the woods to warn him. But once she gets to him, he attacks her, using his telekinetic powers to pin her to a tree and try to kill her.

He explains that years ago, his mother, a powerful seer, drew a picture of Wednesday and told him it was his destiny to destroy her before she destroys Nevermore. That’s when the Hyde attacks and kills Rowan on the spot, growling at Wednesday, but leaving her alive.

In the aftermath, Wednesday tells everyone exactly what happens, but to her great surprise, Rowan shows up alive at school the next day. Nobody believes her but Tyler, but eventually she learns the truth: Rowan really was killed by the Hyde in those woods. Turns out, Weems is a shape-shifter and, with the help of Rowan’s family (shamed by his attempt to kill Wednesday), she covered up his death to protect Nevermore. It’s one of many cover-ups that Wednesday gets to the bottom of in Season 1, each darker and more damning than the next.

Uncle Fester unlocks a trove of Hyde lore

That solves the mystery of Rowan, but what about the monster? Eventually, with a little help from her beloved Uncle Fester (Fred Armisen), Wednesday learns that the monster is called a Hyde, one of the most dangerous and mysterious of all Outcasts.

Nevermore founder Nathaniel Faulkner is one of the very few to research the species. He spent years studying Hydes to determine if they’re mindless killers or conscious of their actions — but he was killed by a Hyde before he could come to a conclusion. Others tried to carry on the research, but found that Hydes were too unpredictable and violent. Hydes are even banned from Nevermore.

Faulkner’s diary reveals that Hydes are “Born of mutuation,” “unleashed by a traumatic event or unlocked through chemical inducement or hypnosis.” Whomever unlocks the Hyde becomes master of the monster. With that, Wednesday realizes she’s looking for two killers, not one. And as Fester says, “Anyone willing to unlock a hyde is a next-level sicko.”

Hummers stick together“Wednesday” Season 1 (Netflix)

During her investigation, Wednesday meets Eugene Ottinger, founder, president and — until Wednesday comes along — sole member of the Nevermore Hummers, the school’s bee-keeping club. He’s a sweet, nerdy, solitary kid, and he reminds Wednesday of her brother, so she takes him under her wing. He returns that kindness in undying loyalty to Wednesday (as he always says, Hummers stick together), which ultimately ends up saving her life in the finale. But first, Eugene takes quite the beating, attacked by the Hyde during the school dance, the Rave’N.

The Nightshade Society“Wednesday” (Netflix)

Wednesday’s investigation also leads her to Nevermore’s secret society, the Nightshades. Rowan’s drawing leads her to an Edgar Allan Poe statue, where she solves riddles (The solution? “Snap twice.” A little nod to the classic “Addams Family” theme song) and finds their secret hideout. Current members of the long-standing society include Xavier, Bianca and Ajax, among others. When Xavier says Wednesday should join, she turns them down.

Later in the season, we learn a bit more about the Nightshade lore. They weren’t always a social club, they were created by Wednesday’s ancestor, Goody Addams, in order to protect Outsiders from harm and bigotry, and Morticia used to be a member. They might not be quite the force they once were, but the current Nightshades do try to do what’s right, and they show up for Wednesday when it counts.

The love trianglesHunter Doohan and Jenna Ortega in “Wednesday’ Season 1 (Netflix)

“Wednesday” Season 1 somewhat infamously spent a lot of time on love triangles, but we’re not going to spend too much on them here. They won’t have a ton of bearing on future seasons since a key member — Xavier — isn’t returning to the show. Here’s the need-to-know:

Bianca and Xavier broke up because he thought she was using her siren song to manipulate him. She still tries to win him back a few times and seems genuine, but as soon as Wednesday arrives at Nevermore, Xavier really only has eyes for her. For her part, Wednesday never really gives Xavier so much of the time of day unless she suspects him of murder.

