Netflix has officially announced the return of three of its most popular series with a trailer showcacoming seasons for 2025. The streaming platform confirmed that Wednesday, Stranger Things, and Squid Game will all premiere new seasons within the year, with specific release dates spanning from summer through late fall.

The announcement was revealed by DiscussingFilm and comes as Netflix continues to leverage its most successful original programming to maintain subscriber engagement. All three series have achieved significant global viewership and cultural impact since their respective debuts. The trailer provides glimpses of what viewers can expect from each returning show.

Wednesday Season 2 will arrive in two separate releases during August 2025. The first part premieres on August 6, followed by the second part on September 3. The series continues to follow the titular character as she navigates supernatural mysteries and personal relationships. The season appears to maintain the gothic elements and dark humor that characterized the first installment.

Netflix schedules three major series returns across 2025

Squid Game Season 3 has been scheduled for release on June 27, 2025, making it the earliest return among the three series. The show will continue its exploration of the deadly competition format that made the series a global phenomenon, and hopefully, it can avoid the mistakes of season 2. Characters return to face new challenges within the established game framework that defined the previous seasons.

Stranger Things Season 5 will conclude the series with its release on November 26, 2025. This final season promises to resolve the supernatural storylines and character arcs that have developed throughout the show’s run. The series has been building toward this conclusion since its debut, with the Upside Down mythology reaching its climax.

The three series represent different genres within Netflix’s programming strategy. Wednesday focuses on supernatural comedy-drama, Squid Game delivers thriller and social commentary elements, and Stranger Things combines science fiction with coming-of-age themes. Each show has established dedicated fan bases and generated significant cultural discussion during their previous seasons.

Netflix positioned these releases strategically throughout 2025 to maintain consistent content flow. The spacing allows the platform to capitalize on audience anticipation while avoiding direct competition between their own major properties. All three shows will be available exclusively on Netflix. 

Over two years on from the release of the phenomenally popular — not to mention mysterious, spooky, and altogether ooky — first season of Wednesday, Netflix has finally delivered the news Addams Family fans have been waiting for. And it comes with a sneak peek at Jenna Ortega‘s return as everyone’s favorite braided misanthrope.

This Wednesday (obviously!), Netflix announced that filming has at long last completed on the second run of the smash-hit series, unveiling the news along with a first-look image at the new run. The suitably Gothic-looking photo reveals Ortega back in black as Wednesday, folding her arms in annoyance as she’s surrounded by the creepy environs of the grounds of Nevermore Academy.

“Rest in Production,” the announcement reads. “That’s a wrap on Season 2.”

To say Netflix fans are as giddy as Enid on a good day would be an understatement. Having gone so long without Wednesday in our lives, honorary Nevermore students are feeling overwhelmed.

Although now that their appetites have been whetted, they’re lurching for more. Teaser trailer when? Honestly, we’d accept three seconds of Ortega snapping her fingers. It’s better than nothing.

Looks like it’s time to do the Wednesday dance again! Your regular reminder, Netflix, that if you don’t give us a Lady Gaga cameo this season, there will be riots in the streets.

Ortega might look just as perfect in the role as ever, but there have been a lot of changes behind the scenes between Wednesday seasons 1 and 2. For starters, production relocated from Romania to Ireland, with the show shooting in the Emerald Isle since May. While Tim Burton is still directing (bringing on board co-directors Paco Cabezas and Angela Robinson), there have been numerous cast changes, both in of new faces ing and old faces getting replaced.

Fresh additions include Billie Piper, Christopher Lloyd, Thandiwe Newton, with Joanna Lumley as Grandmama Addams, and Steve Buscemi as Nevermore’s new principal, Barry Dort. Those on their way out are Jamie McShane (Sheriff Galpin), Naomi J. Ogawa (Yoko), and, most notably, Percy Hynes White (who played Wednesday’s love interest, Xavier Thorpe).

Considering Burton, Ortega, and showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar all just brought us Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which turned out to be a supernaturally big hit this past fall, it’s fair to say hype for Wednesday season 2 is as high as the Addams’ butler. Unfortunately, it ain’t here just yet. Nor does the fact that shooting is over mean Netflix is going to drop it in time for Christmas.

Let’s do some math for a moment. Season 1 finished filming in March 2022 before releasing in November 2022. That means the show’s team requires about eight months to complete post-production work. By that metric, the earliest we can see season 2 is July 2025. And, really, that feels like an unseasonably sunny time for the show so fall 2025 seems much more plausible. Wednesday warriors may wish new episodes could arrive in a snap of Thing’s fingers, but it sadly doesn’t work that way. The good news? Season 3 will be here much sooner.

The latest addition to the Wednesday season 2 cast has been revealed, and it’s none other than Mother Monster herself, Lady Gaga. While the Little Monsters are thrilled to see her grace their TV screens once again, not everyone shares the same enthusiasm.

