Jenna Ortega has addressed the absence of a key cast member from the second season of “Wednesday.”
The show quickly became one of Netflix’s top hits, dominating the charts upon its release.
If you’re not familiar, “Wednesday” is a reimagining of the Addams Family saga, centering on Wednesday Addams.
Ortega stars in the lead role and will also serve as a producer for the upcoming season.
The second season is set to return next year, with Netflix announcing the production with a picture of the entire cast.
However, one actor was noticeably missing from this photo.
Percy Hynes White, who played Xavier Thorpe, a love interest of Wednesday’s in the first season, was conspicuously absent.
While two other minor characters also did not return, Hynes White’s absence was particularly surprising.
Ortega had not previously commented on the cast change but recently spoke to Vanity Fair about it.
She mentioned that losing Hynes White has been “a weird redirect,” but she believes the introduction of new characters will help mitigate the impact.
Ortega added that in season two, Wednesday’s “world does feel slightly askew anyway.”
Neither Netflix nor Hynes White have directly confirmed the reason for his departure, but speculation ties it to allegations against the actor.
Hynes White later addressed and denied these allegations, describing them as a “campaign of misinformation.”
He stated on Instagram: “The rumors are false.
“I can’t accept the portrayal of me as someone bigoted, or criminally negligent of people’s safety.
“These are the kind of baseless, harmful claims that can create mistrust toward victims.
“It’s very distressing to know that this misinformation has upset people.
“I’m really thankful for everyone who’s stood by me and helped share the facts.”
Following the announcement of the season two cast, which did not feature Hynes White, he posted on Instagram: “I had so much fun working on this show.
“I can’t wait to watch season 2.
“Much Love
The new season will introduce Billie Piper from “Doctor Who” and will see Catherine Zeta Jones and Luis Guzmán elevated to series regulars.