However, she does take an honest liking to Tyler, the Jericho Normie who works at the coffee shop. She repeatedly turns to him and they even have a sweet date: and he shows her “Legally Blonde,“ which she says appreciatively was like torture.

Ravens, doves and Goody AddamsJenna Ortega as Goody Addams in “Wednesday” Season 1 (Netflix)

Wednesday’s visions are relatively new to her and began just a few months ago, so naturally, she’s terrible about hiding them. Weems is quick to deduce the truth after their Jericho trip and reveals that Morticia started having visions around the same age. “They were notoriously unreliable and dangerous,” Weems warns her.

Wednesday has plenty of her own struggles with her new gifts, which she cannot command and always seem to kick in at inopportune moments. During Nevermore’s annual Poe Cup, Wednesday is in the lead, but when she grabs a flag from Joseph Crackstone’s tomb, she’s immediatel taken by a vision. She sees a girl who looks just like her, but with blonde hair and old-timey clothing: Goody Addams. “You are the key,” she tells Wednesday, who wakes up just in time to eke out the Poe Cup win for Ophelia Hall.

Xavier later clocks that Wednesday is having visions because his father is a psychic. “The first thing he’ll tell you is that visions can’t be trusted; they only show you one side of the picture,” he tells her, warning that psychic ability isn’t rooted in logic, but emotion.

During a visit to the school, Morticia also finally realizes what’s going on, but even as a psychic, she can’t be much help. There are two types of psychics: Ravens and Doves. Wednesday is a Raven and Morticia is a Dove.

“Our psychic ability resides on the spectrum of who we are,“ Morticia explains. ”Given my disposition, my visions tend to be positive. That makes me a Dove … You’re a Raven. Your visions are more potent, more powerful, but without the proper training, they can lead to madness.”

Unfortunately, Morticia can’t be the one to train her – psychics aren’t trained by the living, but by someone from their bloodline who “reaches out from beyond.” For Wednesday, that’s Goody Addams, the blonde Pilgrim-era witch who’s appeared in her visions and shares a dark history with Jericho founder Joseph Crackstone. Morticia warns Wednesday to be careful, saying Goody “was a witch of great strength, but her vengeance pushed her too far, and even she couldn’t save herself.”

The terrible truth About Joseph Crackstone

The most egregious cover-up that Wednesday unearths during her investigations is the true history of Joseph Crackstone, the town of Jericho and what they did to the Outcasts,. The truth has been buried under generations of niceties that benefit both Jericho and Nevermore in the present day. Nevermore pays the taxes that fund Jericho, and the Outsider school gets to fly under the radar without interference from the Normies.

Wednesday learns the truth in a horrible vision: Crackstone and the pilgrims of Jericho burned the Outsider community to death. In her vision, Wednesday sees Crackstone declare Goody a witch. Then, he throws her into a building full of Outcasts, including her mother, who are chained to the floor. Her mother implores her to run and avenge them, saving the future of the outcasts, and Goody escapes through a hatch in the floor. In the vision, she warns Wednesday, “He won’t stop until he’s killed us all.”

“I thought nothing scared me, but that was before I stared into the eyes of Joseph Crackstone,” Wednesday says after the encounter, and torches Jericho’s new statue of him in return.

The true tale of Gomez and Morticia Addams & not-so-tragic fate of the Gates Family“Wednesday” Season 1 (Netflix)

When Gomez and Morticia come back to Nevermore for Parents’ Day, we get a glimse into the lovebirds’ past. When they were students at Nevermore, Gomez was accused of murdering a young man named Garrett Gates. In the present, after the local coroner kills himself and admits he fudged the autopsy reports on the Gates case, Sheriff Galpin comes calling for Gomez, the man he’s always suspected of the crime.

Wednesday, who has been digging into her parents’ dark past since the sheriff mentioned his suspicions to her, confronts them about it during a family therapy session with Dr. Kinbott. Morticia is outraged and says she refuses to entertain a “decades-old witch hunt,” insisting that Gomez did nothing wrong, but when they are back at Nevermore, Sheriff Galpin comes to arrest Gomez for the crime.

