Wednesday, a coming-of-age supernatural horror comedy television series, will premiere on its namesake day, November 23, 2022. The Netflix series is based on Charles Addams’ cartoon The Addams Family. While Jenna Ortega, best known for her roles in Jane the Virgin, Stuck in the Middle, You, and The Fallout, to mention a few, will play the eponymous heroine, Catherine Zeta-Jones will play her mother, Morticia Addams. Gomez Addams, Morticia’s husband, and Wednesday’s father, will be played by Luis Guzmán.
Lifestyle, career, and net worth of Luis Guzmán
Guzman was born on August 28, 1956, in Cayey, Puerto Rico, and was raised in Greenwich Village, New York City by his hospital worker mother, Rosa, and TV repairman stepfather, Benjamin Cardona. The social worker and American University graduate worked as an actor at night and ultimately got active in indie cinema and street theater. Guzman has had some notable performances over his four-decade career. The character actor has been in a number of high-profile films, including Oz, Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999), Punch-Drunk Love (2002), Out of Sight (1998), The Limey (1999), Narcos, and Code Black.
Wednesday marks Zeta-Jones and Guzman’s second collaboration after Traffic (2000). Guzman’s estimated net worth is about $13 million. He lives on a 337-acre estate in Sutton, Vermont, with his wife Angelita Galarza, and their five children.
Guzmán on his “Wednesday” casting
Guzman recently appeared on The Rich Eisen Show, where he claimed that he was unaware of the series’ existence and that its director, Tim Burton, had him in mind for the character of Gomez. He stated:
“I was in Cardiff, Wales, when I received a phone call stating, ‘Tim Burton wants to talk to you.’” ‘Is that Tim Burton?’ Yeah!’ So the following day, we went Zooping, and he said, ‘Hey, guy, we’re doing this thing about The Addams Family.’ ‘Oh, wow,’ I thought. Cool.’”
Guzman was taken aback and unprepared for what was to follow. He continued:
“‘I’d love for you to play Gomez,’ he added.” ‘For real?!’ I exclaim. Really? Okay, let’s get started!’”
Guzmán’s casting, on the other hand, garnered a lot of criticism. When the first photographs of Guzman’s Gomez Addams were unveiled in August, many compared him to the previous incarnation portrayed by the late Raul Juliá in The Addams Family (1991) and Addams Family Values (1993), as well as John Astin in the TV series. Guzman’s Gomez, they felt, lacked the composure and captivating physical look of Julia and Astin’s portrayals. Experts, on the other hand, believe Guzman is the ideal casting for Gomez. Because the character has a tubby physique, hideous look, snub nose, crooked teeth, and receding chin, Guzman fits the description.
Gomez, according to Charles Addams, is:
“Husband to Morticia (if they are married at all)… a crafty schemer, but also a jolly man in his own way… though sometimes misguided… sentimental and often puckish — optimistic, he is in full enthusiasm for his dreadful plots… is occasionally seen in a rather formal dressing gown… the only one who smokes.”
As a result, it seems that the criticism leveled against Guzman’s Gomez was unfounded, as many netizens agreed.
Wednesday: Cast, crew, and plot summary
Wednesday was created by Burton and Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The series’ summary is as follows:
“Weekend Addams, smart, sarcastic, and a touch dead inside, investigates a murder spree while finding new friends — and opponents — at Nevermore Academy.”
Aside from Ortega, Zeta-Jones, and Guzman, the series also stars Gwendoline Christie from Game of Thrones. Interestingly, Christina Ricci, the original Wednesday Addams, will also appear in the episode as Marilyn Thornhill.