Wednesdayseason 2 just dropped a new trailer, highlight the titular heroine’s reluctant return to Nevermore Academy and the mystery she will encounter involving her best friend. But Wednesday (played by Jenna Ortega) is not the only Addams Family member matriculating at the school of magic this year, seeing as her brotherPugsley (Isaac Ordonez) is developing powersof his own. Based in electricity,Pugsley’s abilities recall Uncle Fester’s — but also harbor an importantconnection to the season’s villain, according to Ordonez.
The trailer forWednesdayseason 2 reveals that the once-outcase Wednesday is now the most popular girl at school thanks to season 1’s exploits, but danger lurks around the corner. New visions forewarn her of Enid’s impending death, which she must prevent by using both her powers and perhaps her brother’s. Adding Pugsley to the regular cast also means we will see more of their other family members, which the trailer supported by making great use of Catherine Zeta-Jones' Morticia.
ScreenRantinterviewed Ordonez about stepping into Nevermore as astudent inWednesdayseason 2, and how his upgraded role in the story affects his dynamic with his sibling. The young actor also shared his favorite recollections from set with his fellow Addams Family members, his new classmates, and director Tim Burton.
A Lifetime Of Tim Burton Fandom Prepared Isaac Ordonez For Wednesday
ScreenRant: I’m super excited forWednesdayseason 2, but I couldn’t believe this was only your second role afterA Wrinkle in Time. What was the audition process like for Wednesday?
Isaac Ordonez: The callback, chemistry read, and audition were all online. When we got the audition, they gave us placeholder names, but it was Tim Burton. We knew that, and we were already freaking out about that.
I had to do the scene where I’m at the lake, and I’m sad because they took Gomez away, and we heard them say, “Thing and I had a bet going.” My mom’s like, “It’s Addams Family. It’s Addams Family.” I was focused. I locked in. I was a little nervous meeting Tim, but it went well, and I got the call a day later. I know my mom got it while she was at the supermarket, called my dad, and then he just started crying because he’s such a Tim Burton fan. Then they surprised me when they got home.
ScreenRant: How much have you learned from Tim Burton and from being on this project?
Isaac Ordonez: Directing-wise, he’s so focused when he’s directing, but I also see the passion behind him when he is directing. He really wants to get things right, and if you’re still unsure of what he wants, he will go in your place, show you how he wants it, and act it out. He’s so great. That definitely showed me what a great director is.
I liked Tim Burton movies when I was growing up, but now that I’m older, I love them.It’s an honor to get to work for him.
ScreenRant: It must be amazing to have Luis Guzmán and Catherine Zeta-Jones as your parents. How was working with Morticia and Gomez?
Isaac Ordonez: They’re both great actors. I think everyone on this series is great, and it rubs off on me, which I’m grateful for. We would goof off between shots, and they’d give me pointers, acting advice, or notes, and it’d really help.
Luis did this exercise with me—he asked the crew if he could borrow them for a second for a camera exercise, and then he was teaching me tips, camera-wise. He taught me how to always be in the right spot in frame, which is really nice of him. I appreciate it.
Wednesday Season 2 Is A Big Step Up For Pugsley In More Ways Than One
“My Powers And The Main Villain For This Season Are Connected”
ScreenRant: You were in two episodes in season 1, but you’re in a lot more of season 2. What was that transition like, getting to work so much more on that set and step into Pugsley as a character?
Isaac Ordonez: We have a lot more of Pugsley in season 2. I really get to mess around with different sides of the character. In season 1, you see his more emotional side, but in this season, I think we get more of his quirky, devious, mischievous side.
But we also keep that emotional side. When he gets to Nevermore, he is very lonely. He’s having a hard time making friends, so we do get to see that. I do play around with that.
ScreenRant: What can you tell me about your dynamic with Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday? How has it evolved from season 1 now that you are at Nevermore? And how is it different from previous iterations of the Adams family?
Isaac Ordonez: I think that now that he has powers,Wednesday has gained a little more respect for him. But she also sees him now as a tool that she can use for her investigations.And if we’re talking about how they are as siblings, I say they’re still your average siblings; they’re awkward. That remains the same. She doesn’t really change there. [Laughs]
ScreenRant: What can you say about this season’s mystery, or the ways in which your powers might come into play for the plot?
Isaac Ordonez: My powers and the main villain for this season are connected. There’s something I do with my powers that connects us, I think I can say that. Pugsley has a very deep connection with the main villain. They really dive into their connection and their story together.
ScreenRant: Is there any other character at Nevermore, or even in the extended Addams family, that you’re most excited for fans to see your interactions with?
Isaac Ordonez:I definitely have quite a bit of screentime with Eugene this season, and then another new character that we get to see.
“He’s An Addams, But He’s More Chaotic”
ScreenRant: Do you have a favorite episode for your character?
Isaac Ordonez: Overall, the last one.For Pugsley, I want to say episode 7.
ScreenRant: Obviously, you’ve learned a lot from this being your first big television role, but is there anything that you’re working on next, or a genre that you’d like to tackle now that you’ve done a mystery-fantasy-thriller?
Isaac Ordonez: Other than Wednesday, right now, I have nothing in the works, but something I’d like to do and get into is horror. A really good horror movie—that sounds cool. That’s something I’d like to get into.
Wednesday is definitely a slasher girl. A horror junkie slasher girl, definitely.
ScreenRant: What do you think Pugsley’s favorite genre is?
Isaac Ordonez: He’s an Addams, but he’s more chaotic, so maybe action? Action-thriller? He likes creatures, though, and creepy things. Maybe sci-fi and horror? One of those two. Wednesday is definitely a slasher girl, though. A horror junkie slasher girl, definitely. She probably laughs at the main characters. [Laughs]
ScreenRant: What is something that you’ve discovered about Pugsley in this season that you don’t think Addams Family fans know?
Isaac Ordonez:Maybe how different he is from the rest of the Addams family members.How standalone he can be sometimes, compared to the rest of the family.
ScreenRant: What is your favorite either onset memory fromWednesdayseason 2?
Isaac Ordonez: There are two co-stars I vibe with a lot. One is Eugene, but there’s another new character that they introduce.
One day, we had a scene together, all three of us, and that was really fun to film. The only thing was that it was an outdoor scene during the day, and they needed some type of lighting that was better replicated indoors. So, they had all these lights to replicate the lighting of outside, and it made it genuinely so hot in the soundstage. Even my co-stars were sweating, but I wear a body suit! I have like six or seven layers on. [Laughs]
Wednesdayseason 2, part 1 premieres August 6 on Netflix, followed by part 2 on September 3.
Check back soon for our interview with showrunners Alfred Gough & Miles Millar.