As Entertainment Weekly reports, they learned through a source that Lady Gaga is currently filming the show in Europe, but her role has not been revealed. Other outlets say that Lady Gaga will make a cameo appearance, and it looks like it has been in the works for a while. It all started when a video of Lady Gaga’s song “Bloody Mary” spliced with a clip of Wednesday star Jenna Ortega dancing went viral in 2022.

In Jan. 2023, Ortega expressed her excitement at the prospect of getting to work with Lady Gaga but said she knew nothing and it was up to the writers whether to approach the singer or not. As for Lady Gaga, it seemed she was interested in the idea and even performed Wednesday’s Dance on TikTok.

The Little Monsters showed their excitement over the news, with one saying, “she’s literally perfect for this series.” Another wrote it’s the “cameo we never knew we needed.” Others, however, aren’t so thrilled about the idea and said Lady Gaga might ruin the series.

The news comes after Joker: Folie à Deux flopped

Fans of Wednesday are concerned that featuring Lady Gaga will ruin the series. Most of the reaction is triggered by the fact that the songstress’ recent movie Joker: Folie à Deux — where she portrayed the character of Harleen “Lee” Quinzel aka Harley Quinn — received less than favorable reviews from critics and moviegoers alike. Sources say Lady Gaga was disappointed about the negative response, but she is said to be determined to bounce back from this setback in her acting career.

Based on the response about her appearance on Wednesday season 2, fans are fearful of the same outcome and say her cameo will ruin the series. One wrote, “Oh great now the show is gonna tank and get cancelled,” while another simply said, “NOOOOOOOOOO.” Yet another wrote, “After joker 2 we not watching this s**t again.”

Fans are entitled to their own opinions, but to be fair, this isn’t Lady Gaga’s first rodeo on the small screen. She previously appeared in Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story: Hotel and American Horror Story: Roanoke, and did a stellar job in both, even earning a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Limited Series for the former. Additionally, some pointed out that the singer’s macabre and eclectic style perfectly fits Wednesday’s aesthetic and director Tim Burton’s vision.

Wednesday season 2 will continue after the events of the first season, and Wednesday is sure to unravel more mysteries at Nevermore Academy as the series progresses. Catherine-Zeta Jones (Morticia Addams), Luis Guzman (Gomez Addams), Isaac Ordonez (Pugsley Addams), and Fred Armisen (Uncle Fester) will all reprise their roles as part of Wednesday’s eccentric but lovable family.

New cast have also been announced including Thandie Newton, Steve Buscemi, Joanna Lumley, and Billie Piper, as well as guest star Christopher Lloyd, who played Fester Addams in the 1990s Addams Family movies. Wednesday season 2 is scheduled to premiere sometime in 2025.

Netflix’s recent crowd-pleaser, Wednesday has not been without its controversies. Nonetheless, fans can gear up for some exciting news from the television series.

According to productionlist.com from the Film and Television Industry Alliance, season 3 of Wednesday is currently in pre-production. This comes as a shock to many considering the second season has not even aired yet.

Wednesday season 3 will allegedly start filming as of November 30, 2025, in Wicklow, Ireland. The following synopsis has been revealed for the new season:

Set at the Nevermore Academy, Wednesday Addams attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago, all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore.

This plot could apply to season 2 as well as 3, but doesn’t stop fans from getting excited.

Wednesday has had a troubled history

In many ways, Wednesday was a return to form for Netflix. With Stranger Things on its way out, the series is a supernatural leaning story with an intriguing female presence — all united with Tim Roth’s spooky aesthetic. But while the investigation of strange happenings in a small town that feels close to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Wednesday quickly lost favor because of controversies.

The biggest was Percy Hynes White being dropped from season 2. The actor played Xavier in season 1 and was a competitor for Wednesday’s dark heart. The season revolves around Wednesday’s (Jenna Ortega) vacillation between posh Xavier and a local boy, Tyler (Hunter Doohan). The boys each represented contradictory qualities that Wednesday gravitates toward. Tyler is a seemingly normal human boy who just wants to get to know her, while Xavier is a supernatural teen who can most identify with Wednesday’s strangeness. Wednesday’s suspicion that either of them could be the murderer haunting Nevermore Academy makes things even more complicated.

It turns out that the predator was Tyler, in a surprising turn of events. The end of the season sets up Xavier and Wednesday’s burgeoning relationship. But since allegations against White came to light, the actor is confirmed to not be returning. This certainly puts Wednesday’s love life in jeopardy, but this is only one of the challenges surrounding the production. Ortega also received some heat for her behavior during season 1.

