I love watching all the best horror movies during the month of October, but I also love to treat myself to one of the most fun Halloween movies of my childhood during this time of the year, too. My most recent pick: 1995’s Casper. I can remember having it on VHS growing up, but I realized I hadn’t revisited it in a long time when I noticed it among the titles available with my Netflix subscription. When I clicked play, I was not expecting such a twisted storyline about the beloved cartoon character. SPOILERS are ahead.

What Happens At The End Of 1995’s Casper

Casper revolves around the friendly ghost as he lives in a house that’s been deemed haunted by its new owner, Carrigan, who's determined to rid the property of any supernatural entities after inheriting it from her late father. In a last ditch attempt to save her property, and acquire the hidden treasure located in the home, she hires Dr. James Harvey (Bill Pullman), a ghost therapist, to help her out. The psychologist brings along his 13-year-old daughter Kat (Christina Ricci) to access the house, and it’s not long before they come across Casper and the Ghostly Trio.

Toward the end of the movie, Kat has befriended Casper and Dr. Harvey has become unexpectedly close with the Ghostly Trio. When Kat asks around about how Casper died, she jogs his memory. Casper died of pneumonia and began haunting his own father, who was declared legally insane for his constant talk of seeing his dead son.

Casper’s dad decided to build a machine called the Lazarus to bring Casper back to life, but he died before he could reunite with him. Casper unveils the machine to Kat, and they decide to use it to bring him to life – that is until a drunk Dr. Harvey falls to his death while getting drunk at a karaoke bar while hanging out with the Ghostly Trio.

Casper sacrifices his one chance to be resurrected to Dr. Harvey, and the Lazarus works. Dr. Harvey’s late wife and Kat’s mom then pays Casper a visit to commend him for his selfless act, and awards him like 45 minutes as a human to dance with Kat at her Halloween party, occurring on the premises of the house, before he becomes a ghost again.

I Can’t Stop Thinking About How Brutal The Whole Storyline Is

Oh, I have so many thoughts about how this movie plays out. For one, in the original cartoon, Casper isn’t supposed to be an actual child ghost, he’s the child of two ghost parents. The whole dark backstory the movie gives him (and fails to tell us about the Ghostly Trio) is absolutely tragic, especially because he’s basically been the slave of the trio for who knows how long. There’s also a not-so-subtle flirtation he has with Kat, because he’s stuck as the ghost of a pre-teen boy, who must be constantly thinking about all the naughty things middle school boys are known for.

But, what really irks me about the Casper ending, is how things shake out for the child ghost after all that. Kat’s mom is characterized as an angel, who decides to grant Casper the ability to be a human for a short time, but I think it’s such a mean consolation prize for using the machine his father literally made for him after Dr. Harvey was careless. At least make Casper human for a few days, or allow him to live out his human life? Instead, he simply gets a taste of having a pulse before having to share the space with the family that kept him from using a massive gift his late father slaved over to allow him to live a full life.

Look, there’s a lot that doesn’t make sense about Casper, but I actually can’t believe this movie from my childhood was so messed up!

Yellowjackets Season 3 was one of the most gripping seasons I’ve seen on the 2025 TV schedule this year, so I’ve been on the edge of my seat over what could be next for the Showtime drama. Thankfully, the series has just been renewed for a Season 4. Amidst the announcement on Tuesday, I’m loving all the reactions from cast members that can celebrate getting to come back to play their twisted and traumatized characters.

Season 3 gave us a lot of answers we’ve long been curious about, like the identity of Pit Girl and two antler queen reveals, but we still haven’t seen the young Yellowjackets leave the wilderness, and there are tons of new threads to pull after the finale. Thankfully, the latest season was a big hit, and another season has been ordered. Here’s how Christina Ricci reacted (via Instagram):

The finale of Yellowjackets came out a month ago, and we can imagine the cast was just as anxious to hear if they’d get to play their characters again after the events of Season 3. Per Deadline, this past season’s finale was the most streamed episode of the show in the series’ history when 3 million viewers tuned in across the globe in the span of a week. So of course Showtime is going to keep betting on the thrilling drama. Here’s what Sammi Hanratty shared:

The actress, who shares the role of Misty with Ricci said she’s “grateful” to do another season of the TV show and dropped a bunch of behind-the-scenes photos alongside her “most talented cast.” It really showcases how close the stars are despite the series itself giving us nightmares. Here’s another post from Courtney Eaton:

While the series follows a soccer team who crash land in the middle of nowhere and their lives 25 years after the life-changing incident, filming the show looks like all sorts of fun. I know I was especially disappointed with one of many deaths this past season when the present-day Van died after both Lottie and Nat, but I am curious about where the creators plan to take the show next. Sarah Desjardins, who plays Shauna’s daughter, Callie, reminded me why I’m curious about her future with this post of hers:

Learning that Callie was behind Lottie's death was huge! A lot of other things happened in Season 3, like the introduction of Hilary Swank to the series and Coach’s heartbreaking trial, but I’m especially living for Jasmin Savoy Brown’s sarcastic Instagram stories to celebrate the renewal. Here’s one:

The actress joked she’s ready for all the “fun” with a picture of two of her castmates really chilling out on set, between one reading a book and the other peacefully napping. Brown also shared this post of Eaton:

And regarding the actress, bring on more scenes of Taissa eating dirt, I guess? This show really freaks me out, but I’m also emotionally tied to the characters and am so excited to see their stories continue. Congrats to the cast!

The way Hollywood celebrities dress for annual carpets, premieres, and events of any type has continued to level up. Many celebs are on par or even outdo some of the greatest well-dressed movie characters out there, including Christina Ricci. Her 2011 Met Gala super cinched dress was a knock out, but Ricci’s recounting of the Zac Posen corseted garment should leave many breathless.

While the star has multiple 2025 TV schedule shows, she was a guest on the popular YouTube series Hot Ones Versus alongside her thriller Paramount+ subscription series co-star, Melanie Lynskey. The Casper alum relayed the high fashion and high stakes evening while eating hot wings. Via People, she revealed that the corset was so tight that medication and eventually a change, mid-event, were involved:

Fashion is a wild and fascinating world. That sucker is stunning, but seems like a true health hazard between needing painkillers and the actual emergency change. While I know full well that many stars wear complex and uncomfortable garments regularly, it’s just bonkers that standards can lead performers to an outfit that requires this much tending to. I could never, but I do love a killer look, and it's absolutely true she looked amazing.

Below you can find the 2011 look of the Zac Posen corseted get up:

As you can see for yourself, she was absolutely slaying the carpet in that Posen number, but I'm glad to know she didn't spend the whole night struggling to breathe. The vibe of the dress falls in line with some of her most iconic roles – most notably, Wednesday Addams and her two Kat characters (Casper and Sleepy Hollow). Just looking at it makes me hold my breath thinking about the cinch on her waist.

The Addams Family alum also noted that she’s bummed to no longer having a body type that can match that breathtaking dress after having kids:

Even though the mom of two's body changed, I’m sure she could wear something as gorgeous as that 2011 Met look, even if not the exact dress. If her future looks rival her Prime subscription series, Batman: Caped Crusader, Wednesday (available with a Netflix subscription) or the entirety of Yellowjackets, she’ll be just fine.

While we don’t know if she’ll make even a sliver of an appearance in Wednesday Season 2, Season 3 of the cannibalistic soccer series is just getting going. And even though Juliette Lewis' sad Yellowjackets departure stung, it’ll be exciting to see what the rest of this season holds for the rest of the cast. Hopefully, it’s not as painful as this skintight showstopping Ricci gown.

In any case-of-the-week procedural, you get a slew of guest stars popping in and out. However, in The Good Wife, the army of talent Robert and Michelle King’s show assembled to support the cast of regulars is next level. From actors we already knew and loved when the show was airing on CBS in the 2010s to performers who have since become A-list names, this list is really a who’s-who of Hollywood’s finest talents.

Pedro Pascal - Nathan Landry - 6 Episodes

These days, we know Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic in the Fantastic Four or Joel in The Last of Us. However, before all that – and even before he died on Game of Thrones – he played the prosecutor Nathan Landry in six episodes of The Good Wife across Seasons 1 (Episodes 8, 13, 14 and 15) and 2 (Episodes 1 and 12).

Cristin Milioti - Onya Eggertson - 1 Episode

A handful of years before she was revealed as the mother of the How I Met Your Mother cast and over a decade before she stunned us all with her portrayal of Sofia Falcone in The Penguin, Cristin Milioti played the paranoid Onya Eggertson in Season 2, Episode 1 of The Good Wife.

Brian Tyree Henry - Randall Simmons - 1 Episode

In Season 2, Episode 2, Brian Tyree Henry plays Randall Simmons, a man Will and Alicia defend in military court. Of course, after this brief role, the actor went on to have an illustrious career as he starred in the hit show Atlanta and films like Causeway (for which he earned a 2023 Oscar nomination).

Rachel Brosnahan - Caitlin Fenton - 1 Episode

Rachel Brosnahan is Lois Lane in James Gunn’s Superman, and before that, she was The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Before those career-defining fast-talking roles, she played Caitlin Fenton, a client Alicia worked with during Season 2, Episode 6.

Michael J. Fox - Louis Canning - 26 Episodes

I think there’s an argument to be made that The Good Wife should be considered one of Michael J. Fox’s best projects. Yes, there’s Family Ties, Back to the Future and Spin City. However, his cunning and sly lawyer Louis Canning is an incredible character who he plays to perfection in 26 episodes across Seasons 2 through 7.

Ana Gasteyer - Judge Patrice Lessner - 5 Episodes

Making sure the lawyers say “in my opinion” in their various statements is Judge Patrice Lessner’s signature move, and it’s hilarious. That funny element of this character is perfect, too, considering she’s played in Seasons 1, 2, 4 and 6 by Saturday Night Live alum and comedy genius Ana Gasteyer.

Mike Colter - Lemond Bishop - 21 Episodes

Mike Colter has become a Michelle and Robert King repertory player thanks to his leading role in the show Evil, and you likely also recognize him for playing the titular Luke Cage in the Marvel series. However, before that, he played the drug lord Lemond Bishop in 21 episodes of The Good Wife between Seasons 1 and 6.

Melissa Benoist - Molly - 1 Episode

I was introduced to Melissa Benoist when she appeared on Glee. Then, The CW’s Supergirl made her a household name. However, long before all that, she had a small guest starring role on The Good Wife as Molly, Cary Agos’ first cousin, in Season 2, Episode 9.

David Oyelowo - Judge Edward Weldon - 1 Episode

From Selma to Lawmen: Bass Reeves, David Oyelowo has become well known for playing very powerful people. That was true back in 2010, too, when he played Judge Edward Weldon in Season 2, Episode 11 of The Good Wife.

Jeremy Strong - Matt Becker - 5 Episodes

Long before playing the “eldest boy” in the cast of Succession and winning an Emmy for his portrayal of Kendall Roy in the HBO hit, Jeremy Strong played pollster Matt Becker in five episodes of The Good Wife. While we’ve come to know this actor for his big roles in film and television, his early career features this fun, smaller and memorable character who appeared in Seasons 2 (Episodes 13, 15, 16 and 17) and 4 (Episode 21) of the CBS hit.

Rita Wilson - Viola Walsh - 6 Episodes

There’s a rotating cast of entertaining lawyers who pop in from time to time to be a thorn in the side of Lockhart/Gardner. This includes Michael J. Fox and Martha Plimpton’s iconic defense attorneys. It also includes Rita Wilson’s lawyer, Viola Walsh, who was featured in six episodes of the show between Seasons 2 and 6.

America Ferrera - Natalie Flores - 4 Episodes

The year after Ugly Betty ended, America Ferrera joined the cast of The Good Wife for three episodes in Season 2 (Episodes 15, 18 and 20), then popped up again during Season 5, Episode 8. She played student Natalie Flores in the show. After that, she went on to lead the comedy Superstore and played a major role in the cast of 2023’s Barbie.

Taye Diggs - Dean Levine-Wilkins - 3 Episodes

I was introduced to Taye Diggs thanks to his role as the Bandleader in one of the best musicals, Chicago. He’s also very well known for films like House on Haunted Hill, Rent, and Set It Up. So, it was fun to come see him play on The Good Wife when he appeared in Season 6, Episodes 2, 3 and 5 as the lawyer Dean Levine-Wilkins.

Sarah Silverman - Stephanie Engler - 1 Episode

Sarah Silverman had been in the comedy game for a long time before playing Stephanie Engler in Season 2, Episode 22 of The Good Wife. And she brought that sense of humor to the show while also showing off her more dramatic side while playing this client of Lockhart/Gardner.

Michael Kelly - Mickey Gunn - 2 Episodes

Michael Kelly is one of those actors who seemingly has shown up in everything. He’s a well-known character actor who has been in projects like Jack Ryan, Lioness, The Penguin, House of Cards and so much more. And in Season 3, Episodes 2 and 8 of The Good Wife he played Mickey Gunn, a political strategist who spent a lot of time verbally sparring with Alan Cumming’s Eli Gold.

Sterling K. Brown - Andrew Boylan - 1 Episode

Sterling K. Brown is a staple on television, thanks to his starring roles in This Is Us and Hulu’s Paradise. However, as he was coming up as an actor, he guest-starred on a whole bunch of network procedurals, including The Good Wife, where he played complicated eyewitness Andrew Boylan in Season 3, Episode 4.

Meghann Fahy - Shelby Hale - 1 Episode

Meghann Fahy’s leading role in Freeform’s The Bold Type introduced me to her, then she broke big because she was part of The White Lotus’ Season 2 cast. In the lead-up to all that, she guest-starred in Season 3, Episode 6 of The Good Wife as Shelby Hale.

Matthew Perry - Mike Kresteva - 3 Episodes

Matthew Perry’s Mike Kresteva proved to be a snarky adversary of Alicia in his introductory episode (Season 3, Episode 19). And seeing him come back in Season 4, Episodes 1 and 18, was always fun! Overall, while the actor brought the sarcastic sense of humor we know and love him for thanks to Friends, this show also let him show off a more dramatic side.

Kristin Chenoweth - Peggy Byrne - 2 Episodes

The Good Wife loves its Broadway guest stars, and one of their biggest gets on this front was Kristin Chenoweth. The Tony winner and Wicked alum played Peggy Byrn in Season 4, Episodes 1 and 6 and it was always fun to see her interact with Alan Cumming’s Eli Gold.

