Netflix continues to expand the spooky world of Wednesday, and this time, it’s bringing in a familiar face whose career helped define gothic cinema. Winona Ryder is officially joining the cast of Wednesday Season 3 in a guest role, Netflix announced as production began this month in Dublin, Ireland. 

The casting marks a high-profile reunion for Ryder, the star of “Stranger Things,” and Wednesday creator and executive producer Tim Burton. Ryder and Burton have a long history together, dating back to “Beetlejuice” and Edward Scissorhands, films that helped define a generation of macabre fantasy. Now, that creative partnership is extending into the Netflix hit, and fans are understandably thrilled. 

What Winona Ryder Brings to Nevermore Academy

In the announcement trailer shared by Netflix, Ryder was revealed to be playing a character named Tabitha — though the series has kept details about her role largely under wraps. What is clear is that her addition adds another layer of intrigue to an already rich ensemble. 

Series directors Alfred Gough and Miles Millar issued a statement praising Ryder’s involvement, noting that she fits naturally into the Wednesday universe. “When it comes to Outcasts, Winona Ryder is the GOAT,” they said, reflecting both her status within the show’s thematic core and the affection fans have for her work. 

Because Wednesday thrives on mystery and dark humor, Ryder’s presence raises expectations for Season 3’s narrative complexity. Her character Tabitha could connect to Nevermore’s mysterious past, especially given the growing emphasis on the Addams family lore following the Season 2 finale. 

Reuniting Old Collaborators

Ryder’s casting also reunites her with Beetlejuice co-star Jenna Ortega, who plays the titular Wednesday Addams. In 2024’s “Beetlejuice” sequel, Ortega portrayed Lydia Deetz’s daughter, and the chemistry between the two actresses quickly became a highlight of promotional interviews and fan buzz. 

Director Tim Burton weighed in on Ryder’s addition, expressing his excitement in a statement: “I am so happy that Winona has joined us; she fits right into this world. And she’s a dear friend. I always feel lucky to work with her.” 

Their shared aesthetic — dark whimsy, emotional vulnerability, and gothic charm — sets Wednesday Season 3 up to feel like a true creative homecoming for Ryder. It’s a return not just to the genre she helped shape, but to the collaborators who have shaped her career. 

New Faces and Expanded Worldbuilding

Winona Ryder has been cast in ‘WEDNESDAY’ Season 3. pic.twitter.com/56WDmh3eRR

— Pop Base (@PopBase) February 23, 2026

Ryder isn’t the only newcomer. Netflix has announced several fresh cast members for Season 3, each poised to deepen the lore surrounding Nevermore Academy and the Addams family. 

Veteran actor Chris Sarandon, known among “Addams Family” fans as the original voice of Jack Skellington in “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” will portray a character named Balthazar. Noah Taylor (Peaky Blinders, Game of Thrones) is joining as Cyrus, while Oscar Morgan (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Gotham Knights) takes on Atticus. Kennedy Moyer (Task, Roofman) rounds out the new cast as Daisy. 

Also joining the world of Wednesday is Eva Green, previously announced to play Ophelia Frump — Morticia Addams’ sister — whose dramatic reappearance was teased at the end of Season 2. 

With these additions, Season 3 seems set to broaden the show’s supernatural landscape, introducing new alliances, rivalries, and gothic intrigue at every corner of Nevermore. 

Production and What’s Next For Wednesday

Official production on “Wednesday” Season 3 is now underway, with filming underway near Dublin. As with previous seasons, showrunners Gough and Millar, along with Burton as executive producer, are steering the story into darker, more enigmatic territory. 

Though Netflix has not yet announced a release date, early speculation based on production timelines suggests the new season could debut in mid-to-late 2027. Fans are already theorizing about plot threads, especially around the Addams family’s expanding mythology and how characters like Tabitha will factor into the larger mystery arc. 

The ongoing popularity of Wednesday — Netflix’s most-watched English-language series in history — only heightens expectations. Season 1 broke platform records, and Season 2 continued that success, becoming one of the most-watched shows on Netflix globally. With Ryder aboard, anticipation is at a high.

Featured image: Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images

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