Ortega called into question some of the choices surrounding her character regarding the love triangle. Many writers in the industry were appalled at her behavior, stating she was overstepping her bounds. Wednesday writers broke their silence on the situation with grace, stating that these situations are bound to happen. Another way to look at it is that Ortega wasn’t overstepping, but advocating for her character. There is something positive about a young woman feeling empowered to speak her mind in a male-dominated industry without fear of being branded as “difficult.”

Regardless, season 2 has a lot riding on it. The love triangle from season 1 isn’t the entire reason why fans will be returning. Wednesday has the strength of a unique lead, as well as many ing characters that can contribute to a successful season. Wednesday season 2 is slated to release on Netflix in 2025.

2022 was one of the best pop culture years in a long time. Horror fans got treated to well-crafted slashers like X, sci-fi lovers got the smart AppleTV series Severance, and everyone fell in love with Netflix‘s Wednesday. Now the writers of the Jenna Ortega series are talking about that thorny time when the star said exactly what she was thinking about the show.

In a September 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Wednesday showrunners Miles Millar and Alfred Gough, who also wrote Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, shared what they really think about this awkward situation. Gough said “you have these young stars in the spotlight” and “They’re going to misstep. They’re going to say things.” He took an honest and compasisonate approach and said, “you just have to give them grace and know that it happens. It’s never pleasant, but it just comes with the territory.”

Of course, Millar and Gough were referring to when Ortega said Wednesday Adams’s love triangle “made no sense” on the Armchair Expert podcast hosted by Dax Shepard. There are two sides to every story, and it’s easy to say that both Ortega and the Wednesday writers are right, here.

On the one hand, since when does the Goth character get all googly-eyed over not one, but two classmates? On the other hand, shouldn’t an actor respect the words on the page, and not change scripts? Sure, a TV drama isn’t exactly improv, and cast aren’t supposed to say that their characters are doing or saying incorrect things. But then again, she can’t be the only actor who has had a problem with the journey their character was taking.

There are no hard feelings, though! Millar called Ortega “one of the hardest working, most talented young actresses” and said their work together is “joyful” and “collaborative” (what a relief). Since she’s a producer on season 2 of Wednesday, she’s got more of an official voice, which is a great thing in my Wednesday-loving opinion.

Millar and Gough also mentioned the massive amounts of attention that Ortega got because of what she said. They also brought up the point that young stars sometimes make mistakes and say the wrong thing. But I believe Ortega would have said what she said regardless of her age. As she told Vanity Fair, “women have to be princesses” and “when they’re outspoken,” the response is negative. Nothing she said or did was that terrible, was it?!

Ortega also said in her Vanity Fair interview that she “could have used my words better” which everyone can relate to! There are times when Ortega has found exactly the right words, like when she commented on those awful AI photos of herself. So she’s like the rest of us human beings: prone to sometimes finding it hard to articulate exactly what she wants to.

As an Ortega superfan, I’m excited to watch her in Wednesday season 2, whether or not she decides to talk about what’s in the script!

Jenna Ortega couldn’t have been a more perfect choice to play Lydia Deetz’s daughter Astrid in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The star has racked up a great list of spooky projects, from You to X, and I’m anxious to hear when her Netflix series Wednesday will finally come back. But could one of her costars appear in season 2?

In an interview with Total Inside Film and GamesRadar+, Ortega answered a question about Winona Ryder making a Wednesday season 2 cameo appearance. That’s definitely a question that every journalist who talks to the young star would want to ask. The Wednesday actress said she wishes that could happen… but Ryder’s packed schedule is to blame. She said, “Man, that would be cool, but that girl is so busy.”

While it’s tempting to think that Ortega is just being coy and Ryder is actually playing a secret character in the second season of the Netflix series, that’s probably not the case. Christina Ricci’s casting in season 1 as Marilyn Thornhill was massive news, and a cameo from Ryder would also be a great way to draw viewers in. It’s tough to think that Netflix wouldn’t want to make a big and exciting announcement, so the fact that they haven’t doesn’t bode well.

Ortega isn’t giving up hope, though, and Beetlejuice and Wednesday fans shouldn’t, either! She explained she’s sure she and Ryder will be co-stars in the future, whether or not Ryder shows up at Nevermore Academy in some way, shape, or form. Ortega said, “We talk about it all the time, and that would be really sweet for me.” Don’t you want to be a fly on the wall during their chats?

Ryder often talks about her costars, and she and Ortega definitely became close on the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice set, which is music to my ’90s nostalgia-loving ears. They have both said super kind things about each other. The two wore tulle to the August 2024 premiere of the movie in London and Ortega said they were “mentally intertwined” because it happened entirely by accident. Just two actresses who are drawn to super dark projects who can’t help but dress the same! As for the older actress, she said, “I had this sacred bond with Jenna that was insanely magical” and added, “It’s like soulmates almost.” That connection likely can be felt in every Beetlejuice Beetlejuice scene of them together.