Wednesday visits her father in lockup and gets his version of the tale: Garrett was infatuated with Morticia, mistaking her kindness for interest, growing obsessed and, eventually, stalking her.  But he was a Gates, a son of the oldest and richest family in Jericho, so there was nothing they could do about it, and his father was an Outcast-hating bigot who only raged harder after Morticia accused his son. On the night of the Rave’n, Garrett attacked Gomez and Morticia, “insane from his love” for her, as Gomez tells it. The two boys had a huge knock-down, drag-out fight, ending in Garrett’s death when he ran into the sword Gomez wielded.

Except that’s not quite what happened. Wednesday knows her father’s tells. On her way out, she lets the sheriff know he’s got the wrong guy and he’s a fool to believe such a convenient tale, but Sheriff Galpin retorts that he wants justice for the whole Gates family and the tragedy they endured at the hands of Outsiders. After Garrett’s death, his mother hung herself, his father drank himself to death and his sister, left orphaned, was sent overseas, where she drowned.

Next, Wednesday confronts her mother and learns the full truth: Morticia was the one holding the sword, but Gomez stepped in without hesitating to cover for her. She also includes a key detail about the fight that allows Wednesday to solve the mystery for good: Garrett was foaming at the mouth and she’ll never forget what his eyes looked like.

Foaming at the mouth, dilated pupils, mental confusion, all textbook signs of … nightshade poisoning. Garrett Gates was already dying before Morticia stabbed him. They dig up his corpse, confirming the poisoning, and when Wednesday touches his finger, she has a vision that clears up any lingering questions.

Garrett’s father wasn’t just a bigot, he was a murderous zealot and sent his son into the Rave’N dance to poison the punchbowl and kill all the Outsider students. But Garrett got into a fight with Gomez on the way in, during which the vial shattered in his pocket, poisoning him.

It’s yet another cover-up. The mayor, who was sheriff at the time, knew the boy was poisoned, knew that Garrett’s father blamed Outcasts for stealing his family’s land, but he chose to hide that information to protect the town of Jericho. Now that Wednesday’s vision revealed the scope of what happened, it doesn’t take long for the mayor to put the pieces together. He investigates the old Gates mansion, but he’s murdered before he can tell the sheriff what he found.

And the Hyde is …“Wednesday” Season 1 (Netflix)

Wednesday isn’t too far behind him in putting it all together (though not as close as she thinks either, as she’ll soon learn the hard way). Wednesday tricks Tyler and Enid into escorting her to the Gates mansion, where they discover a) the car that hit the mayor and b) the bedroom of the supposedly dead sister, Laurel Gates, has been recently inhabited.

Wednesday remains convinced that Xavier is the Hyde, and becomes certain that Dr. Kinbott is his master after she sees them duck into a secret therapy session. Indeed, after Kinbott is killed by the Hyde, the police find tons of evidence in Xavier’s art studio and drag him off while he insists he’s been framed.

With Xavier in custody, Wednesday is feeling quite good about things and goes to see Tyler at the coffee shop. They finally kiss, and that’s when she has a new vision – of Tyler, covered in blood, looming over the dying Dr. Kinbott. Tyler is the Hyde.

She runs out in the moment, gathers her supplies and allies, and then captures him at Xavier’s art studio with the help of the Nightshades. However, when Wednesday suggests a little “light torture,” they go to Weems. Wednesday is taken into custody, and that’s when Tyler drops the good guy act. He tells her that at first he would wake up covered in blood, unsure what was happening, but then he started to remember the gory details: screams, panic and “a fear so primal, I could taste it… and it was delicious.” Yikes, girl.

