Netflix just dropped the trailer for Wednesday, the new Addams Family adaptation, arriving this Fall. Just in time for…well you know-Spooky Season. For an increasing number of us, the happiest time of the year. While some have already shouted, “Stop making re-makes! Is Hollywood out of ideas?” I welcome the TV show.
For starters, the last two animated Addams Family films were overtly family friendly. Which isn’t a bad thing. Since my own kids are grown I no longer looking for that PG rating like I used to, but I remember searching for fun movies I was able to watch with my kiddos during Halloween. Nevertheless I’m ready to see an Addams family story told with older audiences in mind.
Secondly, Netflix says, The series is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery…” and I’m always in for a good mystery. You can thank Only Murders in the Building for that new wrinkle in my brain.
Next, the show’s description goes on to say it, “…charts Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy, where she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the murder mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore.” And while I feel like the outsider kid in school bent is overdone, I’m all for Wednesday exploring her psychic abilities. That, as well as her already dark urges, has echoes of a certain Dark Phoenix story line I think I may have heard of, and I’m here for it!
I never thought of myself as a maximalist, but resign myself to the fact that I would like more of everything. A new Batman movie with new directors and writers? Yes. To be clear, sequels and prequels aren’t what I’m talking about. I’m talking remakes, re-boots, re-imaginings and new takes. Creative teams putting their point of view atop of characters and stories we already are familiar with, and still managing to surprise us, is an art unto itself. Which brings me to my final reason I’m excited for this series.
Tim Burton. Burton is hit or miss for me in the past few years. Some of my favorite films have been his projects. Some of my least favorites have been his as well. I’m crossing my fingers that Netflix’s relaxed storytelling structure will let the director stretch his legs. Let him run around and have some fun. Indulge himself a bit. It works for the Duffer Brothers. It’s working for The Sandman. It stands to reason it will suit him as well.