Nathan Lane - Clarke Hayden - 15 Episodes

In the beginning (Season 4), Clarke Hayden is a trustee assigned to Lockheart/ Gardner, and he worked on their horrendous financial situation. Later, he worked with the firm as a lawyer. This character who appears in 15 episodes across Seasons 4 and 5 is played by the remarkable Nathan Lane, who you most definitely know from his legendary work in films like The Birdcage, The Producers and The Lion King.

Carrie Preston - Elsbeth Tascioni - 14 Episodes

Carrie Preston’s Elsbeth Tascioni was so iconic on The Good Wife and The Good Fight that she got her own show. After starring in 14 episodes of the flagship show across every season (except Season 2) and five episodes of the spinoff and winning an Emmy for her work, the Kings created Elsbeth, a hit CBS show based around Preston’s lawyer-turned-crime-solver.

Stockard Channing - Veronica Loy - 11 Episodes

Who do you hire to play Julianna Margulies’ on-screen mother? Stockard Channing, of course. In 11 episodes across Seasons 4, 5, 6, and 7, the Grease actress appeared as Veronica Loy, the mom of our leading lady, Alicia Florrick.

Will Patton - Mike Tascioni - 4 Episodes

Elsbeth talks a lot about her ex-husband and her son. While we didn’t meet her kid, Teddy, until Elsbeth, we did meet her former spouse, Mike Tascioni, in four episodes of The Good Wife during Season 7, Episodes 15, 16, 17 and 19. He was played by Will Patton, who you likely recognize from one of the best sports movies, Remember the Titans, and shows like Yellowstone.

Parker Posey - Vanessa Gold - 3 Episodes

Who can go toe-to-toe with Alan Cumming and play his ex? Parker Posey, of course. The indie film darling played Eli Gold’s ex-wife in Season 3, Episodes 6, 15 and 20, and she was the perfect person to play this vital character in the political consultant’s story.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph - Margie - 1 Episode

Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph appeared in one episode of The Good Wife, Season 4, Episode 21, to be exact. She played Margie on the show. These days, she’s best known for her turns in The Holdover, Dolemite is My Name and Only Murders in the Building, so it’s cool to think that this CBS procedural was one of her first-ever on-screen gigs.

Gillian Jacobs - Sonia - 1 Episode

In an almost blink and you’ll miss it role, Gillian Jacobs (of Community fame) appeared in the pilot of The Good Wife as Alicia and Cary’s assistant.

Christina Ricci - Therese Dodd - 1 Episode

Before The Good Wife, we knew Christina Ricci from The Addams Family and Casper. In more recent years, she and the Yellowjackets cast are all the rage. However, for one episode in 2012, Season 4, Episode 7, to be exact, she played comedienne Therese Dodd in the hit CBS drama.

Wallace Shawn - Charles Lester - 3 Episodes

We know and love Wallace Shawn for saying “inconceivable” in The Princess Bride, and we also adore him for his roles in The Incredibles, Toy Story and more. We also know and love him for playing the Lemond Bishop’s lawyer, Charles Lester, in both The Good Wife and The Good Fight. And for the sake of this story, he was specifically in three episodes of the flagship series, appearing in Season 4, Episode 16, Season 5, Episode 13 and Season 6, Episode 22.

Kyle MacLachlan - Josh Perotti - 4 Episodes

Kyle MacLachlan is a TV legend. Obviously, Twin Peaks is what he’s best known for, and more recently, he and the cast of Fallout have made quite the splash on streaming. Between all that, he appeared in four episodes of The Good Wife (Season 4, Episodes 14 and 15 and Season 6, Episodes 5 and 6). He played Josh Perotti on the show, a federal prosecutor.

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor - Linda Underwood - 1 Episode

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is best known for her work in movies like Origin, King Richard and Nickel Boys, and she’s reached great acclaim for them. In the earlier days of her career, though, she was featured in Season 1, Episode 5 of The Good Wife, where she played Linda Underwood.

Matthew Lillard - Rowby Canton - 2 Episodes

It’s honestly a joy to see Matthew Lillard in anything. Of course, we know him best as one of the original Ghostfaces in Scream and Shaggy from Scooby-Doo, and he’s made waves in recent years for Five Nights at Freddys. However, he can do more than genre work, as proven by his two episodes of The Good Wife (Season 5, Episode 11 and Season 7, Episode 12) where he played musician Rowby Canton.

Vanessa Williams - Courtney Paige - 4 Episodes

Vanessa Williams is well known and loved for her roles on long-lasting shows like Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives. However, she’s also a King repertory player. She appeared in four episodes of The Good Wife, Season 7, Episodes 7 through 10, as CEO Courtney Paige, and then she showed up as a totally different character years later in the spinoff series, Elsbeth.

This list is honestly barely scratching the surface of the iconic actors who have been recruited to guest star on The Good Wife. The list is honestly elite, and it’s always fun to go back and see so many performers during so many different stages of their careers.

The ‘90s was a very prominent decade for Christina Ricci and Lisa Kudrow. Ricci made a splash in the movie scene, and Kudrow starred in one of the best sitcoms of all time, Friends. After co-starring in 1998’s The Opposite of Sex, the former child star tells the story of awkwardly telling the sitcom actress she was a fan of her show.

The Opposite of Sex was a dark rom-com that premiered at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. Christina Ricci played a pregnant manipulative 16-year-old who seduced her half-brother’s boyfriend and made him believe he impregnated her. Lisa Kudrow played the friend of the half-brother who grows suspicious of the teenager’s actions. While Ricci spoke of career highlights during her recent ET video interview, I became obsessed with the story of when she tried to tell Kudrow what a Friends fan she was, which took an awkward turn:

Aww, I can understand how that’s one of those human moments you wish you could rewind and redo. It’s true that sometimes, our tone doesn’t always match how passionate we feel about something. Maybe Christina Ricci was in such shock working with a sitcom queen that it could have been nerves. But we all know that the Yellowjackets actress is a “huge” Friends fan like anyone else of the decade.

It’s easy to be a fan of one of the most rewatchable shows of NBC. Each character of Friends brings something original and exciting to the sitcom. You’ve got the independent woman evolution of Rachel, Joey’s goofiness, Monica’s obsessive nature, Chandler’s sarcasm, and Ross’s awkward charm. But, of course, we can’t leave out Phoebe, who brought memorable offbeat lines and her quirky music. If you can believe it, Phoebe and Chandler weren’t originally going to have big roles on the show. The series creators couldn’t ignore the natural charisma the two stars brought out in their memorable characters, and they were way too good for occasional appearances.

Even though it’s been more than twenty years since Friends ended, it doesn’t mean that fans have stopped calling Lisa Kudrow “Phoebe,” including Sandra Bullock once at a party. Considering what a feel-good show Friends is, the importance hit Kudrow in a post-9/11 fan moment when someone driving in the car next to her would mouth “thank you.” The Easy A actress realized there were mental health benefits to leaving the world’s problems behind for a bit and turning on your favorite comedy series. If you can touch the hearts of fans with your work, that’s true success you can forever hold onto.

Christina Ricci’s fan experience with Lisa Kudrow may have been an awkward one, but it’s a story I love to hear because it’s an experience that can surely happen to any fan. When you’re face-to-face with someone who appears on your TV screen every week, it must be easy to feel starstruck working with them and having issues expressing your admiration. Hopefully Kudrow knows now that The Addams Family actress is a genuine Friends fan. You can watch all ten seasons of the beloved sitcom with your Max subscription.

Considering how many child stars have walked away from Hollywood, it is always so inspiring to see an actor who started early and continues to act to this day. Of course, some of them would walk away from the spotlight or experience a bit of a career hiccup before making an impressive return, either with more acting roles or in a new medium altogether. See for yourself by taking a look at these former child actors who went on to impress us as adults.

Mayim Bialik

After hitting it big as the title character of the hit '90s sitcom Blossom, Mayim Bialik lived a normal life that included earning a neuroscience degree and starting a family. She made her major industry return by joining the Big Bang Theory cast as neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler, which led her to lead another sitcom called Call Me Kat and host Jeopardy! for a short time.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

After getting his start in movies like Angels in the Outfield and A River Runs Through It and playing an alien posing as a human teen on the great ‘90s TV show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Joseph Gordon-Levitt never really went away from Hollywood. However, he did experience a moment of relative obscurity before roles in the likes of (500) Days of Summer, a few great Christopher Nolan movies, and his many collaborations with Rian Johnson put him on the A-List.

Jurnee Smollett

Jurnee Smollett made a grand impression in her youth with a recurring stint on Full House and as the title role of the acclaimed Black horror movie, 1997's Eve’s Bayou. Her career would take an astonishing turn toward A-list success in 2020 after her Emmy-nominated turn in HBO’s Lovecraft Country, which was followed by her role as Black Canary in DC’s Birds of Prey, her great performance in Amazon Prime’s The Burial, and more.

Jason Bateman

Following his debut appearance on Little House on the Prairie, his roles on sitcoms like Valerie (later called The Hogan Family after some major casting shake-ups), and his lead part in Teen Wolf Too made Jason Bateman an '80s heartthrob. Years later, playing Michael Bluth in the Arrested Development cast made him a comedy icon before his Emmy-nominated turn as Marty Byrde in Netflix's Ozark cast further proved his remarkable versatility.

Keke Palmer

Keke Palmer – who proved she was an acting powerhouse at 9 years old with her debut role in Barbershop 2: Back in Business before scoring her first lead role in 2006's Akeelah and the Bee – never needed a comeback moment because her notoriety never really stopped. However, it is clear that the multi-talented Emmy winner was never more popular before her scene-stealing performance in Jordan Peele’s 2022 alien invasion movie, Nope.

Josh Brolin

After making his acting debut at 17 in 1985's The Goonies cast, Josh Brolin rarely had another role quite as successful until, at 39, he was cast in 2007's instant classic Western movie, No Country for Old Men, as Llewellyn Moss. The son of James Brolin went on to receive an Oscar nomination for 2008's Milk, was cast as the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first big bad, Thanos, and has given commanding performances in various other acclaimed films.

Drew Barrymore

Many forget that, years after 1982's E.T. the Extra-terrestrial made her a sensation at just 7 years old, Drew Barrymore had a few career shake-ups due to personal drama including addiction. Yet, her astonishing performance in the opening scene of 1996’s Scream brought her back to the A-List and earned her roles in blockbusters like Charlie's Angels and TV shows like Santa Clarita Diet before she found later success as a daytime talk show host.

Neil Patrick Harris

Playing the prodigious title role of Doogie Howser M.D. made Neil Patrick Harris a household name, at least for a while. His popularity would skyrocket, however, when he played Barney Stinson in the How I Met Your Mother cast, which opened up many avenues for the now multi-Emmy-winning performer, from working with David Fincher on Gone Girl to hosting award shows and taking the stage on Broadway.

Gaby Hoffman

Gaby Hoffman had an amazing run as a child actor in the late 1980s and early 1990s with roles in movies like Uncle Buck, Field of Dreams, Now and Then, and Sleepless in Seattle. After stepping away to focus on her education, she resurfaced as a sought-after talent with her Emmy-nominated starring role in the Amazon Prime original TV show, Transparent.

Ke Huy Quan

Following his iconic roles in classic '80s movies Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, as Short Round, and The Goonies, as Data, Ke Huy Quan’s role offers began to disappear. That would change decades later when he won an Academy Award for his uplifting performance in A24's acclaimed multiverse movie, 2022’s Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Anna Chlumsky

For years, Anna Chlumsky was best known for her heartbreaking performance as 11-year-old Vada in 1991's My Girl. Years later, she significantly increased her star power with her multi-Emmy-nominated role in the hit HBO series, Veep, as Amy Brookheimer.

Macaulay Culkin

One of the most essential examples of a “former child star” is Macaulay Culkin, who had Hollywood in the palm of his young hands after leading the original Home Alone cast as Kevin McCallister. He still acts from time to time, having shown up in the American Horror Story Season 10 cast or on HBO's The Righteous Gemstones, is in a power couple with Brenda Song, and finally received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023.

Christina Ricci

Christina Ricci would continue to find notable acting roles beyond her star-making turn as Wednesday Addams in 1991's The Addams Family and 1993's Addams Family Values. However, starring in Showtime’s Yellowjackets cast did wonders for her modern notoriety before she revisited her breakout role with a fun part in Netflix’s Wednesday cast, opposite Jenna Ortega.

Christian Bale

Christian Bale owes his fame to starring in Steven Spielberg's 1987 period drama Empire of the Sun and the cult-favorite 1992 musical Newsies but his menacing turn in 2000's American Psycho earned him wide respect as an adult. However, leading Christopher Nolan's live-action Batman movies as Bruce Wayne made him one of the top actors of his generation, leading to his Oscar win for 2011’s The Fighter.

Danica McKellar

Danica McKellar embodied the ultimate girl next door when she was cast in the original Wonder Years as Winnie Cooper from 1988 to 1993. Much later in her career, she would acquire a much different fanbase when she became one of the most prolific stars on the Hallmark Channel with roles in movies like Christmas She Wrote and Swing into Romance.

Cole Sprouse

Cole Sprouse had already acted alongside his sibling, his identical twin brother Dylan, numerous times (such as in Big Daddy) before Disney Channel’s The Suite Life franchise made them teen idols. However, you could argue that Cole was never more popular after he joined the Riverdale cast as Jughead Jones.

Hilary Duff

There were few teen Disney Channel stars who became quite as iconic and as quickly as Hilary Duff after she starred in the title role of Lizzie McGuire. She would find later success in the scene-stealing supporting role of Kelsey Peters on TV Land’s Younger and as the lead protagonist of Hulu's short-lived but well-liked How I Met Your Mother spin-off, How I Met Your Father.

Josh Peck

Josh Peck first rose to fame on Nickelodeon by scoring major roles in kid-friendly comedies like The Amanda Show and Drake & Josh. He would later prove his worth as a versatile actor with more mature roles, such as on Fox's Grandfathered or in Christopher Nolan’s Best Picture Oscar winner, Oppenheimer.

Vincent Kartheiser

Vincent Kartheiser first made a name for himself by appearing in ‘90s teen movies like Alaska and Masterminds. However, he would find later and greater success after starring in AMC's Mad Men cast as Pete Campbell.