It was Thornhill all alongChristina Ricci in “Wednesday” (Netflix)

Weems arranges things so that all charges are dropped but Wednesday is set to be expelled immediately from Nevermore. She just has one request — to stop by Eugene’s hospital room before she goes. He finally woke up after the Hyde attack and he’s got a single detail that cracks the case for good: the night he was attacked, he saw the Hyde’s master, and she was wearing red boots. It wasn’t Kinbott, it’s Marilyn Thornhill, the resident Normie botany teacher.

Wednesday stages a ruse to trap her, and confronts Thornhill, who admits the truth: she stalked, manipulated and enslaved Tyler. What she doesn’t know is that’s not Tyler with Wednesday, it’s shape-shifter Principal Weems; Thornhill just blew her cover. Before she can be overpowered, she injects Weems with Nightshade poison, and when Wednesday runs to the side of the dying woman, Thornhill knocks her out.

Fortunately, Thing was there. He scurries over to Enid, who’s feeling wolfy while she’s making out with Ajax on the night of the Blood Moon. Meanwhile, Eugene overhears the whole tale on the phone and leaves the hospital to come to Wednesday’s aid.

Thornhill has Wednesday chained up, and reveals the full extent of her disdain for Outcasts. She is, of course, Laurel Gates, sister of Garrett Gates, and their family lineage goes all the way back to the pilgrims. As Wednesday is a descendant of Goody Addams, so Laurel is a descendant of Joseph Crackstone, and she reveres him as a visionary dedicated to protecting the Normies from monsters. She reveals the Gates family remained loyal to Crackstone’s mission throughout the centuries, saying her brother “died serving that cause.”

But she’s taking a supernatural approach. She took a body part from each of the Hyde’s victims to complete a ritual that will bring Joseph Crackstone back from the dead so he can end Outcast kind. Wednesday is the key – When Goody killed him, she put a curse on his soul, locking him in his tomb with a blood seal that can only be opened by a direct descendant: Wednesday.

“Wednesday” Season 1 (Netflix)

The resurrection is quick and Crackstone’s vengeance is swift — he thinks Wednesday is Goody and stabs her in the stomach. As she lies dying, Goody tells her Crackstone must be stabbed through his black heart to vanquish him forever — and that Wednesday’s necklace is a powerful object capable of conjuring spirits. That means she can pass through and heal Wednesday, but it comes at a cost – after that, Wednesday will never see Goody again. Wednesday is revived and healed, her wounds closing in front of her eyes, and she sets out to defeat Crackstone, who is now a magical staff-wielding pilgrim monster.

Meanwhile, Enid races toward Wednesday with Thing, and she starts wolfing out – after months of pressure and shaming, it’s finally happening and she’s howling at the Blood Moon. In fact, she gets her wolf on just in time to save Wednesday from Tyler, who transforms into the Hyde and attacks. Wednesday can even tell it’s her best friend defending her, thanks to a streak of pink in the werewolf’s hair. As the two monsters duke it out, Wednesday runs back to the school to save the students from Crackstone. Tyler almost gets the upper hand on Enid, but Sheriff Galpin puts a bullet in his own son to stop him.

In the school courtyard, Crackstone is wreaking havoc, lighting the school aflame. Wednesday tries to fight him and has a tough time of it, but the friends she reluctantly made throughout the season show up and have her back. Xavier comes in with a bow and arrow (though he’s more of a hindrance than a help), and in a low moment when Crackstone looms over Wednesday, Bianca stabs him in the back, giving Wednesday the opening she needs to stab him through the heart.

His corpse burns up and disintegrates, leaving only his ring behind – but Laurel/Thornhill’s not done yet. She trains a gun on Wednesday, resolved to kill the pesky Addams if she can’t end Outsider kind. Eugene shows up just in time to reveal he’s not just a fan of bees – he commands them, and he sics them all on Laurel, saving the day.

After that, school is canceled for the rest of the semester, but we get two quick Season 2 teases before we go: Wednesday has a stalker and Tyler is locked up in custody, still stuck with his Hyde.

