Christina Ricci to star in new Netflix live-action Addams Family adaptation Wednesday

Christina Ricci in Addams Family Values
(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Christina Ricci is returning to The Addams Family universe for the first time in nearly 30 years – and us '90s kids could not be happier.

According to Deadline, Ricci has signed on to play a major role in Wednesday, a new Netflix Original directed by Tim Burton. The coming-of-age fantasy comedy stars Jenna Ortega – fresh off her critically acclaimed Drew Barrymore-esque role in Scream 5 – playing a teenage Wednesday Addams who enrolls at a centuries-old boarding school called Nevermore Academy. 

While at the academy, Wednesday must learn to control her own emerging psychic powers, stop a monster from wreaking havoc on the town citizens, and solve the supernatural mystery that affected her parents some 25 years prior – all while attempting to navigate the everyday life of a teenager. Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar join Burton as co-writers.

Ricci starred as Wednesday in 1991's The Addams Family and 1993's The Addams Family Values, both directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. The actor brought the perfect edge to the cunning, quick-witted character and succeeded in making her lovable all the same.

Deadline reports that Ricci's new role is not of an older Wednesday Addams, but instead a brand new character written in to replace the one created for Thora Birch – who previously exited the series for personal reasons. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzman will take on the iconic roles of Morticia and Gomez Addams.

The series is set to finish filming in Romania at the end of this month. For more, check out our list of the best Netflix shows to stream right now. 

Lauren Milici
Senior Writer, Tv & Film

Lauren Milici is a Senior Entertainment Writer for GamesRadar+ currently based in the Midwest. She previously reported on breaking news for The Independent's Indy100 and created TV and film listicles for Ranker. Her work has been published in Fandom, Nerdist, Paste Magazine, Vulture, PopSugar, Fangoria, and more.