If there was a part in Wednesday season 2 (or season 3… come on, Netflix!) for the Reality Bites star, it’s hard to think she wouldn’t take it. Stranger Things is ending soon and while she’s an in-demand actress who is tied up with projects, as Ortega said, I bet Ryder would jump at the chance to star in another spooky and fun Netflix show.

While Wednesday season 2 will be awesome either way, I won’t stop wondering if there’s going to be a surprise Ryder appearance. And if not, maybe the talented stars will come back for Beetlejuice 3!

Netflix has some of the best shows on streaming. From massive live-action adaptations like One Piece, to original productions like Stranger Things, fans are spoiled for choice and can snag many different types of merch online.

Better yet, there’s a ton of options available if you’re searching for the perfect gift! There’s more than enough for Netflix lovers who want to own items relating to their favorite shows. 

15. The original OBX license plate sticker 

A cute piece of merch that any Outer Banks fan will appreciate is this OBX license plate sticker. It features the iconic “Outer Banks” design, with the ocean and lighthouse in the background. The bottom text says “paradise on earth” just like on the show and it’s perfect for sticking on a laptop or water bottle. 

14. Voltron character s T-Shirt

Netflix’s Voltron: Legendary Defender was such a hit that it developed a devoted audience independent of the fans of the original show. This shirt from Hot Topic displays all of the Voltron paladins, as well as Voltron itself in all its glory. It’s definitely worth snagging for true fans. 

13. Netflix’s Rebel Moon: Part One- A Child Of Fire group wall poster 

This Netflix space opera hit viewer’s screens back in 2023, with the second part releasing in April 2024. The epic follows Kora, a former soldier as she recruits a team of rebels to face off against the oppressive Imperium. This poster for the first movie features the main cast looking majestic on high-quality, glossy paper. 

12. Youtooz Heartstopper: Nick and Charlie

Heartstopper stole the hearts of fans worldwide when its first season aired in 2022. Since then, Nick and Charlie have continued to capture hearts both within and outside of the LGBTQ+ community. This Youtooz figure shows the couple at their first meeting, the moment their story started, and when we fell in love with them. They’re seated at their desk, with smiles on their lips and blushes on their cheeks, oblivious to the world around them. Any Heartstopper fan would love to have these two decorating their room. 

11. 3 Body Problem headset

3 Body Problem is Netflix’s 2024 gem. The sci-fi series is based on a highly acclaimed Chinese book series and deals with alien invasions, existentialism, and so much science that you feel like you’re taking a crash course in astrophysics. The show featured amazing set pieces and costumes, with the alien VR headset being one of the most memorable. It’s a great gift for anyone who loves to collect unique pieces. 

10. Funko Pop! Squid Game 3 piece set

Not a lot of shows can boast the amount of success and impact that Squid Game can. The Korean TV show was a worldwide phenomenon, and had viewers who had never considered Korean media fully invested. This Funko Pop set on Walmart includes Seong Gi-Hun, Oh Il-Nam, and one of the masked workers of the squid game. It’s a great start for anyone who wants to kick off a collection of Squid Game merch. 

9. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story T-Shirt

The success of Bridgerton led to the creation of the spin-off, centered on one of the most interesting characters in the franchise, Queen Charlotte. With her opulent headpieces, to her queenly elegance, Queen Charlotte is the perfect Bridgerton character to rock on a t-shirt. The Netflix shop’s got you covered!

8. The Witcher: Geralt’s medallion

Geralt of Rivia is everyone’s favorite grumpy, monosyllabic mutant. His travel must-haves include his sword, his tight pants, and his White Wolf medallion. This piece is a replica of the White Wolf insignia necklace Geralt never takes off in the show. It’s a great item for cosplaying, or simply to have as a keepsake. The gift is also packed in a unique, wooden box that adds to the aura of the piece.

7. Bridgerton muse teapot and tea gift set 

Bridgerton season 3 was one of the most anticipated Netflix releases of 2024. In celebration of the new season and the diversity that the show advocates for, Netflix collaborated with artists globally to create unique Bridgerton merch pieces. One of these is this beautiful tea set from artist Sue Tsai that features a teapot and teacup set, as well as a tin of Peach Mimosa Black tea. It’s the perfect gift for the Bridgerton fan who wants to be immersed in the fantasy. 

6. POP TV! Wednesday

This Wednesday Addams Pop! figure is available on Netflix’s online shop. It is a great piece of merch for any collector who wants to add the character to their collection. With the success of Wednesday on Netflix, it’s no surprise that the character has become a TV favorite. The figure displays Wednesday in her black and grey uniform, with her signature resting face and pigtails. 