The post ‘Wednesday’ Season 1 Recap: What to Remember Before Season 2 appeared first on TheWrap.

‘Wednesday’ Season 2 Cast Guide: Meet the New Characters

Snap twice, “Wednesday” is back for Season 2, and the cast of Netflix’s “The Addams Family”-inspired fantasy series goes big this time around. Of course, there are plenty of familiar faces returning, including Jenna Ortega as the titular Wednesday Addams and Season 1 breakout Emma Myers as her werewolf bestie, Enid. But there are also a whole bunch of new faces in the mix, from a new principal at Nevermore Academy (RIP Weems) to new members of the Addams Family itself.

There are a lot of characters to keep straight in the massive Season 2 ensemble, so here’s your handy guide to who’s who and who’s new in “Wednesday” Season 2.

Jenna Ortega in “Wednesday” Season 2 (Credit: Jonathan Hession/Netflix)Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams

Jenna Ortega plays the iconic Addams Family daughter, Wednesday Addams, a goth psychic teen detective, whose preternatural tenacity and refusal to play by anyone’s rules often put her in the hot seat. In Season 2, she’s struggling to come to terms with her newfound popularity after saving Nevermore Academy from the resurrected anti-Outcast pilgrim, Joseph Crackstone. She’s also exploring the limits of her psychic powers as a Raven; gifted with powerful, dark and unpredictable visions, which she now has to explore without the help of her Season 1 spirit guide, Goody Addams.

Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy-nominated for her “Wednesday” Season 1 performance, Ortega is also known for starring in horror hits “Scream,” “X” and “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” as well as her breakout early roles on “Jane the Virgin” and “You.” More recently, she made a buzzy appearance in Sabrina Carpenter’s homage-heavy “Taste” music video, “Hurry Up Tomorrow” and “Death of a Unicorn.”

Emma Myers and Jenna Ortega in “Wednesday” Season 2 (NetflixEmma Myers as Enid Sinclair

Emma Myers plays Wednesday’s roommate and unlikely BFF, Enid, who is every bit as bright and bubbly as Wednesday is dark and dreary. A total people person, Emma spent Season 1 growing close with Wednesday, cuddling up with her crush Ajax, striking up an unexpected friendship with Thing, and finally, after a lot of shaming from her family, wolfing out at the end of the season. After her transformation, Eden is rediscovering herself in Season 2.

After her breakout role in Season 1, Myers has gone on to star in “Family Switch,” “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” and Legendary’s 2025 box office smash video game adaptation, “Minecraft.”

Catherine Zeta-Jones in “Wednesday” Season 2 (Netflix)Catherine Zeta‑Jones as Morticia Addams

Morticia Addams is every bit as iconic as Wednesday herself, one half of the ultimate goth power couple, though she has a more cheerful disposition than her daughter. That also makes her a different kind of psychic, known as a Dove, who experiences positive visions. She’s also an alumnus of Nevermore Academy, where she was a popular Team Captain for Ophelia Hall and a star pupil. Wednesday already begrudges her mother’s ever-present shadow, and in Season 2, Morticia is more present than ever after she decides to chair the Gala Fundraising Committee at Nevermore.

Catharine Zeta-Jones is a Tony, BAFTA and Academy Award winner, best known for “The Mask of Zorro,” “Traffic,” “High Fidelity,” “Feud” and her Oscar-winning performance as Velma Kelly in “Chicago.”

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzman in “Wednesday” Season 2 (Netflix)Luis Guzmán as Gomez Addams

The other half of the legendary, amorous “Addams Family” duo, Gomez is as loving and dedicated a father to Wednesday and Pugsley as he is a husband to Morticia. A fellow alumnus of Nevermore Academy, Gomez met and fell for Morticia at the school, and in Season 1, he was finally cleared of the long-standing suspicions that he killed a Normie defending her when they were teenagers.

