In a stunning disclosure that has sent shockwaves through the entertainment world, it has been revealed that global pop icon Lady Gaga was initially approached to portray the iconic Wednesday Addams in Netflix's record-breaking series.
Catherine Zeta-Jones, who plays Morticia Addams in the hit show, dropped the bombshell during a recent interview, confirming that producers had their sights set on the Bad Romance singer for the lead role before Jenna Ortega ultimately secured the part.
The Netflix Casting Shakeup That Almost Was
The revelation came to light when Zeta-Jones, speaking to Marie Claire UK, shared behind-the-scenes details about the show's development. "They had initially wanted Lady Gaga for Wednesday," the Oscar-winning actress revealed, acknowledging the unconventional nature of casting a 36-year-old pop superstar as a teenage gothic heroine.
Zeta-Jones, who stars alongside Gwendoline Christie's Larissa Weems at the supernatural Nevermore Academy, expressed her admiration for both performers while hinting at the intriguing alternate reality where Gaga might have taken on the role.
Why Jenna Ortega Ultimately Won the Role
Despite the initial interest in Gaga, Netflix and director Tim Burton ultimately made the decisive choice to cast then-19-year-old Jenna Ortega, a decision that proved to be instrumental in the show's monumental success.
Wednesday quickly became one of Netflix's most-watched series ever, amassing a staggering 252 million viewing hours in its first three months and breaking records for an English-language series on the platform.
Ortega's portrayal of the deadpan Addams family daughter earned critical acclaim and catapulted the young actress to international stardom, with the role becoming definitively associated with her performance.
The Gaga-Addams Family Connection
This isn't the first time Lady Gaga has been connected to the Addams family universe. The multi-talented artist previously starred as the Countess in American Horror Story: Hotel, showcasing her aptitude for dark, gothic characters that would have made her an intriguing fit for the Wednesday universe.
While fans can only speculate about what Gaga's interpretation of Wednesday might have looked like, the confirmation of this near-casting decision adds a fascinating layer to the show's creation story and highlights the unpredictable nature of television production.
Netflix has yet to officially comment on the revelation, but the disclosure has already ignited passionate discussions among fans about alternate casting possibilities and the what-if scenarios of television history.