5. Inside Black Mirror companion book 

Black Mirror is one of Netflix’s most popular shows. The dark, sci-fi anthology touches on deep human fears, from AI and robot revolutions, to moral questions about the nature of life. This companion book from the show’s creator, Charlie Brooker, is perfect For Black Mirror superfans who want to know all the behind-the-scenes stories about the creation of the show. 

4. Scott Pilgrim print collection 

Scott Pilgrim is one of the most iconic graphic novels of the century. The novel was popularized with the 2010 movie starring Michael Cera, but Netflix’s Scott Pilgrim Takes Off returns the show to its animated roots. This print collection was curated by Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley in celebration of 20 years of Scott Pilgrim. It includes 21 high-quality 9 x 12-inch prints. 

3. Monkey D Luffy Netflix One Piece SH Figuarts figure

Netflix’s One Piece was the perfect project that broke the streamer’s record of poor anime live-action adaptations. Starring Inaki Godoy as the rubbery captain of the Straw Hat Crew, One Piece was a hit with fans of the anime and served as an introduction to the daunting world of the anime to outsiders. This flexible Luffy action figure can be put in multiple poses and the attention to detail is perfect for any One Piece fan.

2. Funko Pop! Animation: Castlevania Trevor Belmont action figure

Castlevania is one of Netflix’s most successful animated shows, with each season and entry in the franchise drawing more fans in. The dark, vampire show has expanded a lot from its first season, but Trevor Belmont will always remain a fan-favorite character. This action figure from Funko Pop is about 3 ¾ inches tall and depicts Trevor holding his iconic whip. 

1. Stranger Things collectors box bundle

A great pick from Walmart’s Netflix Hub is the Stranger Things collectors box bundle. This package contains a 48 x 48-inch wall tapestry and a 17 x 22-inch poster, a Stranger Things bandana and buttons, a cassette of the soundtrack, and more. It’s the ultimate gift for a Stranger Things fan who wants to decorate their room or spice up their outfit with pieces from their favorite show. 

Wednesday has officially begun gearing up for round two of the Nevermore Academy shenanigans that so many have come to know and love, and with the likes of Steve Buscemi, Christopher Lloyd, Haley Joel Osment, Heather Matarazzo, and Joonas Suotamo ing the cast, it doesn’t take a psychic to predict that Wednesday season two will be just as lucrative for Netflix as the inaugural season.

Of course, there is a slight blemish on Wednesday due to the case of Percy Hynes White, a member of Wednesday‘s core cast in season one who was dropped from the show following a string of sexual assault and misconduct allegations.

White played Xavier—Wednesday’s artistic classmate—in Wednesday, and while it’s not yet clear if the character will be recast or written out of the show altogether, it seems that White’s time on the show is all but done and dusted.

Surprisingly, however, he doesn’t appear to be particularly phased by his Wednesday fate, if his response to the news of the second season’s filming commencement is any indication.

What did Percy Hynes White have to say about getting dropped from season two of Wednesday?

In a recent Instagram story (which can be viewed below), White seemed to have no hard feelings towards anyone or anything to do with Wednesday, reminiscing on the fun times he had while working on the show, expressing excitement for the eventual premiere of season two, and wishing the best for his former co-stars and crew .

It’s a somewhat bold strategy for the actor, who likely hasn’t forgotten the fact that he’s still in pretty hot water.

What was Percy Hynes White’s response to the sexual assault allegations made against him?

It must be noted that the allegations against White are extremely serious, with multiple women having come forward about his alleged behavior. White’s response to the accusations, which he posted to Instagram nearly a year ago, can be read below.

In the message, White claims that the allegations against him are false, that he had never met the person who first accused him of sexual assault and misconduct, and also claims that his family and friends have been threatened and doxxed. He furthermore claims that one of his friends—who he identifies as a woman named Jane—was falsely portrayed as a victim, and that he had her permission to include such a testimony in his message.

On the one hand, if White’s family is receiving death threats, that’s certainly not okay, nor is the possibility that Jane, an alleged victim, isn’t being given the space to speak for herself. But on the other hand, the number of women who came forward with these allegations isn’t a fact that should be taken lightly, and so, at the end of the day, those of us outside the situation are in the same position we’ve always been in. That’s to say that the only people who know the truth of these allegations are those who are accusing White, and White himself.

Either way, it makes sense that Wednesday would want to distance itself from White in light of everything, though it remains to be seen how much of an impact these allegations will have on the rest of his career.

Curiously, the actor is set to reunite with Jenna Ortega in Winter Spring Summer or Fall, a romantic drama film in which Ortega and White will portray the leads; suffice to say, then, that if the allegations against White are true, he’s certainly been good at hiding his true nature from his coworkers.

Wednesday‘s first season is available to stream on Netflix.

Wednesday season 2 is finally in the works! Upon debuting in fall 2022, the Addams Family reimagining became one of Netflix’s biggest series on the planet.