Kurt Russell

Following his feature debut in 1963’s It Happened at the World’s Fair alongside Elvis Presley, Kurt Russell continued to have success as the star of light and funny Disney movies like The Strongest Man in the World. In 1981, he reinvented himself as an action movie icon after playing Snake Plissken in John Carpenter’s Escape from New York, which led to plenty more awesome movie roles, such as R.J. MacReady in The Thing and Coach Herb Brooks in Miracle.

Kieran Culkin

Kieran Culkin was previously best known as Macaulay Culkin’s younger brother, who also showed up in the Home Alone movies and played Matty Banks in the Father of the Bride movies. However, he would become one of the more prolific Culkin siblings following his Emmy-winning turn in the Succession cast as Roman Roy and other widely acclaimed performances.

Johnny Galecki

For years, Johnny Galecki was best known for playing the third Rusty Griswold in 1989's National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and David Healy on Roseanne. He would later reprise the latter role on The Conners years after experiencing a career resurgence by playing Leonard Hofstadter on CBS' The Big Bang Theory.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster

Thomas Brodie-Sangster made an impressive feature film debut as Liam Neeson’s onscreen stepson in the 2003 rom-com, Love Actually. The British actor would later surprise audiences with his role as Jojen Reed in the Game of Thrones cast, leading to parts in the Maze Runner movies and Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit.

Tyler James Williams

Tyler James Williams became a bonafide sitcom star by playing a young Chris Rock on Everybody Hates Chris, which led to more interesting roles, such as Lionel in the acclaimed 2014 indie comedy, Dear White People. However, his recurring role on the Walking Dead cast and multi-Emmy-nominated turn as Gregory Eddie on the Abbott Elementary cast earned him wide respect as an adult actor.

Alisan Porter

Alisan Porter only appeared in a handful of movies, including Ron Howard's Parenthood and John Hughes' Curly Sue in the title role, before she walked away from acting when she was still very young. She would later reinvent herself as a talented musician when she competed in and won the tenth season of NBC's hit singing competition show, The Voice.

Ashley Johnson

Ashley Johnson broke into the business when she joined the Growing Pains cast as the Severs' youngest child, Chrissy. She is best known these days as a prolific voice actor who has breathed life into iconic roles such as Gretchen on Recess and Ellie in the hit post-apocalyptic video game The Last of Us, which was adapted into an HBO series that she cameoed on.

Jennette McCurdy

Jennette McCurdy became one of the most promising young talents to break through on Nickelodeon, having been cast on iCarly as the charmingly bullish Sam Puckett. However, she became better known and even better respected years later for her acclaimed, revealing 2022 memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, which focuses on her life as a reluctant child actor.

Natasha Lyonne

Natasha Lyonne began her career early in life – notably appearing on Pee-wee's Playhouse – and seemingly hit her peak in her late teens and early 20s with the American Pie movies and But I'm a Cheerleader before substance abuse caused her career to slow down. Years later, Emmy-nominated turns on TV shows like Orange is the New Black, Russian Doll (which she co-created), and Poker Face and a few acclaimed movie roles reignited her wonderfully versatile career.

Mara Wilson

Following her star-making roles in Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, and Matilda, Mara Wilson walked away from the spotlight soon after starring in Thomas and the Magic Railroad. She would later take up minor, infrequent parts after becoming better known for writing about her experiences as a top child actor.

Haley Joel Osment

Haley Joel Osment would never go on to play a role quite as iconic as young medium Cole Sear in, arguably, the best M. Night Shyamalan movie, The Sixth Sense (which earned him an Oscar nomination) at 11 years old. However, his work as an adult – such as recurring roles on hit series like Silicon Valley and The Boys and memorable parts in movies like Kevin Smith’s Tusk – has been nothing short of exciting.

Taylor Momsen

Taylor Momsen made a charming debut as Cindy Lou Who in 2000's How the Grinch Stole Christmas and, in her teens, made an impression on the Gossip Girl cast as Jenny Humphrey. She would later reinvent herself as the frontwoman of a successful rock group called The Pretty Reckless.

Lukas Haas

Following an acclaimed run as one of the most revered child actors of the 1980s for his roles in Witness and Lady in White, Lukas Haas went on to take progressively smaller roles as he grew up. However, much of the projects he has taken in his adulthood – including movies like Inception and Babylon and TV shows like The Righteous Gemstones and War of the Worlds – have been met with great receptions.

The Yellowjackets Season 3 premiere was the 2025 TV schedule’s twisted Valentine’s Day gift to us, and I was not okay knowing that Juliette Lewis’ time as Nat is over. And when I talked to Christina Ricci and Sophie Thatcher about their final moments working with the actor on set, they shared their sad thoughts about the character's death.

Christina Ricci Talks Final Day With Juliette Lewis, And I'm In Mourning All Over Again

At the end of Season 2, the most shocking part about the finale was seeing Christina Ricci's Misty kill her "best friend" by accident while they were hunting each other like the old days. As Misty and the rest of the adult Yellowjackets deal with fallout of Nat's death, Ricci had this to say about Lewis' last day on set.

I'm not crying, you're crying! It really was such a tragic moment in the series, especially for Misty, who clearly loved Nat so much. Juliette Lewis was also just an absolute force as the character, and we're going to miss her.

Sophie Thatcher Reflects On Finally Sharing A Scene With Juliette Lewis

When I spoke to Sophie Thatcher, she similarly was super bummed out about no longer having a counterpart on the show. When I asked her about finally getting to share the screen with the actor for her death scene, which included a surreal moment of the two next to each other on a plane, Thatcher said this:

Sophie Thatcher sounds like she was just as moved as all of us getting to say goodbye to the character together. But thankfully, we'll still get to follow young Nat. And as revealed last season, Nat was actually crowned Antler Queen after the Queen card chose her. While the other Yellowjackets initially tried to hunt her down, she was ultimately named the leader once she survived and Javi died.

It's especially sad to see Nat go from a fan's perspective because Nat had wanted to kill herself, but through the last season seemed to decide otherwise. Plus, she had a lot of questions about the death of Travis that she never got answered. (And there's so many unsolved mysteries on our end, too!) As the timelines come closer together in this and future seasons, I do have to wonder if Lewis will make a cameo at all.

You can keep watching the Yellowjackets Season 3 unfold on Showtime and with a Paramount Plus subscription here on CinemaBlend. Check out more from the interviews on YouTube as well!

Those with a Netflix subscription flocked to Wednesday when it came out a few years ago, and quickly fell in love with the re-vamped gothic world. That was in great part thanks to Jenna Ortega's performance as the lead character and the gorgeous Tim Burton world it was set in. However, it's also thanks to the rest of the cast, including Christina Ricci, who returned to her Addams Family roots with this show. However, in the beginning, the Yellowjackets star wasn't supposed to be in the Netflix hit, and there's an incredible story behind how she wound up in it.

As Wednesday Season 2 updates -- like Lady Gaga joining the Burton series -- continue to trickle in, fans and I have been getting amped up. And while Ricci’s plans for Season 2 are unknown, she still chats about the show regularly which has me all excited. In fact, while the 1991 Wednesday Addams actress was on The Tonight Show, she shared the story behind how she got cast in Wednesday.

It turns out, her being in the show wasn't the plan from the beginning, and there's a pretty wild story behind how she ended up on the Nevermore campus:

It seems cosmic that Ricci was destined to play Marilyn Thornhill, with her originally up for the part. Between all the conflicting schedules and the Penelope star giving birth, it really is amazing that the role found its way back to her. I'm curious to know what script changes happened. However, I'm overall just glad that the OG Wednesday got to share the screen with Jenna Ortega's Wednesday.

Now, moving forward Ricci has some big projects on the 2025 TV schedule ahead of her. While it’s still unclear if she’ll have any part in Wednesday, the Now and Then alum has the highly anticipated third season of Yellowjackets premiering February 14th. Plus, she will return as Catwoman in the most recent Prime Video Batman series. Based on what happened in the Season 1 finale, it’ll be interesting to see what Season 2 of Batman: Caped Crusader brings too.

While she may be uber busy, this story illustrates that anything is possible. So, as we wait for more updates about Wednesday's next adventure, I'll be over here hoping that Ricci is part of it.

The current Addams Family show is one of many big series set to premiere on Netflix's 2025 schedule. Although there’s no official date yet, it’s sure to pack another curated and cutting punch delivered by the dark darling daughter of Morticia and Gomez, and hopefully, it will see the return of Ricci too. However, no matter what happens, I'm just happy that everything worked out in such a divine way that allowed her to be part of Season 1.

Even the greatest actors have ups and downs in their careers. For some, it's more dramatic than others. John Travolta was virtually forgotten about before Quentin Tarantino cast him in Pulp Fiction, for example. Then there was "The McConaissance," when Matthew McConaughey roared back to prominence. Those two are hardly alone in finding roles that brought them back. Here is our list of 32 roles that saved actors' careers. 

Pulp Fiction - John Travolta

This was a big one. In the late '70s, there wasn't a bigger star than John Travolta. On the strength of a hit TV show (Welcome Back, Kotter), and two huge hits at the box office with Saturday Night Fever and Grease, Travolta was on top of the world. Then, almost all of a sudden, poof, he was gone. In the 16 years between Grease in 1978 and 1994, he appeared in only 11 movies, and three of those were Look Who's Talking movies and most of them bombed. Then Tarantino came along and cast him as Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction and once again, Travolta was on top of the business and he's never looked back. 

Dallas Buyers Club - Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey exploded onto the scene in the early '90s in Dazed And Confused, where he delivered some of the most iconic quotes. In the mid-90s he started playing more dramatic roles in movies like A Time To Kill, Contact, and Amistad. By the early 2000s, he established himself as a popular lead in rom-coms. Then, after a few of his movies struggled to make an impact in the late 2000s, his star faded a little. That all changed in 2013 when he starred in, and won a Best Actor Oscar, for Dallas Buyers Club and The McConaissance was born. 

Stranger Things - Winona Ryder

With movies like Beetlejuice, Heathers,  The Age of Innocence, and Little Women, Winona Ryder was a superstar in the late '80s and early '90s. But in the early '00s, after some bad press for her shoplifting conviction, Ryder's star had fallen quite a bit and she even took a short break from acting. Though she never fell off the map completely, it wasn't until she starred in Stranger Things starting in 2016, that Ryder returned to the top. 

Judy - Renée Zellweger

Between Jerry McGuire in 1996 and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason in 2005, Renée Zellweger was one of the most popular and successful actors in Hollywood. With a slew of hits and awards,  Zellweger could do no wrong. Then, after a few less-than-successful movies, the industry showed how fickle it could be and she fell off the A-list. That all changed in 2019 with Judy, followed up with the TV series The Thing About Pam.

The Whale - Brendan Fraser

the 1990s were Brendan Fraser's decade. He had some massive hits, most notably The Mummy in 1999, but soon after, it's like everything dried up. He worked still, but barely and it left the world asking what had become of the heartthrob. He answered every one with his amazing performance in The Whale, winning the Best Actor Oscar and roaring back to the top. 

Birdman - Michael Keaton

In the 1980s, Michael Keaton delivered some of the funniest lines in some of the funniest movies. In the mid-90s and early 00s, his career slowed a bit. He was still working but wasn't the big star he'd been when he got the role in Tim Burton's Batman. That is, of course, until he starred as an actor much like himself in Birdman and brought the great actor back to the top of the A-list. 

House Of Cards - Robin Wright

When she burst onto the scene in The Princess Bride, the sky was the limit for Robin Wright. She reached new heights with her role as Jenny in Forrest Gump but found herself a tabloid regular with her marriage to Sean Penn. Ultimately, she found perhaps her greatest fame when she landed the role of Claire Underwood in Netflix's House Of Cards. 

Everything Everywhere All at Once - Ke Huy Quan

Has there ever been a feel-good story in Hollywood like Ke Huy Quan's return to fame after winning an Oscar for his role in Everything Everywhere All at Once? After decades of virtually not working in the industry, having found fame as a kid, Quan was once again the toast of the town. 

Halloween (2018) - Jamie Lee Curtis

She's been called the original slasher film "final girl" for her role in the original Halloween, and Jamie Lee Curtis rode that fame to the top of Hollywood. You might not remember, but in 2006 she actually announced her retirement from acting. Though she didn't give it up completely, she was very selective about roles, mostly playing supporting characters. That changed with 2018 Halloween when she roared back into the business head first. 

Sin City - Mickey Rourke

People forget just how huge Mickey Rourke was in the 80s. Men wanted to be him and women wanted to be with him, as they say. Then, he decided he'd put acting on the back burner and become a boxer. After a somewhat successful run, he returned to acting, and with Sin City and The Wrestler, Rouke was back on top in Hollywood

Scream - Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore became a huge star as a kid in the 1980s with movies like E.T. and Firestarter. In her teens, some personal problems derailed things a little, but when she starred in Scream, it brought her completely back and she's never looked back. 

Wild - Reese Witherspoon

When Reese Witherspoon won the Academy Award for her performance in 2005's Walk The Line, she was on top of the world. Just a few years later though, after a string of poorly performing romance movies Witherspoon dubbed her "love triangle period," her career hit a valley. Then came Wild which marked not only her resurgence as an actor but her transition to big-time producer as well. 

Iron Man - Robert Downey, Jr

There probably isn't a more famous comeback story than Robert Downey, Jr. After years of personal problems and addiction, his career looked like it was going to be completely wasted. Then Downey sobered up and landed the role of a lifetime as Tony Stark/Iron Man and the rest is history. 

Arrested Development - Jason Bateman

Jason Bateman has had quite a few ups and downs in his career. In the '80s, he was a teen star on the verge of big things, but then his career hit a serious lull. It really wasn't until the cult success of Arrested Development that Bateman once again commanded must-see TV. 

Ryan Reynolds - Deadpool

With big roles in 90s TV shows like Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Two Guys And A Girl, Ryan Reynolds was poised for huge success. At first, that's what he found, but it started to fizzle out with a string of forgettable movies in the late '00s and early teens, including the disaster that was The Green Lantern. Then came another superhero movie in 2015 called Deadpool and now he will be doing that until he's 90. 

Yellowjackets - Christina Ricci

By no fault of her own, Christina Ricci's career hit a string of bad luck with projects that she shined in, but for one reason or another didn't capture the attention of audiences. That changed, obviously, with Yellowjackets starting in 2021. 

The Godfather - Marlon Brando

People forget that when Francis Ford Coppola cast Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone, Brando was on the outs in Hollywood. It's well-known lore at this point that Coppola had to fight to get the legend in the movie, but we're all grateful he did. 