Guzmán is a longtime character actor and go-to guy for directing greats like Paul Thomas Anderson and Stephen Soderbergh. His expansive and diverse resume includes “Boogie Nights,” “Magnolia,” “Traffic,” “Out of Sight,” “Punch Drunk Love,” “The Taking of Pelham 123,” “Waiting,” “Oz” and “Narcos,” among many, many other titles.

Isaac Ordonez in “Wednesday” Season 2 (Netflix)Isaac Ordonez as Pugsley Addams

An enthusiast of the grotesque and grim, Pugsley is Wednesday’s little brother, who develops his powers of electricity in Season 2 as he joins Wednesday in matriculating at Nevermore Academy.

Ordonez is an industry newcomer best known for his work in “Wednesday,” as well as short films including “Husky,” “Psycho Sally” and “Dispara Y Mata.”

Hunter Doohan in “Wednesday” Season 2 (Netflix)Hunter Doohan as Tyler Galpin

Wednesday’s would-be boyfriend, who turned out to be the very monster she was hunting in Season 1, Tyler Galpin grew up believing he was the Normie son of the Jericho sheriff until Marilynn Thornhill unlocked his Hyde and became his master. A powerful monster capable of extraordinary violence, Tyler carried out the murders that allowed Thornhill to resurrect Crackstone, and he’s paying for it now in lockup.

Doohan’s credits also include another recent villainous turn as Muse in “Daredevil: Born Again,” as well as “Your Honor, “Truth Be Told” and “What/If.”

Steve Buscemi as Principal Barry Dort

Beloved character actor Steve Buscemi plays the new Nevermore Academy principal, Barry Dort, after the untimely death of Principal Weems (Gwendoline Christie) in Season 1. A pyrokinetic Outsider who brings a whole new style of leadership to Nevermore, Dort isn’t afraid to manipulate the people around him to get what he wants.

Buscemi is a Golden Globe, Emmy and SAG-winning actor and director, best known for his signature roles in “Fargo,” “Reservoir Dogs,” “The Big Lebowski,” HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire,” “Ghost World” and so much more. Most recently, he appeared in “Happy Gilmore 2,” “Poker Face” Season 2 and “Transformers One.”

Joy Sunday as Bianca Barclay

Joy Sunday plays Bianca Barclay, Nevermore’s popular girl Siren and former rival to Wednesday, who revealed plenty of secrets and surprising depth in Season 1 and played a critical role in helping Wednesday defeat Crackstone. Poe Cup team leader and head of the current iteration of the Nightshade Society, Bianca has persevered in the face of prejudice against sirens, building a new life escaping her scamming, cult-affiliated mother.

Sunday’s previous credits include “Dog,” “Rise,” “Dear White People,” “The Beta Test” and “Bad Hair.”

Billie Piper as Isadora Capri

Five-time BAFTA-nominated actress Billie Piper plays new Nevermore staffer Isadora Capri, who joins as the school’s new head of music in Season 2. A brilliant former child prodigy, Isadora is also a fellow werewolf poised to take on a mentor role for Enid.

Piper has a robust TV resume ranging from internationally beloved titles to acclaimed hidden gems, including “Doctor Who,” “I Hate Suzie,” “Penny Dreadful” and “Secret Diary of a Call Girl.” Most recently, she starred in Netflix’s “Scoop” and “Kaos,” as well as her still-to-be-explained return to “Doctor Who.”

Christopher Lloyd in “Wednesday” Season 2 (Netflix)Christopher Lloyd as Professor Orloff

Another new face in the Nevermore faculty in Season 2, Professor Orloff is actually one of the oldest members of the staff. Curmudgeonly and quick to crack down on acts of disobedience, Orloff is a disembodied head in a tank atop a wheeling automaton.

