JuicyTalk
Netflix’s Wednesday has solidified itself as the next big thing after Stranger Things. While these are two very different TV shows, they both rest within the supernatural horror genre and revolve around teenage protagonists. This seems to be a winning formula for Netflix, since both Stranger Things and Wednesday have set records for the streamer in terms of viewership. Of course, even with Wednesday‘s success, Stranger Things has been considered Netflix’s flagship. Now, its conclusion means it’s time to pass the baton.
Stranger Things season 5 brought the show to a close after nearly a decade, finishing things off as Netflix’s #2 most-watched English TV show of all time. It’s a pretty significant achievement, made even more impressive when considering the show’s massive cultural impact. This sort of success isn’t easy to come by, but Netflix was lucky enough to have already established another record-breaking series before Stranger Things ended. Wednesday is going into its third season, and it’s showing signs that it will only get better.
Wednesday season 3 is officially in production, with filming underway in Ireland as of February 2026. New casting announcements have begun trickling out to the public, with Eva Green set to play Ophelia Frump, sister to Morticia Addams (Catherine Zeta-Jones). Perhaps even more exciting than this is the recent reveal that Burton-regular Winona Ryder will play a mystery role in Wednesday season 3 following her 9-year-long stint in Stranger Things.
Winona Ryder’s Casting Officially Makes Wednesday The New Stranger Things
Ryder is a champion of the horror genre, and an absolute staple in many of Burton’s biggest and best projects, including Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Frankenweenie, and, most recently, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. For this reason, her presence on Wednesday has been heavily requested by viewers. Now, they’re finally getting their wish as Winona Ryder steps out of Joyce Byers’ shoes in Stranger Things into a mystery role in Wednesday season 3.
Though Stranger Things placed its teen protagonists at the forefront, Ryder was a key character in the series. As an absolutely iconic actor, her role in Stranger Things was a major factor in public interest ahead of season 1’s premiere. It’s another role she will always be remembered for. This makes it all the more meaningful that Netflix is carrying Ryder over to Wednesday. It’s as if the streaming giant is using this star to symbolically pass the baton from Stranger Things to its next figurehead.
Wednesday Season 3’s New Cast Is Exciting For Several Reasons
Of course, Ryder’s casting in Wednesday isn’t just exciting because she was such a strong feature in Stranger Things. As previously stated, she is a long-time collaborator with Burton, who both directs and executive produces Wednesday. There are years of creative history and trust between these two, and that’s not all. Wednesday‘s showrunners, Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, worked with Ryder on Beetlejuice Bettlejuice, and they’ve both expressed excitement at collaborating with her once again:
“When it comes to Outcasts, Winona Ryder is the GOAT. Her legendary partnership with Tim Burton has defined some of cinema’s most unforgettable characters. We loved collaborating with her on ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ and couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome her to Nevermore.”
That’s still not the end of it. Ryder starred alongside Wednesday star Jenna Ortega in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and their chemistry, both on screen and in interviews, made them a quick favorite pairing in the horror genre. Though it’s still unclear who Ryder will play on Wednesday, there’s no doubt that her character will have significant face time with Wednesday Addams, guaranteeing we will be rewarded with more great moments from this fantastic duo.
All in all, Ryder’s status in the horror genre, her frequent collaborations with Burton, her history with Gough and Miller, and her on-screen chemistry with Ortega ensure that she will be right at home on the set of Wednesday. There will be no need for her to get acclimated, since this world is one that Ryder should seamlessly fit into. It’s another way Wednesday will have a significant leg up as Stranger Things‘ successor.
Will Wednesday Season 3 Be As Big As Stranger Things?
Wednesday is currently Netflix’s most-watched English TV show of all time, and Stranger Things sits in second place in this category. So, in a significant way, this TV show has already outdone its predecessor. Still, Stranger Things comes out on top in terms of cultural impact and overall reception.
Rotten Tomatoes Score Comparisons For Wednesday & Stranger Things | ||
|---|---|---|
TV Show | Critic Scores | Audience Scores |
Stranger Things | 90% | 83% |
Wednesday | 87% | 76% |
Both Stranger Things and Wednesday have more positive reviews than not, but Netflix’s original supernatural horror series’ overall Rotten Tomatoes scores remain consistently higher. Then, there’s the impact these shows had on popular culture. Though Wednesday season 1 inspired more social media trends than Stranger Things ever did, this came down to its generally younger viewership. They are both rated TV-14, but Wednesday has resonated more with Gen Z viewers, while Stranger Things dominated the cultural spaces of older audiences, therefore claiming the mainstream.
Of course, that larger viewership by Wednesday is no small thing, especially considering the show has only two completed seasons. Compared to Stranger Things, the Addams Family spinoff is still in its infancy. Chances are high that Wednesday‘s success and cultural impact will only grow. The fact that stars like Ryder have been pulled in to participate only solidifies this fact. These two Netflix shows may have different legacies, said and done, but Wednesday is still at the stage of unlimited potential.