So, as per the unavoidable rule that the more popular a streaming series is the longer we have to wait for more of it (I call it the Stranger Things Conundrum), it’s taken approximately a thousand years and counting for a new season to arrive.

No doubt largely due to both prolific star Jenna Ortega and in-demand director Tim Burton’s ridiculously busy schedules — the pair have made Beetlejuice 2 together in the interim, don’t forget — things have been slow moving on the season 2 front, but the good news is the show is at last heading back before cameras for another batch of spooky, kooky, and altogether ooky episodes.

Unfortunately, either due to the long gap between seasons, changing storylines, or some more scandalous reasons, not everyone will be returning forWednesday season 2. Certain faces who were primed to continue to be major characters won’t be back at Nevermore Academy for another semester after all. Let’s find out who and why.

Christina Ricci

This won’t come as a surprise for anyone who re how Wednesday season 1 ended. Christina Ricci’s botany teacher Marilyn Thornhill ultimately turned out to be the season’s main villain and was last seen defeated by Wednesday. So it’s not entirely surprising that she’s not back as a regular or announced recurring or guest star for season 2.

That said, the fate of Miss Thornhill, real name Laurel Gates, was left open-ended. Plus, Ricci’s hefty status in Addams Family lore, as a former Wednesday herself, would make it a little surprise if she never returned to the show at all.

Jamie McShane

Jamie McShane’s Sheriff Galpin was a major player in season 1, as he investigated the grisly murders and dark history of the town of Jericho and strongly suspected the Addamses were somehow involved. Of course, in the end it was his own son, Tyler (Hunter Doohan) who was outed as the Hyde, the monster being controlled by Laurel.

The last time we saw Tyler, he had reverted to his Hyde form and escaped custody, so he’ll definitely be back in season 2. Curiously, his dad won’t, however. Instead, his deputy Ricthie Santiago (Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo) will be a regular this time around, so they are probably the new sheriff. Presumably, Galpin stepped down from his job after the shock and trauma of finding out the truth about his son.

The good news is that, unlike everyone else on this list, McShane has been confirmed to return in season 2 in a guest role in one episode, which should help conclude Galpin’s storyline.

Naomi J. Ogawa

Yoko Tanaka wasn’t a major character in season 1, but as Nevermore’s most notable vampire student she was nonetheless a fun addition to the series and Wednesday’s extended friendship group. Unfortunately, don’t expect to see her again in season 2 as actress Naomi J. Ogawa has been confirmed to have exited the series. Going by information reported by Deadline and an Instagram post from Ogawa, it seems her exit was a mutual decision as both writers and actress agreed Yoko’s character wasn’t necessary to the show.

Percy Hynes White

Easily the most notable absence in Wednesday season 2, however, is that of Percy Hynes White, who won’t be reprising his role as Xavier Thorpe. As one third of Wednesday’s love triangle, along with Tyler, White was arguably the show’s male lead so in many ways it’s a surprise that he’s not back. On the other hand, Jenna Ortega has been saying for a long time now that season 2 would be significantly decreasing the romantic storylines, at her own insistence, as she felt her loner character being in a love triangle made “no sense.”

It’s likely that Ortega’s dislike of the Thorpe love story isn’t the only reason for White’s abrupt exit, though. Following the release of season 1, the actor was hit with several accusations of sexual assault and misconduct. Six months later, White finally refuted the claims, describing them as “a campaign of misinformation” against him. Neither Netflix nor Wednesday bosses ever commented on the allegations, so we are left to speculate if they contributed to his being written out of the series.

Wednesday season 2 is yet to be given a release date, but it certainly won’t get here before 2025.

It is now official: The recently-announced cast list for Wednesday season 2 does not include Percy Hynes White. And, it may be the case that no one will fill in the role, thus writing off the character of Xavier Thrope from the series despite the character’s part in the narrative suggesting Xavier had more story to explore.

If the allegations against White are true – and there are plenty –  his removal from the cast cannot be helped. Take it from me, I was personally quite taken by Xavier’s psychic, reserved, and tortured artist character archetype, more so than with the clearly too-nice-not-to-raise-red-flags Tyler, but that’s no excuse to instinctively discredit any potential veracity of White’s alleged condemnable past deeds without daring to dig deeper.

These sorts of allegations are not to be taken lightly, and while the original posts from the alleged victims and witnesses are now gone, it may well have been due to legal reasons or threats from overzealous fans who cannot seem to help but take the side of the celebrity they like, even without knowing them personally to be able to legitimately vouch for their character.

So, what were these accusations that led to Netflix dropping the 22-year-old Canadian actor from the popular series?