24 - Kiefer Sutherland

With roles in Stand By Me, The Lost Boys,  and the two Young Guns movies, the late '80s and early '90s were big for Kiefer Sutherland. The mid and late '90s saw a bit of a lull with some box office disappointments. In 2001, Sutherland took on the role of Jack Bauer in 24, which quickly became one of the most popular shows on TV and Sutherland rode it to a new level of fame. 

 Orange Is The New Black - Natasha Lyonne

Legal and personal problems almost completely derailed Natasha Lyonne's promising career in the '00s. Thankfully, she got the help she needed and cleaned up, she scored a role on the Netflix hit Orange Is The New Black and she's continued to crush in a number of roles since. 

This Is Us - Mandy Moore

Around the turn of the century, Mandy Moore was unstoppable, starring in hit movies and charting on the Top 40. It was in 2016, however, when she was cast as the matriarch in This Is Us that her fame shot to an entirely new level. 

The Town - Ben Affleck

After a big decade in the '90s, Ben Affleck's fame in the '00s was more about the tabloids than it was about his filmography. It took a few years, but eventually, he proved to everyone how great a filmmaker he was with The Town in 2010, and ever since, he's been crushing it. 

Monster-in-Law - Jane Fonda

There weren't many bigger stars in Hollywood than Jane Fonda in the '70s and '80s. Then, in 1991, she announced she was retiring from acting, coinciding with her marriage to Ted Turner. She returned, to everyone's delight, in 2005's Monster-In-Law alongside Jennifer Lopez and has scoring hits ever since. 

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle - Neil Patrick Harris

Like his character on Doogie Howser, MD, Neil Patrick Harris was a prodigy. However after the hit show ended, he struggled to move into more adult roles. Surprisingly, it was playing a fictionalized version of himself in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle that landed him back on audiences' radar screens, and then he landed his most famous gig on How I Met Your Mother

Bohemian Rhapsody - Mike Myers

Mike Myers was everywhere in the 1990s. From SNL to Wayne's World (one of the best movies based on an SNL character) to Shrek to Austin Powers, he was on top of the world. In 2010, after a string of box office misses, he retreated from the scene, only to emerge with a glorious role in 2018's Bohemian Rhapsody. 

John Wick - Keanu Reeves

After proving to be box office gold for a couple of decades, Keanu Reeves had a string of misses in the late '00s, but when he teamed up with director Chad Stahelski for John Wick in 2014, he helped launch a whole new franchise that continues to pump out hits. 

Unfaithful - Diane Lane

Diane Lane has always been selective about her roles, going back to her early days in Hollywood in the '80s. This has led to multiple career "revivals" but the most notable has to be her turn in the hit Unfaithful in 2002 which earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Oscars in 2003. 

Airplane! - Leslie Nielsen

For a generation of audiences, Leslie Nielson will forever be known for his roles in some of the best parody movies like Airplane! and The Naked Gun. But before Nielson was delivering hilarious lines in those movies, he was known for his dramatic acting., though his career had slowed before he reinvented himself in the first Airplane!  

Striptease - Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds was one of Hollywood's biggest stars in the '70s, but a few poorly received movies in the '80s knocked him off that lofty perch. While many might point to his role in Boogie Nights in 1997 as reviving his career, it was really his hilarious performance in Striptease from a year earlier that put him back on the map.

No Country For Old Men - Josh Brolin

After finding success as a young star in the 1980s in movies like The Goonies, Josh Brolin hit a career drought that lasted more than a decade and left him wondering if he'd ever regain his earlier success. He did so and more after his amazing turn in No Country For Old Men in 2007 and has been one of Hollywood's best ever since. 

Trading Places - Don Ameche

With an amazing career that had started in the 1930s, Don Ameche's bookings dried up in the 1970s. Luckily for all of his, he landed a role as one of the Duke Brothers in Trading Places and he once again was a huge star, this time with a whole new, younger, generation of fans. 

Sea of Love - Al Pacino

It is easy to forget that even the greatest sometimes find themselves in slumps. Such was the case with Al Pacino in the mid 1980s. After all the incredible success of the '70s, he learned how fickle Hollywood can be and it wasn't until 1989's Sea Of Love that Pacino regained his rightful spot among the elite. 

Rocky Balboa - Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone is responsible for some of the biggest franchises in Hollywood history, but even the great ones stumble. Stallone had a pretty rough run of bad movies in the late '90s and early '00s, but when he returned to his roots in 2006's Rocky Balboa, he once again found his footing and not only starring in Rambo, reviving his other monster franchise, but he launched a new one with The Expendables.

Abbott Elementary Season 3 is finally almost here and, with school back in session soon, fans might be in for a ride. The ABC sitcom scored six nominations at the 75th Emmy Awards, with creator and lead Quinta Brunson taking home the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Many actors have expressed interest in appearing on the series, including Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham and Yellowjackets star Christina Ricci. Now, Brunson is now sharing her thoughts on all of the cool requests.

The previous season featured notable guest stars like, Leslie Odom Jr. and  Taraji P. Henson, who earned an Emmy nomination for her performance. Also appearing on the show was Emmy winner Ayo Edebiri, who has a lot of notable projects. As it stands, the show has added multiple cast members to its third season. Even though the cast seems stacked, there's always the possibility more will join in on the fun. When Quinta Brunson spoke to the wide array of people who now want to appear on the mockumentary series, she seemed flattered and weighed in on why she thinks so many of them want to join up. As she told ET:

Considering Abbott Elementary is one of the funniest shows you can stream on Hulu, it’s not so surprising that so many actors have wanted to be on the series, even if for just a short stint. The series definitely has the ability to bring on many different characters, whether it be through family members, parents of students, staff members and more. The series' lead actress and EP also made a good point in that the show gives some stars an opportunity to appear in a project that's accessible for their kids. Shows like Ted Lasso and Yellowjackets are great, but they're not exactly suitable for the little ones, after all.

Since the series will only be getting 14 episodes this season due to the dual Hollywood strikes, it might be hard to wrangle in some big guest stars, whether it be because of scheduling conflicts or storyline flow. However, that doesn’t mean it couldn't happen. I'm intrigued to see who will be guest starring on this season, and hopefully, actors like Hannah Waddingham and Christina Ricci will get their wishes.

Regardless of whether they're cast, there's still much to look forward to on the upcoming third season of Abbott Elementary. For instance, following the events of the Season 2 finale that fans went wild over, they'll be able to look forward to see more of Janine and Gregory’s blossoming relationship. That's something you'll definitely want to keep an eye on in addition to any potential high-profile guest stars.

The hour-long Season 3 premiere of Abbott Elementary airs on Wednesday, February 7 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC as part of the 2024 TV schedule and streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription.

Abbott Elementary is quite the commodity these days, what with the six nominations the ABC sitcom recently scored at the 75th annual Emmy Awards, earning an "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series" trophy for its star and creator Quinta Brunson. And it's looking like all of that much-deserved acclaim hasn't just revived the idea of network sitcoms for viewers, but also for Brunson's fellow actors, many of whom have made their interest in guest-starring on the hit comedy publicly known. 

Abbott Elementary Season 3 is in the works, and it's ready to premiere on the 2024 TV schedule on ABC, Wednesday, February 7 (you can also stream with a Hulu subscription). However, that doesn't mean A-list Abbott fans like Hannah Waddingham and Christina Ricci as well as Abbott cast members like Lisa Ann Walter aren't campaigning for more famous faces to show up at school. 

Hannah Waddingham Wants To Guest Star On Abbott 

The Ted Lasso cast's leading lady Hannah Waddingham has hilariously spent much of her recent awards season pitching a potential "unrequited love" storyline between her and Quinta Brunson's character Janine Teagues. (In fairness, Hannah, Janine already has more than enough romance on her plate with Gregory, played by Tyler James Williams.)

Waddingham discussed her Abbott Elementary thirst with ET while at this year's Emmys Award, confirming that she had been publicly begging Brunson to put her in an episode. The British actress even joked that she didn't need a speaking part in the comedy and that she could simply "stand behind a curtain while she's doing something."

Brunson was previously informed by ET about Waddingham's wishes, but she joked that Hannah's statuesque, nearly-six-foot height could pose a problem onscreen opposite the four-foot-eleven Quinta Brunson.

Funnily enough, height also played a part in a recent collab pitch put forward by noted short king Daniel Radcliffe: he wants to star opposite Quinta Brunson in a romantic comedy because they'd be a "perfect height match."

Christina Ricci Wants To Play A Substitute Teacher

Yellowjackets cast member and '90s icon Christina Ricci is also an outspoken fan of Abbott Elementary. Recently, she revealed to Entertainment Weekly how she's been "bothering Quinta" to hire her to play a substitute on the sitcom:

Ricci has experience portraying a teacher on TV: she recently portrayed Nevermore Academy's Marilyn Thornhill in the Netflix series Wednesday. However, her character— spoiler alert! — ended up being the season's villain in that big twist ending. So, let's hope her educating skills are slightly less evil for the Abbott Elementary students. 

Ramy Youssef Is Ready To Play A Part In Abbott Elementary

Some actors have campaigned themselves for a potential Abbott Elementary guest spot, like Poor Things star Ramy Youssef, who told Entertainment Tonight while alongside Brunson on the 2024 Golden Globes red carpet that he was actually supposed to feature in the current season. However, he had to pull out due to scheduling conflicts. Ramy is still "begging" Quinta to get him back into the Abbott fold for future episodes, though:

And while many stars are campaigning for themselves when it comes to getting on Abbott Elementary, the regular cast of the show also has some A-list ideas in mind. 

Lisa Ann Walter Wants Lindsay Lohan On The Show

Lindsay Lohan has her own casting champion already on the Abbott Elementary staff: her The Parent Trap co-star Lisa Ann Walter. The 60-year-old actress, who plays teacher Melissa Schemmenti on the school sitcom, spoke with ET's Deidre Behar at this year's Critics Choice Awards about the role she's envisioning for Lohan: 

We'll have to wait to see if any of these celebrity cameos make it into future seasons of Abbott Elementary. For the upcoming third season, however, fans can expect to see new cast additions like The Other Two's Josh Segarra, Hacks alum Kimia Behpoornia and Never Have I Ever actor Benjamin Norris. 

So, even if these famous folks don't appear on the show, there's still so much goodness to look forward to when Abbott premieres on February 7.

Fame is a tricky thing, and sometimes the biggest stars in the world can lose it all. Personal problems, changing times, and other factors can lead to a once-promising career disappearing almost over night. These stars, however, reversed their trajectories and came out on top after enduring rough times, in this list of actors who made remarkable career comebacks. 

Robert Downey, Jr.

Robert Downey, Jr was one of the most promising young actors in Hollywood in the 1980s, starring in films like Less Than Zero, Chaplin, and Natural Born Killers. In the mid-90s his life went infamously went off the rails with substance abuse problems. When it looked like he'd thrown it all away, he cleaned up and his fame exploded as he became one of the highest-paid actors in the MCU.

Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda has had a few ups and downs in her career. After breaking out as a star in the '60s, she was later shunned by many for her notorious trip to North Vietnam during the war. She rebounded and starred in hits like 9 to 5 and On Golden Pond. In 1991, Fonda married Ted Turner and completely stepped back from acting. She didn't appear in anything at all until after their divorce in 2001, but roared back to prominence in the 21st Century. 

Rob Lowe

As a member of the "Brat Pack" in the 1980s, Rob Lowe was on top of the world. That all came crashing down when a videotape of Lowe in a compromising situation was leaked. His hard partying had caught up to him, and though he got sober in 1992, he would spend much of the decade playing smaller roles or in direct-to-video movies. In 1999 he landed the role of Sam Seaborn in The West Wing and was once again on top, where he's stayed ever since. 

John Travolta

In the late '70s, there was no bigger star than John Travolta. From Welcome Back, Kotter to Grease and Saturday Night Fever, Travolta was in some of the biggest pop culture touchstones of all time. Then the '80s came and his career hit a serious lull. While he was in the hit Look Who's Talking and its sequels, it was 1994's Pulp Fiction that vaulted Travolta back to the top. 

Natasha Lyonne

In the late '90s, Natasha Lyonne was one of a group of budding stars in American Pie and other movies like Slums Of Beverly Hills before health and addiction problems derailed her career. Thankfully for all of us she came out of those those stronger and has since starred in fantastic shows like Orange is the New Black and Russian Doll. 

Brendan Fraser

Brendan Fraser winning the Oscar for 2022 The Whale capped off one of the greatest comeback stories in Hollywood history. His work had all but completely dried up in the late '00s and 2010s, but his career has had the most incredible resurgence in the 2020s. 

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder defined "movie star" for late Gen Xers in the '90s, but after her infamous arrest for shoplifting in 2001, her career nosedived and she didn't appear in a movie for about three years after. For the next decade or so, she worked steadily but didn't regain her star power from early in her career. That changed when she starred in Stranger Things, starting in 2016, and she once again became a huge star. 

Dave Chappelle

In 2003 Dave Chappelle debuted Chappelle's Show on Comedy Central and it became a massive hit. Despite the network throwing tens of millions of dollars at the comedian to keep the show going, he turned it down and walked away. Chappelle stayed away for most of the next decade before reviving his standup career, and while Chappelle continues to garner controversy, it's safe to say he's as big as ever. 

Betty White

When Betty White died in 2021 she was mourned by millions. The beloved actress had been a television star since the 1940s, but not all of those years were in the spotlight. After early success in the '50s in Life with Elizabeth and other sitcoms, White's career hit a lull for more than a decade. She returned to the big time with her role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show in the '70s, The Golden Girls in the '80s, and then later with Hot in Cleveland in the 2010s.

Ke Huy Quan

There is no more heartwarming story than that of Ke Huy Quan's resurgence. the actor, who first found fame as a child in The Goonies and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, completely disappeared from Hollywood. For twenty years, he appeared in not one TV show or movie, before returning in 2021 with a role in Finding ʻOhana, and then winning an Oscar for his performance in 2022's Everything Everywhere All At Once. 

Michael Keaton

Michael Keaton was a controversial choice when he was cast as Batman in Tim Burton's Batman in 1989, but it shows just how famous he was at that time. After Batman Returns, Keaton's star faded and he starred in a run of films to mixed reviews. In 2014 Keaton starred in the very meta Birdman, as a former superhero star looking to regain his fame. It worked, at least for Keaton. 

