Jenna Ortega's career received a huge boost from Wednesday, but there's one part she regretted despite the attention it received - the viral Jenna Ortega Wednesday dance moves. Ortega leads the cast of the Netflix series as the Addams Family's daughter, exploring her teenage years as she headed off to the private school Nevermore Academy, home to various supernatural beings that was also her parents' alma mater. Upon arrival, Wednesday began to realize she inherited her mother's psychic abilities and put them to use to save the town and her classmates from a murderous creature.
Ortega and Wednesday scored largely favorable reviews, with many taking note in particular of her unhinged dance scene during the Rave'N Dance, though the actor at the center of it doesn't have a glowing review for the moment. However, while Jenna wasn't really happy about the dance scene, that didn't rank as high on her list of complaints about the Wednesday series on Netflix.
What Jenna Ortega Has Said About Wednesday's Dance Scene
The actor reflected on the Jenna Ortaga Wednesday dance scene and how it started a viral trend of recreations and parodies (via Entertainment Tonight). The star revealed that she actually had some regrets about her viral dance moves in the Tim Burton-produced series, noting how she stayed awake at night thinking how she could've done them differently. Ortega did, however, go on to share her appreciation for the love shown for the sequence and shock at its popularity.
No, even that, I still can't believe. Some of the moves I had planned, some of it was improved. That was one of the scenes that I stay awake at night thinking about. There was so much I could have done and should have done. So, the fact that anyone has shown any appreciation or even tried it themselves is unfathomable to me.
Why Wednesday's Dance Was So Popular
Much like her first sole smile seen with Uncle Fester's arrival, Wednesday's viral dance in season 1 became a widespread phenomenon for showing a new side to the typically morose character. Though not brimming with joy as with her uncle's visit, the Rave'N Dance saw Ortega's Addams daughter fully let loose by embracing the music and showing off some eccentric moves for Tyler, one of the few locals who she feels worthy of letting her guard down for. Ultimately, while her dance movies gained her some respect with her classmates, namely Joy Sunday's Bianca, Tyler ultimately proved to be the Hyde behind the local murders.
Interestingly, the Jenna Ortega Wednesday dance scene was nearly very different as the original plan saw Ortega's titular character partaking in a flash mob. Thankfully for those who fell in love with the scene, Burton and Ortega saw the flaw in said plan, feeling it would be out of character for Wednesday to be "dancing and encouraging a bunch of people." Ortega would go on to choreograph much of the viral Wednesday dance scene herself, which even became popular enough to be recreated by Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva during a recent competition.
What We Know About Wednesday's Future
Even outside the Jenna Ortega Wednesday dance scene going viral, the show proved to be a massive hit for Netflix upon its premiere, clearing a number of viewership records set by the streamer's other major title, Stranger Things, bringing in over 1 billion viewing hours within three weeks of its release. Thanks to this success, Wednesday season 2 is coming, with rumors swirling of spinoffs centered on other Addams Family members.
With Amazon now owning Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the studio that owns the Addams Family IP, it seems likely Netflix will stick to the main series for the time being to avoid further licensing fees. While no timeline has been given on Wednesday season 2's release or production cycle, creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar confirmed the development of the next chapter ahead of the show's December premiere, creating the possibility for a 2024 return.
The Dance Scene Wasn't Jenna Ortega's Only Issue With Wednesday
Jenna Ortega almost didn't play Wednesday Addams at all in the Netflix original series. According to the actor, she had done a lot of TV in her life already, and she wanted to make movies. She was worried that accepting another TV show could interfere with her getting movie work. However, she finally took the meeting and ended up taking on the role, which was a huge move for her and Netflix. It was Tim Burton's vision that caused her to accept the role, even though she had problems with the series' direction as time went on. It wasn't just the Jenna Ortega Wednesday dance scene.
There was controversy when Ortega came out in an interview and said she would often stand up to the writers about things they had her character saying. It wasn't that there was a problem with her wanting to protect her character, it was the public discourse about the writers in general. However, as a producer, she has a strong hand in the show going forward and said that the Wednesday writers are listening to her, saying, "I think we want to up kind of the horror aspect a little bit and then get Wednesday out of the romantic situation and just let her be her own individual."
That was always seemingly her bigger problem - the romantic triangle in season 1. During the season, Wednesday Addams had two love interests in the series, Xavier Thorpe (Percy Hynes White) and Tyler Galpin (Hunter Doohan). This rubbed Ortega the wrong way, as she felt that Wednesday wouldn't be involved in a love triangle, and there really shouldn't even be a romantic interest based on the character's history. Luckily for Ortega, it looks like Wednesday season 2 will eliminate that for more of a horror slant.