Alleged systematic predatory behavior

A girl going by “Aries” as her Twitter name was the one to blow the whistle on the alleged inexcusable behavior Percy Hynes White enacted during high school. Message screenshots paint an elaborate, detailed, and damning description of the kind of predatory, misogynistic behavior of which the actor is accused. Not only that, but Aries also attached message chats featuring inappropriate photos of someone who clearly looks like White. Some of these were allegedly sent to minors.

The allegations claim that, while he was a teenager in Toronto, White mistreated girls, both girlfriends and the girls who rejected him, being said to resort to insults and body shaming. He and his group of friends are accused of hosting parties and getting girls so inebriated they were unable to consent to sexual advances, having been ultimately assaulted. One girl alleged the to-be actor watched her assault from the sidelines. When this situation happened, White called the girl in question and was allegedly more concerned with not having law enforcement involved. If this situation could not get any worse, White is also said to have taken non-consensual sexual pictures of girls, and even shared them online.

Instagram screenshots seem to suggest White seemingly corroborating at least part of the allegations by conceding that what he had done was “a complete scumbag thing to do,” claiming that now that he is an adult, he knows better. Some people pointed to a video of White touching Jenna Ortega’s chest during a red carpet appearance to argue that his behavior had not really changed by the time he became a star on the Netflix series.

On top of all of these damning accusations, old tweets are said to have surfaced – these are now gone – of White using slurs and other inappropriate words.

As a result of this firestorm of allegations and people coming forward, and after a period of silence, White came forward to say the rumors were untrue. Variety quoted him as writing:

“Earlier this year, somebody I’ve never met started a campaign of misinformation about me online. Because of this, my family has been doxxed, and my friends have received death threats. Underage photos of me were used, and examples of me acting in character were presented as hateful. My friend Jane was falsely portrayed as a victim, and her attempts to set the record straight have been ignored. She gave me permission to include her in this message. […] The rumors are false. I can’t accept the portrayal of me as someone bigoted, or criminally negligent of people’s safety. These are the kind of baseless, harmful claims that can create mistrust toward victims. It’s very distressing to know that this misinformation has upset people. I’m really thankful for everyone who’s stood by me and helped share the facts. Harassment of my family, friends and coworkers needs to stop please. Thank you for taking the time to read this.”

In this kind of he-said/she-said conundrum, there is often no easy way to get tangible evidence that will satisfy some. But for those who think so in regards to the former Wednesday actor, this is not even a she-said/he-said, in this case, many people pointed the finger and Percy Hynes White replied saying it was nothing but a “campaign of misinformation.”

Netflix’s series Wednesday is full of twists and red herrings during its first season, but the show’s mysteries weren’t just relegated to on-screen drama.

Inspired by the Charles Addams comic of America’s First Goth family, Wednesday follows the titular character, played by Jenna Ortega, as she attends a spooky private school called Nevermore. In a school full of outcasts, Wednesday Addams tries to remain a maverick, which is easier said than done — especially regarding her love life.

While the series has many enjoyable aspects, throwing Wednesday in the middle of a love triangle was one of the more confounding. By the looks of it, however, said love triangle will not be continuing in the show’s sophomore season, as Percy Hynes White ⏤ the actor who played Wednesday’s schoolmate Xavier ⏤ has been officially dropped from the cast following a disturbing controversy.

What were the claims against Percy Hynes White?

In 2023, Variety reported that an anonymous Twitter had claimed White assaulted them at a house party. They alleged that White and his friends would ply minors with alcohol to assault them. The outlet did not reveal the alleged victim’s identity, but posted their claims at length.

“He would pursue, have sex with, abuse and get my friend high who was 13/14 at the time. Last time I knew they had sex she was 16 and he was 20. He assaulted me at one of those parties awhile I was too drunk, and he had cornered and pressured and assaulted multiple of my friends.”

The tweet has since been deleted, but consequences soon followed. Others ed these claims and contributed additional corroborative stories. At the time, no further action was taken, but White maintained his innocence.

White’s response to the allegations

White later took to Instagram and denied the poster’s claims. He explained that he had never met this person and that his friends and family had been targeted due to these allegations. The Gifted actor further described how he was affected following the events.

“Underage photos of me were used, and examples of me acting in character were presented as hateful. My friend Jane was falsely portrayed as a victim, and her attempts to set the record straight have been ignored. She gave me permission to include her in this message. The rumors are false. I can’t accept the portrayal of me as someone bigoted, or criminally negligent of people’s safety. These are the kind of baseless, harmful claims that can create mistrust toward victims. It’s very distressing to know that this misinformation has upset people. I’m really thankful for everyone who’s stood by me and helped share the facts. Harassment of my family, friends and coworkers needs to stop please. Thank you for taking the time to read this.”