Katharine Hepburn

Anyone with a career as long as Katharine Hepburn's is bound to have some slow periods. The most amazing fact of the legendary actress' career was the 34-year span between Best Actress Oscars. She won in 1934 for Morning Glory and then again in 1968 and 1969 for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and The Lion in Winter, respectively. She would win her fourth 13 years later in 1982 for On Golden Pond. 

Mickey Rourke

In the 1980s Mickey Rourke starred in a string of hits. Eventually, though, his reputation as being difficult to work with overshadowed his performances and he was left in the Hollywood wilderness until triumphantly returning to his past glory in 2008 with The Wrestler.

Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier was one of the biggest stars of the '50s, '60s, and '70s. Then came the '80s, when he stepped away from acting and concentrated on directing, to mixed reviews. In 1988 he turned back to acting and had a wonderful late career resurgence with films like Shoot To Kill and Sneakers. 

Jason Bateman

In the 1980s it looked like Jason Bateman was a surefire bet to be a huge star. Then the '90s came and his career pretty much dried up. He had some guest spots on TV shows, but little else. He was all but forgotten. In 2003, Fox debut a show you may have heard of, Arrested Development, with Bateman as the star, and he's been huge ever since. 

Keanu Reeves

It's hard to remember a time when Keanu Reeves wasn't one of the biggest stars in the world, but after his success in the '90s and early '00s with The Matrix and Speed and more, he starred in a slew of commercial and critical failures. Thankfully for Reeves fans everywhere, John Wick came along and Reeves was back on top of the mountain, where he still is. 

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore almost became a Hollywood child star casualty after her string of hits as a kid in the 1980s. She had a rough childhood that led to substance abuse problems as a teenager. Against the odds, she got through it all and became an even bigger star on the other end. 

Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris first got famous as a child prodigy playing a prodigy on Doogie Howser, MD. After the sitcom ended in 1993, he struggled to regain that popularity. That is, until he played a fictionalized version of himself in Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle in 2004. Soon after he landed the role he's best known for, Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother. 

Matthew McConaughey

Most of Matthew McConaughey's early career was made up of starring roles in rom-coms. In 2009 the Lincoln Lawyer star took a two-year acting hiatus to re-evaluate his career. He emerged in 2011 by taking on more serious roles and leaving his rom-com leading man reputation behind. Since the so-called "McConaissance," McConaughey's become on of the most acclaimed actors of the 21st century. 

Nicolas Cage

By 2009 Cage was one of the biggest action stars in Hollywood, and one of the highest-paid actors in the business, but it seems he couldn't curb his spending and ended up in debt to the IRS and other creditors. As a result, Cage seemingly took every job offered to him, and he put out an immense catalog of straight-to-video movies that few people have ever watched. Finally, in 2022, Cage revealed he was finally debt-free and started being more selective with his roles. this led to acclaimed roles in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and 2023's Dream Scenario.

Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore's career started like a comet as a singer in the late '90s which she parlayed into an acting career. That career slowed way down in the early 2010s, only to be revived in a massive way with her starring role on the NBC hit This Is Us. 

Christian Slater

With starring roles in Heathers, Pump Up The Volume, and Gleaming The Cube, Christian Slater became a Gen X icon. He scored a number of high-profile roles in big-budget movies in the '90s, before work started drying up in the early 2000s. He returned to Hollywood prominence with his award-winning role in Mr. Robot and has maintained it ever since. 

Luke Perry

Luke Perry was one of the biggest television stars of the 1990s as part of the cast of Beverly Hills, 90210. After the show ended though, his star faded some. That is, until he was cast in the CW's Riverdale and he was discovered by a whole new generation of fans. Tragically, Perry died in 2019 at age 52. 

Christina Ricci

Childhood success for Christina Ricci didn't immediately translate to success as an adult. She's always worked steadily, but her fame never quite reached the heights of her early career in The Addams Family. That changed in 2021 with Showtime's Yellowjackets. 

Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh first found international fame with her roles in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies and Crouch Tiger, Hidden Dragon. She maintained a level of success, but she exploded to new heights with her Oscar-winning turn in 2022's Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. 

Neve Campbell

Neve Campbell was huge in the '90s with her starring role in the show Party Of Five and movies like The Craft and Wild Things. In the early 2000s, she starred in the Scream franchise, but hit a lull after that. Recently, she's been back on top with roles in The Lincoln Lawyer and Twisted Metal. 

Channing Tatum

Fans might not think that Channing Tatum has never had a career lull, but he has actually had a couple. He's always had to fight the idea that he's all looks and little substance (which is far from accurate), and that has affected his career at different points. He's always rebounded with strong performances like the one in Foxcatcher, however. 

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence's career hasn't really had a financial downturn, her lull was completely her choice. After a couple of poorly reviewed films and becoming the most famous victim of the iPhone hacking scandal, Lawrence stepped away from acting for two years in 2019. She triumphantly returned in the great movie Don't Look Up in 2021. 

Patrick Dempsey

Patrick Dempsey was first famous for starring in teen comedies like Loverboy and Can't Buy Me Love. He bounced around for a few years after that, working steadily but hardly a star. That changed in a big way when he landed the role of Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd in 2005 on Grey's Anatomy. 

Marlon Brando

The 1960s weren't kind to Marlon Brando. After establishing himself as a bonafide star and one of the finest actors of the 20th century in the '50s, his mercurial nature earned him a reputation as difficult to work with. A string of box office failures didn't help. Famously, he pushed hard to get the role of Vito Corleone in The Godfather, and wow, was that the right move! He won an Academy Award and reminded everyone how great an actor he was. 

David Carradine

Leave it to Quentin Tarantino to help revive a star's career like he did with John Travolta. David Carradine was huge in the 1970s as the star of Kung Fu, and while he always found work, it took until Kill Bill in 2003 that he found that same level of fame again. 

Kiefer Sutherland

After becoming one of the biggest teen idols of the '80s, Kiefer Sutherland spent most of the '90s in smaller, supporting roles. In 2001, however, he landed the role of Jack Bauer in 24 and it became the part he's most known for, becoming a television icon over the run of the show. 

Fame, as they say, is fleeting, and these actors prove there can always be a second act in Hollywood. 

The phrase “former child star” is most often associated with someone who was famous when they were much younger, but is not quite as well-known — or, perhaps, does not even act anymore — as a grown-up. Yet, for every starlet who has risen and fallen, there are just as many who have beaten the odds and have gone onto bigger and better things as adults, like these beloved celebrities.

Macaulay Culkin

The first person you might think of when you think of “former child stars” could be Macaulay Culkin, who was on top of the world when he led the original Home Alone cast as Kevin McCallister. While his notoriety would slow in subsequent years, it is always a treat to see him show up in ensembles like the American Horror Story Season 10 cast or Kid Cudi’s Entergalactic cast.

Lukas Haas

Lukas Haas was one of the most acclaimed young actors of his time with leading roles in 1985’s Witness, opposite Harrison Ford, and the underrated ghost story, Lady in White, from 1988. He has since made a living taking smaller roles in otherwise big movies like Inception and Babylon, plus he's shown up on TV shows like The Righteous Gemstones and War of the Worlds.

Jurnee Smollett

With an Emmy nomination for HBO’s Lovecraft Country, a scene-stealing role in DC’s Birds of Prey, and a stellar turn in Amazon Prime’s The Burial, Jurnee Smollett has established herself as one of the strongest talents of her time. However, that was already clear with her recurring role in Full House and her astonishing performance in 1997’s acclaimed Black horror movie, Eve’s Bayou, when she was still a child.

Jason Bateman

From his debut role on Little House on the Prairie to his years on the sitcom Valerie (which would become The Hogan Family), Jason Bateman showed great versatility as a performer in his younger years. He has upheld that reputation ever since, as seen by his Emmy-nominated work leading the Arrested Development cast and, later, the Ozark cast. His ability to shift from starring in funny movies like Horrible Bosses to dramas like Air is remarkable.

Dakota Fanning

Racking up more than 20 credits before she turned 10, Dakota Fanning was everywhere in the early 2000s — catching the attention of filmmakers like Steven Spielberg for War of the Worlds and holding her own against actors like Robert DeNiro in Hide and Seek. Save her age, nothing much has changed for the actor, who appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood cast and reunited with her Man on Fire co-star, Denzel Washington, in 2023’s The Equalizer 3.

Ryan Gosling

A 13-year-old Ryan Gosling entered show business as a Mouseketeer, paving the way for him to star in back-to-back scary anthology TV shows for kids (Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps), lead Young Hercules, and more. Leading 2004’s The Notebook cast paved the way for him to be an action hero in Drive and Blade Runner 2049. On top of all that, he also earned Oscar nominations for Half Nelson and La La Land, and made us laugh as part of the The Nice Guys ensemble and the Barbie cast as Ken.

Brie Larson

After some faux ads on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show marked her debut at 9, Brie Larson went on to star in a family sitcom with the late Bob Saget (Raising Dad), was in a YA novel adaptation (Hoot), and she even had a singing career in her teens. Now, she is a comic book movie star (for appearing in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and playing the MCU’s Captain Marvel), and she has an Oscar for Room from 2015.

Kenan Thompson

On All That — Nickelodeon’s answer to Saturday Night Live — one of the young cast’s most prominent breakouts was Kenan Thompson, who went on to co-lead his own kid-friendly sitcom with Kel Mitchell, aptly named Kenan & Kel. The Emmy winner went on to break the record for longest-running SNL actor and lead his own adult sitcom, Kenan.

David Krumholtz

After making his debut playing a child actor in 1993’s Life with Mikey, David Krumholtz became a prominent child actor with roles in Addams Family Values as Wednesday’s love interest and Tim Allen’s head elf, Bernard, in The Santa Clause. The crime procedural, Numb3rs, earned him greater recognition, leading to a career that includes lending his voice to Sausage Party, appearing in the Oppenheimer cast, and reprising Bernard on Disney+’s series, The Santa Clauses.

Neil Patrick Harris

Playing a kid genius on Doogie Howser M.D. made Neil Patrick Harris a household name, which he acknowledged when he later played himself in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Of course, the five-time Emmy winner is better known today as Barney Stinson from the How I Met Your Mother cast, Count Olaf on Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, and so much more.

Josh Brolin

At 17, first-time actor Josh Brolin immediately made his mark on pop culture as part of the Goonies cast in the role of Brand Walsh. However, he really got heads turning at 39 when he starred in one of the best movies of the 2000s, No Country for Old Men. The son of Hollywood veteran James Brolin has an Oscar nomination for Milk and multiple comic book movie roles under his belt (Jonah Hex, MCU’s Thanos, and Cable in Deadpool 2), among other great achievements. 

Haley Joel Osment

After debuting in Forrest Gump and starring on The Jeff Foxworthy Show, Haley Joel Osment’s Oscar-nominated performance in, arguably, the best M. Night Shyamalan movie, 1999’s The Sixth Sense, made him a sensation. He went on to earn leading parts in Pay It Forward and Steven Spielberg’s A.I.: Artificial Intelligence. More recently, Osment has been known to pop up in the most unexpected places — Kevin Smith’s Tusk, a guest role on The Boys, Netflix's animated fantasy series Dogs in Space, to name a few — but always with grand results.

Ethan Hawke

After debuting in Joe Dante’s Explorers at 15, Ethan Hawke only grew in prominence in his later teens and throughout his 20s by starring in Dead Poets Society, Reality Bites, etc. He went on to earn Academy Award nominations for Training Day and Boyhood. He completed Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy with 2013’s Before Midnight, became a Scream King with great horror movies like Sinister, and he's done a fair amount of work behind the scenes, too.

Abigail Breslin

Just four years after M. Night Shyamalan gave 6-year-old Abigail Breslin her big break with Signs, her role in the Little Miss Sunshine cast made her one of the youngest Oscar nominees of all time. As she matured, so would her roles — such as a teenage murder suspect in Stillwater or a vigilante in the Accused cast for Fox.

Mayim Bialik

Mayim Bialik stole the show from the Big Bang Theory cast as Amy Farrah Fowler and later led Fox’s Call Me Kat in the title role. However, the Jeopardy! host’s status as sitcom royalty dates back to the ‘90s as the star of Blossom.

Brenda Song

Perhaps Brenda Song’s most iconic character is London Tipton from the Suite Life franchise — which is just one of the roles that made her a prominent Disney Channel star. Beyond the children’s cable giant, she was in one of the best David Fincher movies, The Social Network, led Netflix’s Secret Obsession, and had a main role in Hulu’s Dollface.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Despite being removed for disruptive behavior when making his show business debut on Romper Room at 3 years old (as he revealed to David Letterman), Leonardo DiCaprio went on to lead a winning child actor’s career that included a season on Growing Pains and an Academy Award nomination for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? Things would only get better as he grew up, earning even more Oscar nominations — and one win for The Revenant — and becoming as important to Martin Scorsese’s filmography as his This Boy’s Life co-star, Robert DeNiro, whom he reunited with in 2023’s Killers of the Flower Moon.

Tyler James Williams

Tyler James Williams started out appearing on Sesame Street before landing the title role of Chris Rock’s autobiographical sitcom, Everybody Hates Chris. Following an acclaimed indie comedy (Dear White People) and a recurring role on the Walking Dead cast, the actor became sitcom royalty again when he joined the Abbott Elementary cast, which earned him multiple Emmy nods.

Kurt Russell

Former Disney star Kurt Russell made his feature debut in 1963’s It Happened at the World’s Fair alongside Elvis Presley, and he went on to play him in a made-for-TV biopic and Forrest Gump. Several great movie roles later, Russell is one of the top action heroes of all time, and now he's working with his family by joining the Monarch: Legacy of Monsters cast alongside his son, Wyatt, who is playing his younger self.

Jodie Foster

After getting her start on TV at a very young age (the first gig being The Doris Day Show), Jodie Foster got a head start on the more mature roles she would become known for when she appeared in Taxi Driver at 14. The two-time Academy Award winner (for The Accused and Best Picture Oscar winner The Silence of the Lambs) would continue to work from both in front of and behind the camera.

Johnny Galecki

In 1989, 14-year-old Johnny Galecki appeared as Rusty in the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation cast, and he also starred in another holiday classic, Prancer. I would not be surprised if many did not realize that Leonard from The Big Bang Theory was the same actor, but they were likely more hip to that fact by the time he reprised his role from Roseanne, David Healy, on The Conners.

