New Netflix Show 'Wednesday' Has Ties To A Famous Westfield Resident

WESTFIELD, NJ — The new Netflix series "The Watcher" isn't the only show coming out soon that has ties to Westfield, NJ.

Directed by Tim Burton, "Wednesday," which premieres on Nov. 23, follows the story of Wednesday Addams' years as a student when she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart and solve the mystery that embroiled her parents.

Wednesday is the only daughter in "The Addams Family" — a cartoon that was famously created by Westfield resident Charles Addams.

New characters were revealed in the official trailer for "Wednesday" that debuted Saturday at New York Comic-Con. Among them is Christina Ricci who played the original Wednesday Addams in the 1991 film "The Addams Family," as well as its sequel "Addams Family Values."

The actress, who grew up in Montclair, is not returning to her childhood role in the upcoming Netflix show. However, she will portray Miss Marilyn Thornhill — a teacher at Wednesday's schools, Nevermore Academy, which is an educational establishment with a supernatural bent.

Jenn Ortega, of "The Fallout," Scream" and "You," will play the teenage Wednesday Addams in the live-action Netflix series.

Other actors that will be featured in the show include Fred Armisen of "Portlandia" and "Saturday Night Live" who will play a bald-headed Uncle Fester, as well as Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams, Luis Guzmán as Gomez Addams and Isaac Ordonez as Pugsley Addams.

In the teaser trailer, Wednesday gets kicked out of her first school, Nancy Reagan High School, after setting piranhas loose in the school swimming pool, where they attack the swim team. This sets her on the path to Nevermore Academy, where she delves into layers of morbid intrigue in an effort to solve a mystery.

You can check out the official trailer on YouTube below:

Born in 1912 and raised in Westfield, Charles Addams was one of the country's premier cartoonists and his work was prominently featured in "The New Yorker."

His most successful creation, "The Addams Family," was inspired by his hometown surroundings, an area full of ornate Victorian mansions and archaic graveyards.

The famous Addams house is still located on Elm Street in Westfield, where Addams lived for 27 years.

For the fifth year in a row, Westfield is hosting "AddamsFest" throughout the month of October to celebrate the legacy of Addams and his spooky cartoon. This year's festival will include a masquerade ball, a cartooning workshop, film screenings, Charlie's Ale Garden and much more.

Read more: Westfield's AddamsFest To Include Masquerade Ball, Beer Garden + More

The newest event added to the festival is a Haunted Car Wash, which will be held by Play Theater — a performing arts theater for kids in Union County.

The car wash will provide entertainment for guests who can choose between a silly or spooky experience. Carloads will engage with creepy costumed characters on the line, listen to Halloween-themed audio, and leave with a clean car and memories to last through the fall, according to the announcement.

The Haunted Car Wash will occur on Oct. 16, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, and 30th. The $25 entry fee includes the ‘Works Wash’ and lots of spooky fun. Tickets are available for purchase on-site.

You can learn more about AddamsFest here.

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