The actor inside that tank is already a beloved member of the “Addams Family,” the great Christopher Lloyd, who played Uncle Fester in the 1990s movies. Lloyd’s also known for his iconic performance as Dr. Emmett Brown in the “Back to the Future” trilogy, Judge Doom in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” and Taber in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” More recently, Lloyd starred in “Nobody” and will return for the 2025 sequel.

Joanna Lumley in “Wednesday” Season 2 (Netflix)Joanna Lumley as Grandmama Hester Frump

The Addams Family itself is also expanding this season with the addition of Dame Joanna Lumley as Grandmama Hester Frump. Extravagantly rich and successful, Hester owns Frump Mortuaries and shares a tense relationship with her daughter, Morticia. Wednesday, however, adores her Grandmama, adding a new intergenerational dynamic to the mother-daughter drama.

“Wednesday” recruited the great Joanna Lumley for the role. Best known for playing the outrageous, hilarious Patsy Stone in “Absolutely Fabulous,” Lumley’s most recognizable credits also include “The New Avengers,” “The Wolf of Wall Street,” “James and the Giant Peach” and “Corpse Bride.”

Fred Armisen in “Wednesday” Season 2 (Netflix)Fred Armisen as Uncle Fester

Former “SNL” star Fred Armisen plays Wednesday’s beloved uncle, Fester. Her eccentric uncle always walks his own path — and notably did not attend Nevermore — but he’s a master of many skills, from safe-cracking to seduction, and he’s always willing to come to his niece’s aid.

The actor and comedian has 15 Emmy nominations and countless credits, including “Portlandia,” “Documentary Now!,” “Los Espookys,” “Schmigadoon!” and many more. He’s also voiced Elliot Birch in “Big Mouth,” Cranky Kong in “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” Speedy Gonzales in “The Looney Tunes Show” and Brainy Smurf in several “Smurfs” films and shorts.

Behind the scenes of “Wednesday” Season 2 (Netflix)Victor Dorobantu as Thing

Victor Dorobantu returns as Wednesday’s literal right hand, Thing. Originally sent by her parents to keep an eye on their daughter, Thing quickly became Wednesday’s most reliable confidante, accomplice and ally, who always wants what’s best for “Wednesday,” even if she doesn’t agree with what that means. Like Wednesday, Thing also struck up a bond with their roommate, Enid, in Season 1.

Thing isn’t animation; he’s created through a combination of practical and CGI effects, with Romanian magician Dorobantu giving the practical performance. “Wednesday” is his sole on-camera credit.

Thandiwe Newton in “Wednesday” Season 2 (Netflix)Thandiwe Newton as Dr. Rachael Fairburn

Emmy-winning actress plays another key new character in Season 2, Dr. Rachael Fairburn. The chief psychiatrist at Willow Hill Psychiatric Facility. Dr. Fairburn is a trailblazing figure in the field of Outcast psychiatry who oversees Tyler’s treatment at the facility.

Newton is best known for her award-winning role as Maeve Millay in “Westworld,” as well as “Crash,” “Mission: Impossible II,” “The Pursuit of Happyness,” “Solo: A Star Wars Story” and “RocknRolla.” Newton also lent her voice to Mona in “Big Mouth” and “Human Resources,” as well as Eshe in “Mufasa: The Lion King” and Ginger in “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.”

“Wednesday” Season 2 (Netflix)Moosa Mostafa as Eugene Ottinger

Moosa Mostafa plays Eugene Ottinger, a fellow Nevermore student and the founder and president of the school’s beekeeping club, who survived a Hyde attack last year. Wednesday struck up a bond with Eugene in Season 1 because he reminded her of her brother, and the socially-awkward boy came through in a big way by end of the season, saving Wednesday’s life with his ability to control bugs. In Season 2, he strikes up a friendship with Pug

Mostafa is best known for “Wednesday,” but has also appeared in “The Last Bus” and “Nativity Rocks!”