Miranda Cosgrove

Even with Jack Black in the lead, Miranda Cosgrove stole the show in 2003’s School of Rock, and she went on to do the same thing as the evil Megan in the Nickelodeon sitcom, Drake & Josh. One of her most notable credits as an adult was a Paramount+ exclusive revival of iCarly — another Nickelodeon show she led as a teen.

Keke Palmer

Her bombastic debut role in Barbershop 2: Back in Business made it clear that then-9-year-old Keke Palmer was a powerhouse talent. The Emmy winner would continue to demonstrate her skill as the lead of Akeelah and the Bee and much later in life as part of Jordan Peele’s Nope cast.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar

While Zach Morris from the Saved by the Bell cast is still the role he is best known for — he even reprised it in a Peacock exclusive revival — Mark-Paul Gosselaar managed to prove his versatility in later years. He had a successful stint as a detective on NYPD Blue, played a rebellious lawyer on Franklin & Bash, and an abusive captor in NBC’s Found.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Before starring on the great ‘90s TV show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Joseph Gordon-Levitt made multiple TV appearances and starred in classic movies like Angels in the Outfield and A River Runs Through It. These days, he is best known for his many collaborations with Rian Johnson, his Golden Globe-nominated turns in (500) Days of Summer and 50/50, and running the creative collaboration platform HitRecord.

Sean Astin

Before playing the title role of Rudy and starring in the Lord of the Rings movies as Sam, Sean Astin was best known as Mikey in The Goonies. In addition to his accomplished voice acting career, one of his most celebrated roles as of late is Bob Newby from the Season 2 cast of Stranger Things — a show very much inspired by The Goonies.

Kirsten Dunst

After making her film debut in star-studded The Bonfire of the Vanities, Kirsten Dunst really made an impression at 12 playing a 70-year-old bloodsucker in Interview with the Vampire. Starring in the Spider-Man movies as Mary Jane Watson swung her right into the A-list and, in 2022, she received an Academy Award nomination for The Power of the Dog.

Kieran Culkin

With his roles in the Home Alone movies and in Steve Martin movies (both parts of Father of the Bride), it seemed like Kieran Culkin was on his way to the same level of stardom as his brother, Macaulay. However, it was not until later in life when he was thrice Emmy-nominated for starring in HBO’s Succession cast that he became the star he was destined to be.

Selena Gomez

Before leading Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place made Selena Gomez a star, she got her start on Barney in the early 2000s. She now has two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her performance on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building cast and a Daytime Emmy nod for her Max original cooking show, Selena + Chef.

Elle Fanning

Before breaking out in the Super 8 cast, Elle Fanning’s claim to fame for a while was starring as a younger version of sister, Dakota, in I Am Sam and Taken. Now, she has an Emmy nomination for leading Hulu’s The Great, which is just one of the many Victorian-era roles she has played in more recent years.

Christina Ricci

For years, Christina Ricci’s performance in Barry Sonnenfeld’s Addams Family movies was the definitive iteration of young Wednesday Addams. The Yellowjackets cast member got to revisit those days with her supporting role on Netflix’s Wednesday cast, opposite Jenna Ortega in the lead this time.

Danica McKellar

Some of the most memorably endearing moments from the original Wonder Years involved Danica McKellar’s Winnie Cooper and her puppy love relationship with Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold. Romance is a big part of the actor’s career these days, primarily appearing in popular Hallmark movies like Christmas She Wrote and Swing into Romance.

Knowing the kind of career they would one day lead, I am sure these celebrities wear their “former child star” identities as a badge of honor.

Every so often a new TV show will come out that gets instantly popular, and becomes fodder for  watercooler conversation. Showtime’s Yellowjackets is definitely in that category, with the second season only increasing interest in the thrilling series. Yellowjackets has a killer cast, including Christina Ricci’s version of adult Misty Day. And Ricci explained why she gets “uncomfortable” over one comment she hears about playing Misty.

Yellowjackets is so intriguing thanks to its two timelines, and long-standing mysteries like who Pit Girl is. Christina Ricci got an Emmy nomination for her performance as Misty, and clearly puts a ton of care into her character. And during an Emmys Roundtable chat that’s made its way to Instagram, the Black Snake Moan actress explained why she doesn’t like hearing about how “funny” her character is. In Ricci’s words:

Talk about commitment. It looks Christina Ricci is so invested in her character that they’ve sort of become one entity. And since she’s playing Misty with deadly seriousness, it makes her uncomfortable to hear about how comedic her performance is for Yellowjackets. After all, Misty does take herself extremely seriously.

Those who have watched Yellowjackets might be surprised by these comments, as Christina Ricci is arguably the biggest comedic relief in the modern day timeline. But she’s simply not trying to play her scenes funny; they’re actually dramas for Misty. Later in that same roundtable she further explained her character’s motivations, offering:

Ricci might have been preaching to the choir during this actor’s roundtable. Dame Helen Mirren agreed with that strategy, and she was even sitting next to Succession actor Danny Strong, who went viral for being a method actor while filming. His serious approach paid off with another great performance, just like Ricci’s.

Fans are already counting down the days till the Showtime drama returns to the small screen. The finale of Yellowjackets Season 2 was full of twists, especially for Misty (both of them). Audiences are ready to see how the girls survive the wilderness without a cabin, and the fallout from that big character death in the main timeline.

The first two Yellowjackets seasons are out now. Be sure to check out the TV premiere list to plan your next binge watch.

When it comes to giving audiences moments they won’t find anywhere else on TV, Celebrity Family Feud is known for featuring some shockingly terrible guesses and guessers — respectfully lookin’ at you, Boyz II Men during the Fast Money Round — as well as all manner of overtly sexual answers to overtly sexual questions. But with its Season 9 premiere, the show offered up something beyond the ordinary, as Steve Harvey welcomed the ensemble cast of Showtime’s timeline-twisting horror Yellowjackets. And despite not utilizing any cabin settings or edible body parts, the Feud gave fans something that the scripted series itself isn’t even able to pull off. 

Namely, Yellowjackets fans were able to watch the differing generations of stars actually mixing it up and getting silly together on stage, which obviously isn’t something that can happen on the fly or with any regularity in Showtime’s series. Celebrity Family Feud split its teams up largely by age, with co-creator Ashley Lyle serving as the fifth team member for the “Teens,” which allowed for some glorious (if criminally short) moments between Misty portrayers Christina Ricci and Samantha Hanratty, Taissa actresses Jasmin Savoy Brown and Tawny Cypress, and Shauna stars Sophie Nélisse and Melanie Lynskey. Not to mention teen Lottie portrayer Courtney Eaton and adult Van actress Lauren Ambrose, as well as Warren Kole, who plays the man, the myth, the legend: Jeff.

Given the fact that the only way for Yellowjackets to mix up its core casts is through dream sequences, hallucinations and other moments that stray outside direct realism, there are basically zero moments when fans would be able to see both generations of Misty crossing paths. But I'll say with completely certainty now that it was an absolute hoot to see Ricci and Hanratty facing off at the podium for Celebrity Family Feud's first question of Season 9, largely because it was just instant and loud chaos, but like the comfortable kind of friendly sleepover chaos that starts off with two professional women shaking hands. The pair could make additional livings giving paid reactions to moments. 

While Yellowjackets' characters have to deal with a heaping pile of escalating problems, the starts themselves were very fun to watch in the low-stakes world of Celebrity Family Feud, where the first question was "We asked 100 women: you'd rather do what then have sex?" And I gotta say, some of the wrong answers were better than what was on the list. Not so much Hanratty's confused look, but Ambrose' guess of "Read" was aces. 

As fun as it was to watch Ricci and Hanratty, as well as Nélisse and Lynskey, the most GIF-worthy highlight from the Celebrity Family Feud episode involved the humble Jasmin Savoy Brown and Tawny Cypress showing off their excellent dance moves together. Just that eight seconds of chemistry was enough to spark a little bit of regret in knowing that they'll likely never share a Yellowjackets scene that involves such mirth and joy. Really, anytime someone dances on the dark thriller, it's a plus in my book.

Beyond the glut of questions we're still thinking about while waiting for Season 3 (which was delayed over the ongoing WGA writers strike), the Feud gave fans a bit of a comedic amuse-bouche with all these actors ahead of their return to possibly mystical survivalism. Maybe this can be the season where Showtime pairs off the actors for commentary recordings or behind-the-scenes extras to dig into after watching episodes. We need to see these generations collide!

Stream both already concluded seasons of Yellowjackets with a Paramount+ subscription, which recently added Showtime programming while raising its core  sub price.

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched the latest episode of Yellowjackets, so be warned!

With all the dangerous threats, the unspoken secrets and the massive trauma shared by its core survivors, Yellowjackets isn’t exactly teeming with elements that would easily transition into the real world for fans to take part in. I doubt any major fast food restaurants would readily embrace campaigns geared to either cannibalism or starvation, and the cabin setting isn’t exactly ideal for an all-ages theme park experience. But with the latest installment, titled “Burial,” the Showtime hit gave audiences a new kind of experience by way of the Sunshine Honey quasi-cult, in the form of a phone number that not only works, but also offers a fun easter egg that plays off of the ep’s big reveal for Simone Kessell’s Lottie.

As fans saw in Episode 207, all of the known adult survivors reunited at the cult’s compound, initially taking Lottie by surprise before things got genuinely chummy for the former teammates. Everyone had to give their cell phones up as part of the wellness journey, and the newest recruits were shown a landline phone number to be used in case of emergencies. Amazingly enough, fans can call the number on the screen to hear a recorded message from the show’s most mystical-minded character, and it isn’t without some of Yellowjackets’ mysterious glitches. Check out the number below, in case anyone missed it, and then read on for the message itself.

While I can’t think of any way for this phone number itself to be an easter egg tied to Lottie’s childhood or anything, the message itself provides an easier route for speculation, given her psychologist sessions were confirmed to be happening opposite a completely hallucinated physician. (Which definitely made sense, given the awful medical advice being offered.) Check out the message in full below, split up between Normal Lottie and Possessed Lottie, as it were. 

• Normal Lottie: Hello, wanderer. You have reached Sunshine Honey's Wellness Community, proudly located at the former site of Camp Green Pine in majestic northern… 
• [Phone beeps and glitchy noises]
• Possessed Lottie: It's not...real.
• [Glitchy noise]
• Normal Lottie: Do you ever wonder where you are? Are you somewhere feeling lonely wandering between the who and the when, or flirting with the why? If so, hello. We are here and ready to believe you. 
• [Phone number speed-dialed and glitchy noises]
• Normal/Possessed Lottie: We're still here, and we're still listening. Don't be afraid to say the words that move the winds. We'll hear you if you hear us.

For such a short message, there are quite a few details worthy of obsessing over. First, the use of the descriptor of "wanderer" to refer to whoever would be calling. And then there's the purposeful glitch right when Lottie is sharing the camp's central New York setting. (It's filmed in British Columbia at the actual Camp Howdy.) Seems a bit odd to get weird about that location's specifics, considering all of the survivors clearly knew how to get there. But then that leads into the fairly haunting moment in which she says that things aren't real. Was she only referring to the episode's reveal, though, or is the implication there that nothing about Sunshine Honey's compound is legitimate?

Not a lot to misunderstand about the notion of somebody not knowing where they are, since that fuels the entire stranded timeline in the past. I'm intrigued by the wording of "flirting with the why," but will try not to think too hard about it. What I will think too hard about, however, is the way the message ends with her saying 'We'll hear you if you hear us," which recalls the weirdness that played out in Episode 205 as Tai and the overly pregnant Shauna were maneuvering their way back to the cabin through the snowstorm that followed Crystal's (assumed) death. Is Lottie's cult still taking part in such behavior?

As it turns out, even just texting the Yellowjackets phone number will earn a response that directs fans to call while also sharing the general mission to "unplug to hear the wilderness." There's also a note about message frequencies varying, making it appear as if viewers can expect to get more updates from Sunshine Honey as the season continues.

Beyond giving fans this new way to explore the show’s mysteries, Yellowjackets’ latest episode also seemed to support the theory that the survivors are rewarded in certain ways whenever blood is offered up to the earth around the cabin, tying back to why the still-unidentified Pit Girl had her throat slit in such a brutal way back in the pilot. It may not all center on sentient tree moss like I’d want it to, but there’s some kind of entity affecting things, and I have to assume that it’ll play a big part in Lottie’s face healing up after Shauna nearly beat her to death. 

Yellowjackets has a few episodes left to go in Season 2, which can be streamed on Fridays with a Showtime add-on to one’s Paramount+ subscription, though work on the already anticipated third season has been stalled due to the WGA writers strike that’s currently shaking up the entertainment industry.

Spoilers for Wednesday ahead! Read with caution. If you haven’t seen the Addams Family spin-off, you can stream it with a Netflix subscription. 

One of the great pleasures of Wednesday was getting to see two actresses who have played the iconic Addams Family character on the same screen. With Jenna Ortega in the titular role and Christina Ricci -- who played the character in the feature films from the ‘90s -- as the unexpected villain in the Netflix series, it was so fun to see the two women collaborate. However, at the end of Wednesday’s first season, one of the biggest questions I had was if Ricci could return as Marilyn Thornhill in Season 2. Now, the actress is weighing in on the possibility of coming back to the world of the Addams Family. 

While Ricci’s character comes off as a sweet and innocent herbology teacher at the beginning of Wednesday, by the end it’s revealed that she’s the mastermind behind the plan to torment and take down Wednesday. While Thornhill is defeated at the end of the season, thanks to some bees, and Tyler the monster seems to have gone away for now, it’s unclear if they're gone for good. So, ET asked the actress about her potential return to Wednesday, which was renewed for Season 2 a few months ago, and while she couldn’t say much, she did say that her return is possible: 

I know I’d love to see Ricci return. She really only got to shine as the villain during the shocking finale, and based on fans' reactions, it feels like lots of people want to see her return to the series. Considering the identity of Wednesday’s big bad was a mystery for the majority of the season, it would be so fun to actually see Thornhill and Tyler developing their maniacal plans and working to take down the kids of Nevermore in Season 2.

Along with the audience wanting Ricci to return, I’d assume the cast of Wednesday also wants to see the Yellowjackets star come back. It seems like they all loved working with her, and Jenna Ortega explained that she was “terrified” to work with her, but that was because of how much respect she had for Ricci and her work as Wednesday in The Addams Family movies. I know if I worked on the series I'd be honored to have this iconic Addams alum among the cast. Also, seeing Ricci playing a campy villain is a delight, and it seems like she also has a blast playing the show's antagonist.