At the time this news broke, Wednesday season 2 had yet to go into production. However, there were rumblings that White would not reprise his role as Xavier in the season as a result of the claims made against him. At the time, there had been no confirmation of official action taken, but fan outcry made the ultimate result somewhat inevitable. With such public allegations of such a brutal nature, White quickly lost stock as a romantic interest for Wednesday’s character.

As of May 2024, Variety confirmed that White won’t be returning for season 2 when it released a full cast announcement. 12 additional cast have ed season 2, with White conspicuously being left off the list. Other cast to be added to the official list are Steve Buscemi, Thandiwe Newton, Christopher Lloyd, and Haley Joel Osment.

There is no current news about what season 2 has in store for the multitude of Wednesday fans out there, but it’s fair to surmise that the storyline of the show will boast an ambitious overhaul. Viewers will be able to see these events when Wednesday airs season 2 on Netflix.

Netflix’s mega-hit Wednesday survived the streamer’s cancelation spree in 2023 and got the green light for a second season. But the future was not bright for its characters, especially for Percy Hynes White, whose sudden fame in 2022 was steamrolled by what 2023 bought in just as the year took off.

It all started early in January 2023, when shocking allegations of sexual assault and other accusations cropped up against White. At the time — i.e., throughout 2023 — Netflix kept mum, refusing to confirm if the alarming claims have cost the actor his role as Xavier Thorpe in the hit series. But now that the series has officially begun shooting, the streamer has shared its big list of returning and new actors for the show.

What are the allegations against Percy Hynes White?

The said allegations, made by multiple women including @milkievich who shared them on Twitter, reveal some very disturbing details about incidents initiated by and involving White when he was a high schooler in Toronto as well as the ones that took place when he was between the ages of 17 and 20.

One of the allegations made in this thread claimed that White and his group of friends are “predators” and “manipulate girls.” They allegedly threw parties only to “explicitly invite women they thought were hot so they could get them drunk and high enough to have sex with them.” White has also been accused of assaulting multiple women, calling them names, sharing their nude pictures online without consent, and targeting minors.

Many other women have also accused the Wednesday star of sexually assaulting them and even aiding a rapist. 

The thread also claims that a deleted by the name of @impercenator was actually White’s page on Twitter via which he made a string of problematic tweets. 

A video of White uttering a racial slur also cropped up, further flaming the #cancelpercy campaign on Twitter.

While White didn’t respond to the accusations immediately, only disabling the comments on his Instagram page in the wake of the controversy, he did address the allegations in June 2023 and called it a “campaign of misinformation.”

“The rumors are false. I can’t accept the portrayal of me as someone bigoted, or criminally negligent of people’s safety. These are the kind of baseless, harmful claims that can create mistrust toward victims.”

But his six-month-long delay in answering the allegations did little to undo the damage as even when no fresh claims against the actor cropped up, the glaring accusations left Wednesday fans scrambling to find the answer to one big question… which has finally been answered.

Will Percy Hynes White’s Xavier Thorpe return in Wednesday season 2?

Netflix has revealed its cast for the second season of Wednesday and Percy Hynes White is not on it. So, it is official — there will be no Xavier Thorpe the next time we see Wednesday at Nevermore, a certain long-haired individual who was upped to the status of being her next love interest (after her first love turned out to be a fictional monster) will no longer be present.

Of course, Jenna Ortega is returning — she even dropped Scream 7 for the series— and so are Emma Myers, Hunter Doohan, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Isaac Ordonez, Joy Sunday, and many more. But clearly, as much as Netflix tried to act all nonchalant about the whole controversy, all the while decisions were being made so as to not jeopardize their show’s reputation.

It’s not like White’s ers and fans didn’t try to stop the inevitable. Between the actor’s ers filing a petition to ensure he doesn’t lose his projects because of the allegations and his fans ready to strike an argument with those demanding his instant removal from the show, White had a number of voices in his corner. But as 2023 progressed, ignoring whether or not he will still have a future with Netflix became harder.

Going by the explosive can of worms the original accusations kicked open and considering the fate of celebs who have faced similar allegations, guessing his most probable fate wasn’t difficult. The past few years have been eye-opening when it comes to the seemingly glittery world of celebs. Many had their problematic past and toxic attitudes out in the open for the world to see and found themselves reaping the seeds they sowed. 

Kevin Spacey lost out on almost all his roles after sexual allegations against him came to light in 2017. Danny Masterson, who has been facing multiple allegations of sexual assault, was fired by Netflix from The Ranch. Last we heard about Armie Hammer — after he lost all prospective projects as stomach-churning allegations against him surfaced — he was seen selling timeshare in the Cayman Islands. The latest example would be Jonathan Majors, who was swiftly removed from the MCU after he was found guilty of assaulting his girlfriend.

Of course, fans of the series already have a list of names that can replace the actor, but that part of the debate will only gain proper steam once Netflix decides to share exactly what it plans to do with the character of Xavier Thorpe.