They’re creepy and they’re kooky, and they’ve been a pop culture mainstay since they were first created by cartoonist Charles Addams in 1938. Since then, they’ve had two live-action television adaptations (1964-66 and 1998-99), two animated series (1973 and 1992-93), three live-action feature films (1991, 1993 and 1998) and last year’s animated reboot. Now, finally, someone has had the common sense to give The Addams Family franchise over to the creepiest and kookiest director on the planet, Tim Burton.
Late last month, news broke that MGM TV, who own the current rights to The Addams Family, is in talks with Burton to executive produce, and possibly direct, a new TV series reboot alongside Smallville developers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, and that this new series would be primarily from the perspective of Wednesday Addams and what she thinks of contemporary society.
First of all, let us congratulate MGM on making the decision to source the Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands director to begin with – there’s probably no better choice out there to handle a live-action Addams Family reboot. Secondly, let’s also begin to freak out even more with the rumours swirling that, should Burton sign on the dotted line, he may also potentially tap Supanova alumna and former Wednesday Addams star, Christina Ricci to tackle the role of Morticia.
But how likely is it Ricci will make it into the final cast? Well, we had Lurch dust off the old Supanova Scuttlebutt-o-meter©®™ (patent pending) and put it back into action to see if little Wednesday Addams will now be returning to play her own mother.
Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams
So, what’s the goss?
Within minutes of the news of the Burton Addams Family reboot hitting the web, fans worldwide began speculating who would be chosen to tackle the iconic roles in this latest incarnation of America’s spookiest family. Whispers amongst the fans immediately turned to Christina Ricci, who played Wednesday Addams in 1991’s The Addams Family and 1993’s Addams Family Values, as a clear favourite to return as the Addams’ family matriarch, Morticia.
Where did all this come from?
This isn’t the first time rumours have hinted at Ricci’s potential casting as Morticia Addams. Back in 2015, a photoshopped image of Christina dressed as Morticia hit the web and sent fans into an absolute frenzy. The photo, which still does the rounds on the web all these years later, was later proven to be a fake made from one of the original publicity shots of Angelica Houston’s turn in the role, but the viral reaction clearly indicated fans willingness to see Christina in the role.
Christina herself also helped to fan the flames of her potential return to the Addams Family franchise in 2018, when she spoke to Cinemablend and said point-blank: “I would totally get back in bed with the Addams Family anytime”.
Carolyn Jones as Morticia in ‘The Addams Family’
So what’s the verdict?
As completely amazing as the idea of having Christina Ricci return as Morticia Addams in Tim Burton’s series would be, there’s little actual evidence that this is the direction Burton would consider heading in at this point. Whilst the two have previously worked together on 1999’s Sleepy Hollow, it has not even been made official that Burton has signed on to the project yet, just that he’s currently being approached for it – so it’s probably a little early to start placing bets on the casting choices just yet.
That being said, it would be absolutely perfect if it were to happen, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed extra tight just in case.
So with all this in mind, what’s the likelihood we’ll see Christina Ricci back as Morticia? Well after the Supanova Scuttlebutt-o-meter©®™ (patent pending) glared into the abyss and frightened half the neighbourhood, it spat out a 32.35% likelihood.
As such its probably best to declare this rumour as: POSSIBLE, BUT STILL WAY TOO EARLY TO TELL.
EXTRA: PREVIOUS ‘FACT OR FICTION?’ UPDATE
If you’ve been following along with our previous Fact Or Fiction? articles, you may recall that back in January we had a look at rumours that Keanu Reeves was potentially returning for a Constantine sequel. Back then the Supanova Scuttlebutt-o-meter©®™ (patent pending) gave us a 52.54% likelihood rating, but new information has just sent that rating soaring right into the high 90s. Earlier this month actor Peter Stormare, who played Satan in the first Constantine film, dropped the news on Instagram that work on a sequel was now underway. Looks like we’ll be getting Constantine 2 after all.
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