Hopefully, we’ll get to see Christina Ricci don the cat-eye glasses, ginger hair and floral outfits in Season 2 of Wednesday. I’d personally love to see Thornhill become an even bigger bad, and it seems like Ricci would also like to return to the gothic world of Wednesday. However, we’ll have to wait a while to find out if the beloved actress from The Addams Family will return to the Netflix series. But have no fear, you can still watch the lovely Christina Ricci in another fantastic genre show as Yellowjackets is set to premiere on the 2023 TV schedule on Sunday, March 26. 

Christina Ricci has been acting since the age of 10 when she made her debut in the 1990s movie Mermaids alongside Cher. Then she became a household name after playing Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family. So, when Tim Burton created the series Wednesday based on the beloved Addams Family member, he answered fans’ wishes by casting Ricci in the very twisted role of Marilyn Thornhill. Since Ricci has been in the business for over 30 years, she recently opened up about how Hollywood has changed since her early days of acting, including the time she was once threatened with a lawsuit over a sex scene.

As society’s views start to evolve, so does Hollywood. For example, filming sex scenes has changed since the 1980s in that there are intimacy coordinators ensuring the comfort levels of the stars as they engage in simulated intimacy. While talking about her role in Season 2 of Yellowjackets, Christina Ricci spoke on The View about the evolving changes in Hollywood especially when it comes to filming sex scenes.

Ricci did not mention what project she was almost sued for, but she did bring it up during an interview with Euphoria’s Sydney Sweeney in Variety’s Actors on Actors. She remarked how a woman’s comfort level is a priority now doing a sex scene compared to when she was younger, and she concluded the Variety interview by simply declaring, “I didn’t do it anyway. And they didn’t sue me.” 

In the same interview, Ricci also talked about Black Snake Moan where she stayed naked on the set the entire time. She was told to be nude throughout the movie, yet the cast and crew around her were uncomfortable, making her uncomfortable in turn. So, Ricci made an empowering move by just staying naked the entire time during shooting to help those around her be comfortable with a woman baring all.

Sydney Sweeney, who is known for her roles in Euphoria and The White Lotus, has also spoken about the lack of control she faced in how the internet handled her Euphoria sex scenes. Despite the major obstacles her nude scenes have caused, Sweeney told Ricci that she’s comfortable doing these scenes because of the intimacy coordinator and yoga blocks that can be put between two people. If she changed her mind about partaking in a particular scene, she was allowed to do so. This shows that concerns for young actors today are prioritized a lot more than when Christina Ricci was younger.

The Sleepy Hollow actress is also helping to serve young actresses of this generation today through her involvement in the Netflix series Wednesday. Taking on the iconic role for the dark comedy series is Jenna Ortega, who shared how tough it was to play the role Ricci is also well known for. Fortunately, this young actress felt comfortable talking to the Speed Racer actress about reinterpreting the classic role, and the two have been able to bond over their shared history was Wednesday. 

Hopefully, with Hollywood going through changes to place emphasis on the comfort levels of young stars and treating intimate scenes with respect, actors won't have to be treated the way Ricci was as a young performer. You can see Christina Ricci’s performance in Wednesday right on your Netflix subscription, and check out what we know about Wednesday Season 2.

Jenna Ortega went to great lengths to make sure that her take on Wednesday Addams for Netflix’s Wednesday was memorable, even though shooting the series was tough at times. While it all seems worth it since the show became an instant hit on the streamer -- with Season 2 on the way -- the young actress is opening up about how tough it was to really play the beloved character since fans are nostalgic about Christina Ricci’s version, among others.

The Addams Family has been around for decades in the forms of comics, film, and television, which meant Ortega taking on a character previously played by Christina Ricci and the late Lisa Loring. While on Hot Ones, Ortega discussed the balancing act of portraying an already-established character while also making it her own, and it sounds as tough as it can get:

Wednesday Addams has gone through multiple iterations, and each one was memorable and different. Even though Jenna Ortega had to find a way to make the character her own for Netflix, she had support from a former Wednesday, as Christina Ricci had a role. Luckily, Ortega was able to find a happy medium that worked for her:

That happy medium seemed to have worked since Ortega’s take on Wednesday has done numbers on Netflix and has even created a viral dance. Even though she had to say no to filming You’s fourth season due to filming Wednesday, the end result is arguably one of the best shows on Netflix now.

Wednesday received mixed reviews from critics, but the overall consensus was that Jenna Ortega did a masterful job at bringing the character to life in a new way. With a second season of Wednesday confirmed, hopefully it’ll be less stressful for the former Disney star, especially now that she knows what she’s up against.

Wednesday is also not the only nostalgic project that Jenna Ortega has been part of lately. She is returning for the upcoming Scream movie, and the franchise is not so new. Ortega is basically a pro at this point when it comes to nostalgic projects and roles, and at least for Scream VI, this will be her second time playing Tara Carpenter.

It's unknown when Season 2 of Wednesday will premiere on Netflix, but since it was just renewed in January, it’s likely it won’t be part of the 2023 Netflix TV schedule. Though after what Jenna Ortega went through while she was filming the series, it’s probably a good thing, considering the pressure got to her at points. In the meantime, the first season is streaming with a Netflix subscription. 

Since the 2023 Oscar nominations were announced, a complex debate has broken out over the best actress nomination of Andrea Riseborough for her performance in the indie drama To Leslie. After the actress was nominated, to the audible shock of many in attendance at the event, the Academy announced a “review” of the campaign procedures around this year’s nominees. An Academy decision that Yellowjackets cast member Christina Ricci has taken a shot at with a brutally honest condemnation. 

The Academy said they would review the campaign procedures around this year’s nominees to ensure the “Awards competition is conducted fairly and ethically.” While Andrea Riseborough and To Leslie was not explicitly mentioned, many read between the lines. In an Instagram comment (via Independent), the Wednesday alum pointed out how the Academy’s decision felt “elitist” and an attempt to disqualify movies that don’t have enough money to campaign aggressively. The actress wrote: 

The findings from the investigation are expected to be announced on Tuesday, January 31, and it's possible, but unlikely, according to Variety, that her nomination will be rescinded.

What surprised many about Andrea Riseborough’s Oscar attention was how under the radar the movie flew. To Leslie barely made over $27,000 at the box office, and many hadn’t heard of it. 

The filmmaker’s behind the drama reported to Deadline that they had “next to no budget” for an awards campaign, so they had to rely on word of mouth and networking between friends and high-profile connections. Private screenings were reportedly held by stars including Charlize Theron, Gwyneth Paltrow, Courteney Cox, Edward Norton, Jennifer Aniston, and Minnie Driver, and the grassroots campaign seems to have worked out for the team behind To Leslie. 

While the Academy Awards has had its fair share of controversial moments, there have only ever been six nominations revoked since the Oscars started nearly a century ago. The independent flick has already made history as one of the lowest-grossing movies to receive a nomination. Still, if the actress is stripped of her nomination, the small movie will, sadly, make more Oscar history. 

As we wait to see what happens to Riseborough's nomination, fans of Christina Ricci can check out her latest work on the hit Tim Burton series Wednesday, which is streaming for anyone with a Netflix subscription. To Leslie is available to rent on VOD on Apple and Prime Video if you want to see Riseborough’s performance, before the Oscars air on March 12. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

The streaming wars have been going full throttle for years now, with various services popping up after Netflix and offering exclusive content. But the OG keeps churning out movies and TV shows, and regularly has megahits. The latest of these is Wednesday, which features work by the one and only Tim Burton. The Addams Family have once again returned to the screen, although this project is particularly focused on the title characters, played by Scream actress Jenna Ortega. Since its debut the show has consistently been trending, often peaking at #1 on Netflix. And folks have been sounding off online about the finale.

Wednesday Addams is obviously a character that's been on the small and silver screen for decades, played by a variety of actors. Jenna Ortega no doubt was feeling the pressure, especially as she co-starred in Wednesday with none other than Christina Ricci herself, who played her in the two movies in the '90s. But in the end Ortega really hit it out of the park. There are three ways Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday nods to the classic character, and two ways she actually improves her. Let's break down the all together ooky ways she pulled it off. 

Wednesday's Morbid Sense Of Humor

Part of what makes Jenna Ortega's performance in Wednesday so successful is because she makes it her own, while also giving longtime fans of the Addams Family enough nods to the franchise's history. One of the most consistent ways that Ortega's version of the character does this is by her morbid sense of humor. And fans are so obsessed they're dressing like her.

Starting with the original Addams Family cartoons and classic TV show, titular group of characters had always had a love for the macabre. This trend continues with the actors of Wednesday, but especially Jenna Ortega's title character. She consistently hits the audience with gothic one-liners when speaking with various characters like her therapist, classmates, and Gwendoline Christie's Principal Weems. This makes the contemporary show feel very connected to the OG content, and Wednesdays' roots as a character. 

The Inclusion Of Addams Family Lore And Characters

While Wednesday is very much focused on Jenna Ortega's title character and those residing at Nevermore Academy, the show remains connected with its roots through the inclusion of other members of the Addams Family. For those with a history with the franchise, that might be exactly what helps hook them into this new incarnation of the gothic brood.

One of the biggest scene stealers in Wednesday is Thing, played by actor/illusionist Victor Dorobantu. Thing is Wednesday's personal minion throughout Season 1, and the visual effects used are top notch. Plus it's delightful to see how he non-verbally communicates with various characters. Additionally, Catherine Zeta-Jones guest stars as Morticia, joined by Luis Guzmán as Gomez. Fred Armisen's Uncle Fester is another highlight. Pugsly and even Lurch also appear, although there's one favorite character I'm waiting to see in Season 2: Cousin It. Seeing how Wednesday interacts with each of these iconic characters helps to establish exactly who Jenna Ortega's version is, and keeps her intimately connected with the classic character. 

Lots Of Addams Family Easter Eggs

Another way that Jenna Ortega's characterization of Wednesday nods to the classic character is through various easter eggs throughout the first eight episodes. One of the most obvious comes in the second episode, when the title character discovers the secret library in Nevermore. But to enter she has to snap twice, offering a not-so-subtle nod to the classic Addams Family TV series from the 1960s, and its beloved theme song. 

But the connections to classic versions of Wednesday Addams don't stop there. In the series Nevermore sits outside a town full of normies called Jericho, which hosts Pilgrim World. This is a clear nod to 1993's The Addams Family Values, which famously included a Thanksgiving Play that Christina Ricci's Wednesdays turns into an all-out revolution. Jenna Ortega's take on the character also excels at archery, which offers a connection to both The Addams Family Values, as well as the Broadway musical The Addams Family. While Wednesday doesn't use a bow and arrow in the stage show, she is instead an expert marksman with her crossbow.

Obviously Wednesday made sure that Jenna Ortega's take on the character featured enough connective tissue to the classic character, but the show is ultimately a fresh take on Addams Family lore. And there are a few instances were Ortega's take actually improved on the beloved character from the comics, screen, and stage.

The Modern Setting And Latin Representation

Wednesday has a contemporary setting, which helps to make the moments where Jenna Ortega's character is a fish out of water all the more hilarious. Whether it's dealing with fellow students at Nevermore or the Normies in Jericho, Wednesday's set of priorities and interests stand out in delightful ways. This is largely successful because of the deadpan delivery given by Ortega, who seemingly never blinks once during the show's entire first season on Netflix.

Another way that Wednesday's contemporary setting offers a fresh take on The Addams is the way that the family's latin roots are represented. There are a number references to the protagonist's culture throughout the series. For instance, in Episode 6, she mentions the family celebrating Dia de Los Muertos. She's also seen listening to a Mexican folk song in her dorm, while Pugsley eats Flautirriko Tarugos Tamarindo in another episode. Some of these are quite subtle, but will no doubt be noticeable for those seeing themselves reflected onscreen. 

Making Wednesday A Detective With Superpowers.

Of course, her investigations are aided by another new twist that improves the characters Wednesday Addams: her psychic visions. This ability first shows up in the cold open of the premiere, where Jenna Ortega sees Pugsly's abuse by school bullies after making physical contact with him. This occurred consistently throughout Season 1, helping to offer yet another intriguing new layer to the classic character. comedy keeps the series light and frothy. The title character has plenty of skills in the show, but her prowess as a detective is the cumulation of it all.

Of course, her investigations are aided by another new twist that improves the characters Wednesday Addams: her psychic visions. This ability first shows up in the cold open of the premiere, where Jenna Ortega sees Pugsley's abuse by school bullies after making physical contact with him. These visions occurred consistently throughout Season 1, helping to offer yet another intriguing new layer to the classic character. 

Wednesday was overall a fun ride, and there's a reason that it keeps trending on Netflix in the weeks since its initial release. And Jenna Ortega's characterization is a perfectly modern take on the Addams Family daughter, complete with a great performance and iconic moments like her dance. While we wait for Season 2 on Netflix, be sure to check out the TV premiere list to plan your next binge watch.

Wednesday is now streaming on Netflix.

It seems like the entire world is losing its mind over Netflix’s Wednesday starring Jenna Ortega. From near universal praise for the show itself to viral Wednesday dancing memes, it’s one of the most popular pieces of media of any kind right now. And it’s extra special for fans of The Addams Family because the show also co-stars former Wednesday Christina Ricci.

There are a number of different ways one could imagine Jenna Ortega reacting to the news that Christina Ricci would be in Wednesday with her, and as it turns out, she had more than one of those reactions. Speaking with Buzz, Ortega admits that her first reaction to the news was that she thought co-starring with Ricci would be cool, but then she realized how potentially complicated that would be, for quite obvious reasons. Ortega said…

While The Addams Family has existed since cartoonist Charles Addams created the comic in 1938, for most modern audiences, their first exposure to the characters came in the two movies that included Christina Ricci as Wednesday that were originally released in the early 1990s. They were the movies that made Christina Ricci a star, so it’s not surprising that Jenna Ortega could be potentially intimidated by that. 

As different as the Netflix version of Wednesday is, the character has aged up by many years, it was likely that people were going to compare Ortega’s portrayal of Wednesday to Ricci’s regardless of anything else. The fact that Ricci was right there in the show only guaranteed that the comparisons would come. 