Evie Templeton in “Wednesday” Season 2 (Netflix)Evie Templeton as Agnes DeMille

Evie Templeton plays Wednesday’s biggest new fan, Agnes DeMille, a fellow Nevermore student who idolizes Wednesday for saving the school from Crackmore.

Templeton’s previous credits include “Life After Life,” “Lord of Misrule” and the video game “Silent Hill 2.”

Georgie Farmer in “Wednesday” Season 2 (Netflix)Georgie Farmer as Ajax Petropolus

Georgie Farmer plays Ajax, a gorgon and Nightshade Society member at Nevermore, who romanced Enid in Season 1 despite his initial reluctance that their differences as a gorgon and a werewolf might drive them apart.

Outside of “Wednesday,” you might have seen Farmer in “Treadstone,” “Evermoor,” “Ready Player One” or “LifeHack.”

Joonas Suotamo in “Wednesday” Season 2 (Netflix)Joonas Suotamo as Lurch

Joonas Suotamo plays the strong, silent Addams Family driver, Lurch. The 6’11” actor (and former basketball player) is best known for playing Chewbacca in several new “Star Wars” projects beginning with “The Force Awakens” through “Rise of the Skywalker.” He also played The Scourge in the short-lived “Willow” series and returned to “Star Wars” as another Wookie, Master Kelnacca, in “The Acolyte.”

Suotamo takes over the role from George Valentin Burcea, who played Lurch in Season 1.

“Wednesday” Season 2 (Netflix)Noah B. Taylor as Bruno

Noah B. Taylor plays heartthrob werewolf Bruno, a Nevermore student who is the new object of Enid’s affection in Season 2. “Wednesday” is Taylor’s second on-screen credit after an appearance in “Law & Order: Organized Crime.”

Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo in “Wednesday” Season 2 (Netflix)Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo as Sheriff Ritchie Santiago

Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo returns as Santiago, climbing ranks as the new Jericho sheriff after Donovan Galpin fell into disgrace after his son turned out to be the Hyde murdering people all over town. She’s also not opposed to a little help from Wednesday, bringing a new dynamic with the law in Season 2.

Her previous credits include “Devs,” “Back in Action” and various voices in video games, including “Baldur’s Gate III.”

Heather Matarazzo in “Wednesday” Season 2 (Netflix)Heather Matarazzo as Judi

Heather Matarazzo plays Dr. Fairburn’s obsequious executive assistant at Willow Hill Psychiatric Facility. Matarazzo is best known for playing Lilly Moscovitz in “The Princess Diaries” movies, Martha Meeks in the “Scream” movies and Dawn Weinerin “Welcome to the Dollhouse.” Her credits also include “Hostel: Part II,” “The Devil’s Advocate,” “Now and Again” and “Saved.”

Haley Joel Osment as the Kansas City Scalper

If that serial killer actor at the start of the season looked familiar, that’s because it’s Haley Joel Osment. Best known for his run of childhood roles in the late 90s and early 2000s, including “The Sixth Sense,” “Pay It Forward” and “Forrest Gump,” his more recent credits include “Happy Gilmore 2,” “Poker Face” and “Blink Twice.”

Frances O’Connor on the “Wednesday” Season 2 red carpet (Getty Images)Frances O’Connor as ??

Frances O’Connor plays a mystery character who’ll pop up at some point in Season 2. Her best-known roles include “A.I. Artificial Intelligence,” “Mansfield Park,” “The Conjuring 2,” “Mr. Selfridge” and “The End.”

Lady Gaga performs at Copacabana Beach on May 3, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Live Nation)Lady Gaga as Rosaline Rotwood

Not yet! But you can look forward to seeing pop superstar and Oscar-nominated actress Lady Gaga as Rosaline Rotwood when Season 2 returns for Part 2 in September. She will also premiere a new song, “Dead Dance,” for the series, just in time for your Halloween playlist.

The post ‘Wednesday’ Season 2 Cast Guide: Meet the New Characters appeared first on TheWrap.