I’d be hard-pressed to think of a more perfect TV cast than the one inWednesday, and I was quite surprised to learn that it was originally supposed to include actress Thora Birch. The Tim Burton Netflix series was an immediate hit when it premiered in 2022, and thehighly anticipatedWednesdayseason 2is set to release later in 2025. Based on the titularAddams Familycharacter,Wednesdaysees the eldest Addams child shipped off to Nevermore Academy after getting expelled from her “Normie” school. Featuring a creepy and kooky performance from Jenna Ortega as Wednesday, the show has all the dark academia vibes you could want.
Being a ’90s kid, I was definitely familiar withThe Addams Familyand Christina Ricci’s iconic portrayal of Wednesday — which is why I was delighted to see her intheWednesdaycast. I also grew up watching Thora Birch movies, starting withHocus PocusandMonkey Trouble,followed by more mature fare likeNow and Then,Ghost World, and, of course,American Beauty. While Birch still acts, her star has faded over the past several years, and I haven’t seen any of her recent projects. That’s why it would have been fantastic to see her onWednesday, though that ship has sadly sailed.
Thora Birch Left The Wednesday Season 1 Cast Due To Creative Differences
She Was Supposed To Play Wednesday’s “Normie” Dorm Mother, Tamara Novak
In August 2021,Deadlinereleased a huge Wednesday cast announcement, that includedThora Birch as Tamara Novak, the only “Normie” at Nevermore Academy who was also Wednesday’s dorm mother and had a penchant for botany — sound familiar? However, in December 2021, a few months intoWednesdayseason 1 filming in Romania,Deadlinealso reported that Birch had left the project. The publication claimed that, according to their sources,Birch was dealing with a family illness. A rep from MGM, the show’s producer, said in a statement, “Thora has returned to the States to attend to a personal matter and will not be returning to the production.”
However, almost a year later, Birch shed some light on herWednesdayexit, and while she didn’t get into specifics, it appears thather departure had more to do with creative differences than any reported “personal problems”. Birch also alluded to the issues having to do with possible changes being made to her character late in the game. Birch toldET(viaWRGZ),
“That became such a fluid, moving situation artistically, creatively from episode to episode. I had filmed a certain amount and there were some questions about how much more to go with that character and there were just some changes and adjustments made. It didn’t work out that I would be able to go back, so they are finding their own solutions.”
While it’s always sad when actors have to leave a project due to creative differences, insult was added to injury becauseWednesdayis the reason whyBirch couldn’t perform inHocus Pocus 2, as filming for both projects took place at the same time. Though she expressed excitement for how the sequel would turn out, Birch said she was ultimately “dismayed” she couldn’t take part in it.
Christina Ricci Replaced Birch In A Similar Wednesday Role
Ricci Plays Marilyn Thornhill/Laurel Gates
It’s surprising that Christina Ricci wasn’t part of theWednesdaycast all along, given her history with the role, but she was actually brought in as a replacement for Thora Birch.Though Birch’s role of Tamara Novak was not recast and ultimately scrapped, she was somewhat repurposed into Ricci’s Marilyn Thornhill. Like Tamara, Marilyn is also Wednesday’s “Normie” dorm mother who is also Nevermore’s botany teacher. However, we find out at theend ofWednesdayseason 1that Marilyn is really the villainous Laurel Gates, who tries (and fails) to kill Wednesday.
Ricci, who had previously worked with Tim Burton on 1999’sSleepy Hollow, wasoverjoyed at being asked to join theWednesdaycast. She toldCollider,
“It’s Tim Burton, I was so honored to be asked by him because he is just, you know, a genius. And then also to be a part to be asked to be a part of the new version of this thing that is a huge part of my identity and my history in my life. I mean, I know they didn’t do it out of the goodness of their hearts, but I was really touched by it, and I felt like it was very nice. And it’s such a fun world, and my character is outrageous and fun and different than anything I’ve done, and it was really great. And I just had a really lovely experience on that with Jenna, who is amazing, and I think now people have a taste of her Wednesday, and it’s gonna be fantastic. She is really incredible. And Gwendoline Christie, I love working with her. She’s my favorite.”
How Birch Could Still Be Part Of The Wednesday Cast
She Could Play Another Faculty Role Or The Next Villain
Given that Thora Birch once departedWednesday, it’s unlikely that she’d be inclined to return,especially given that she may have feelings of resentment for turning downHocus Pocus 2for a project she ultimately left. However, never say Nevermore. Birch’s comments about leavingWednesdaymade it seem like the creatives were still trying to figure out what the show was going to be. Now that it has a successful season 1 under its belt, it’s likely that the writers have found their footing, and may very well not need the changes they did in the first installment. This could open the door for Birch.
Wednesday Season 2 Can Fix Its Biggest Failed Casting Opportunity
Wednesday season 1’s cast originally featured Hocus Pocus' Thora Birch before she left the series, but season 2 can fix this missed opportunity.
As for who she could play, there’s always the possibility of another Nevermore Faculty member once the academy opens back up. There’s certainly a job opening due to Marilyn’s dramatic exit. And with Marilyn/Laurel seemingly dispensed with, that leaves room for another villain for Wednesday to face off against. It’d be pretty cool to see Birch take on aWednesdayantagonist role, given that she acted with Christina Ricci inNow and Then. Perhaps their otherNow and Thenco-star, Gaby Hoffmann, could play a villain too. At the very least, a ’90s girl can dream.