Ortega had said previously that there was little if any discussion between herself and Christina Ricci regarding their portrayals, largely because the characters are ultimately so different. Netflix’s Wednesday sees the character as a high school age teen rather than a child, and the show is a mystery. It has more in common with something like Veronica Mars than it does the ‘90s Addams Family movies. 

Considering how popular Wednesday has been, it remained the top series on Netflix for several weeks until the recent debut of Harry & Meghan, it’s somewhat shocking that there hasn’t already been confirmation that future seasons  are on the way. While Netflix’s process for deciding what show return and what do not has always been opaque, it’s rare to see a show be quite this successful. It looks like future generations Jenna Ortega may become the most beloved iteration of Wednesday.  

When it comes to movies that I adore, a film I always grew up watching and loving was The Addams Family, as well as its sequel. Released in the 1990s, the films were a big part of my childhood and I’m about 90% sure that they’re a part of the reason I grew up liking creepy things, like the best horror movies. I'm sure a lot of horror fans started with this kooky family. And, of course, my favorite character was Wednesday. 

Turns out, she’s just about everyone's favorite character in The Addams Family franchise, because that character has gotten her own TV series on Netflix, called Wednesday. The series follows the legendary character as she goes to the school called Nevermore, a place for misfits like herself, while discovering the secrets that the school has hidden. 

With a very large ensemble, the Wednesday cast is full of stars. Here is where you might have seen them before. 

Jenna Ortega (Wednesday Addams)

Starting off with our star, we take a look at Jenna Ortega, who plays the titular character in Wednesday. From the moment I saw Ortega in that first teaser trailer, I knew she was the perfect fit for this role, and with her background, it’s even better. 

While Ortega got her start on children’s television shows, mainly on the Disney Channel, she only started to grow in popularity as she began to appear in more adult roles. She had a main character role in Season 2 of You on Netflix, and has established herself as a scream queen with roles in both 2022’s Scream (a role she is reprising in Scream 6), and in the gory A24 film, X. 

Truly, she may be young, but this actress is just getting started, and I’m sure this is not the last time we are going to see her. 

Gwendoline Christie (Principle Larissa Weems)

Next up on the list is Gwendoline Christie, who portrays the leader of Nevermore, Principle Larissa Weems, in Wednesday. The actress is probably most known for her role in the Game of Thrones cast as Brienne of Tarth, a role she played for several seasons until the show concluded. 

However, Christie has done plenty of other work in the world of television. She played Lexi in Wizards vs Aliens, Lucifer in the fantasy series, The Sandman, and is set to be in the second season of Severance. She also had a role in the Star Wars universe as Captain Phasma, and appeared in films such as The Personal History of David Copperfield, Welcome to Marwen, The Darkest of Minds, and more. 

Jamie McShane (Sheriff Galpin)

Next up on the list, we have Jamie McShane, who plays Sheriff Galpin in Wednesday, someone who isn’t the biggest fan of Nevermore. McShane has been in a variety of television roles, including on the popular FX drama, Sons of Anarchy, as well as in Southland, The Lincoln Lawyer, CSI: Vegas, and Bloodline. He also had small roles in shows like 24, The Fosters, Fear the Walking Dead and more. 

McShane also had a small role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe when he played Agent Jackson in both Thor and The Avengers. He also appeared in movies like Argo, Gone Girl, the Disney+ original film Togo, and Mank among others. 

Percy Hynes White (Xavier Thorpe)

Percy Hynes White plays Xavier Thorpe in Wednesday, and the young actor has done plenty in television ever since he started. White is probably most known for his role in The Gifted, where he played Andy Strucker, but he’s appeared in several other TV shows like Between, Odd Squad, Murdoch Mysteries and more. Recently, he’s been in the cast for Pretty Hard Cases. 

Hunter Doohan (Tyler Galpin)

Next up, we take a look at Hunter Doohan, who plays Tyler Galpin in Wednesday. Doohan is probably most known for his role as Adam Desiato in the fantastic Showtime series, Your Honor, where he stars alongside Bryan Cranston, but he’s done plenty of other great roles, too. 

Doohan played Teenage Warren on Truth Be Told, and guest starred on several other shows including Coffee House Chronicles, Westworld, Schooled, and Aware I’m Rare. He also appeared in the films Where We Disappear and Soundwave. 

Emma Myers (Enid Sinclair)

Moving on, we look at Emma Myers, who plays Enid Sinclair, Wednesday’s cheerful roommate in Wednesday. The talent is relatively new to Hollywood, but she’s guest-starred on several television shows before, including Dead of Night, The Baker and the Beauty, and The Glades. She also appeared in the movie Girl in the Basement. 

However, this will be Emma Myers' first major role on a television series, and one can only imagine what she’ll do next. 

Joy Sunday (Bianca Barclay)

In Wednesday, Joy Sunday portrays Bianca Barclay, a classmate of Wednesday's in the show. Sunday has appeared in multiple TV shows, and had a recurring role in Yas Kween, while also appearing in shows such as Carol’s Second Act, Good Trouble, MacGyver, and Dear White People.

Joy Sunday also appeared in the films Dog, The Beta Test, and Bad Hair. 

Naomi J. Ogawa (Yoko Tanaka)

Next up, we take a look at Naomi J. Ogawa, who portrays Yoko Tanaka in Wednesday, another classmate at Nevermore and a vampire. Ogawa is relatively new to the world of Hollywood, with her only role so far being Kate in the film Skylines, but I’m sure that after Wednesday, it won’t be long before we see her in something else. 

Moosa Mostafa (Eugene Ottinger)

Moosa Mostafa plays Eugene Ottinger in Wednesday, another classmate at Nevermore, and the young actor is still relatively new to the world of television and movies. His only film credit thus far lists him as being a part of St. Bernadette’s class in Nativity Rocks!, and he portrayed Nas in the TV series, The Last Bus. But I’m sure that after Wednesday he’ll pop up in more fun shows and movies soon enough.

Georgie Farmer (Ajax Petropolus)

The last classmate we’re going to be talking about today is Ajax Petropolus, who is played by Georgie Farmer in Wednesday. Farmer is mainly known for his role as Jake Crossley in the TV series, The Evermoor Chronicles, but he’s appeared in several other shows, including The Ministry of Curious Stuff, Ill Behavior, Doctors, and Treadstone. Farmer also appeared in the film, Ready Player One.

Riki Lindhome (Dr. Valerie Kinbott)

Moving on, we take a look at Riki Lindhome, who plays Dr. Valerie Kinbott in Wednesday, a therapist who is trying to help Wednesday. Lindhome has done a lot in television, appearing in shows such as Titus, the fantasy series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gilmore Girls, The Big Bang Theory, Enlightened, and more. Lindhome has also lent her voice to the world of animation, with one of her biggest roles being as Kimberly Harris on Duncanville. 

Lindhome has also been very successful in the movie industry, appearing in films such as Million Dollar Baby, Much Ado About Nothing, The Lego Batman Movie, Nothing, Pulse, The Wolf of Snow Hollow, and in 2019, Knives Out. 

Christina Ricci (Marilyn Thornhill)

I mean, we can’t have a Wednesday TV series without one of the most recognizable versions of Wednesday, and that is Christina Ricci – although she doesn’t play the titular character, considering that the actress is all grown up now. However, who she does play in Wednesday is Marilyn Thornhill. 

Ricci has done a lot in her career after her time in The Addams Family franchise. Most recently, she was a part of the cast of Yellowjackets, a role she’ll be reprising in Season 2 of the series. However, Ricci has done a lot on television, including roles on shows like Ally McBeal, Pan Am, The Lizzie Borden Chronicles, and Z: The Beginning of Everything, among many guest appearances. 

Ricci has also appeared in many films, including Casper, Now and Then, The Ice Storm, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Anything Else, Prozac Nation, Speed Racer, The Matrix Resurrections, Penelope, and more. 

The Rest Of The Addams Family

Look, we all know that the series is focused on Wednesday and that is completely alright, but let’s talk about the rest of the Addams family for a little bit before we go, because it’s something to see in Wednesday. 

Playing Morticia Addams is Catherine Zeta-Jones, someone who is well known in the movie world and has been in several critically-acclaimed films. She even won an Academy Award for her starring role in Chicago. Luis Guzman plays Gomez Addams, the patriarch of the family. Guzman has done plenty in the world of movies, appearing in films such as The Limey, Traffic, the Jordan Peele-written movie, Keanu, and more. He was also on the HBO series, Oz. 

Isaac Ordonez plays Pugsley Addams, Wednesday’s little brother, and he is new to Hollywood, as Pugsley is his first major role. Fred Armisen plays Uncle Fester in Wednesday, further continuing his ability to play hilarious characters on television. Armisen has been in the Schmigadoon! cast, Portlandia, Documentary Now!, Moonbase 8 and more. 

Truly, there are so many amazing cast members of this show that we could talk about for hours on end and give them so much praise. And, I’m sure that after Wednesday, we’ll be seeing a lot more of them in movies and on TV – maybe even in a 2023 movie or television release.  

It’s almost time to enjoy being reacquainted with Wednesday Addams when Netflix’s horror comedy Wednesday drops in November. Jenna Ortega is taking over the role  to bring a Latina spin to the macabre teen, and the former Disney Channel star is opening up about the challenges of reinterpreting the beloved character with none other than the character's prior live-action actress, Christina Ricci.

Even though Ortega was terrified about Ricci being on the set of Wednesday after the latter signed on with a new role, it seems like those nerves have since been buried away in the yard somewhere. The two actresses took part in a one-on-one interview for Interview Magazine, where they talked about their experiences as child stars along with the upcoming Netflix Original, which boasts Tim Burton behind the camera as director. Considering The Addams Family has gone through numerous transformations over the years, Ricci asked Ortega about reinterpreting Wednesday, and the Scream star didn't try to hide how challenged she felt by it, on top of lauding Ricci's performance as being flawless. In her words:

Wednesday is a mid-stage teenager in this new series, and will be sent off to a boarding school amidst a growing murder mystery, which is already a bit different than what fans are accustomed to from the altogether ooky family. But it’s great to hear that this Wednesday shares vibes with the ‘90s version, famously brought to life in both of Barry Sonnenfeld's films by Ricci. Portraying a character that is so beloved in general, and also has memorable past iterations, is definitely an uphill climb for any actor, but Jenna Ortega’s snappy take on the character is already proving to be eye-catching, as seen in trailers for the series.

Ortega also mentioned how hard it was to carve out her path with the character, with the different notes she would get from Tim Burton and other directors clashing together, on top of having to get proficient with Wednesday's various hobbies. But it was important to her that she created something special with her version. She said:

With Tim Burton at the helm of multiple Wednesday installments, and Jenna Ortega leading the charge, it seems like it’s going to be a solid entry into the overall franchise. And since Christina Ricci co-stars in Wednesday as well, fans can look forward to see two generations sharing the screen. Creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar previously explained how this latest trip into Addams lore will be different from other Addams Family versions, with Millar pointing out that it doesn’t feel like a reboot or remake, but rather its own thing. And I'm definitely excited to see the final product.

Obviously, it’s hard to tell how Wednesday will live up to its predecessors until the series premieres on November 23 for those with Netflix subscriptions! Check out what other shows are coming to Netflix soon and what your next binge-able obsession will be! Be sure to also check out where to watch The Addams Family shows and movies in anticipation for the new series.

The Addams Family is one of the most well-known fictional families, and has been around since the late 1930s. In fact, they are still making waves today. With the upcoming Netflix series Wednesday centering on Wednesday Addams, fans will be seeing a side of the teenager that hasn’t really been seen before. Christina Ricci, who portrayed Wednesday in the live-action films in the 1990s, will be returning for an undisclosed part in Wednesday. Star Jenna Ortega is opening up about how terrified she was. 

The former Disney star and Scream actress talked to Empire about Wednesday and meeting Christina Ricci, who is well known for her portrayal of Wednesday in the live-action version of The Addams Family. Just like anyone meeting their idol, Jenna Ortega got nervous before meeting Ricci, but nerves floated away when she actually met her:

It definitely sounds nerve-wracking to be filming a scene dressed as a character that someone else on set was dressed as three decades ago. However, it sounds like everything went fine. If the new Wednesday worked so well with the previous Wednesday, potential viewers can be even more excited for the upcoming series. 

Jenna Ortega also mentioned how she tried her best to make the character her own since Christina Ricci’s performance as Wednesday is so iconic. By the looks of the Wednesday trailer, her goal was matched:

While it can be hit or miss with reboots, an original star coming back is always good news. While we still don’t know exactly what Christina Ricci will be doing in the series, just knowing that she’s back is better than nothing. Plus it sounds like she will be having at least a scene or two with Jenna Ortega, so seeing the two of them on screen together is definitely something to look forward to.

After filming wrapped on Wednesday in the spring, Christina Ricci praised Ortega’s Wednesday and shared her thoughts on the series, noting how great it was to work with Tim Burton, Gwendoline Christie, and the rest of the cast. So if Ricci herself gives the series and Ortega’s performance a thumbs up, it must be good.

Meanwhile, seeing Jenna Ortega as the snappy Wednesday Addams will definitely be a bit different from what her fans are used to. The young actress is known for her roles in Disney Channel’s Stuck In the Middle, Season 2 of Netflix’s YOU, and the lead in this year’s Scream. As one of the up-and-coming Latina and Hispanic actresses you definitely want to watch out for, she has a bright career ahead of her. Especially if Wednesday proves to be successful.

Don’t miss Wednesday premiering on Netflix on November 23! Check out CinemaBlend’s 2022 Netflix TV schedule to see what else is dropping on the streamer before the year comes to an end.

Christina Ricci has played a wide variety of roles throughout her career. She played death-obsessed Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family movies, brought the enthusiastic Trixie to life in Speed Racer, and took a whack at Lizzie Borden in The Lizzie Borden Chronicles. Another notable role of hers is her turn in the 2006 film Black Snake Moan, which required a significant amount of nudity on her part. While that can be daunting for some, Ricci actually stayed naked on set and has explained why she did that -- and how it empowered her.

While plenty of actors have performed nude scenes over the years, they've mostly had varied approaches to them. Christina Ricci recently took part in Variety's Actors on Actors, during which she spoke to Euphoria’s Sydney Sweeney about on-screen nudity While on the topic, Ricci recalled how cast and crew members were uneasy with her walking around nude while on the set of Black Snake Moan. So she found her own solution to make herself more comfortable with their level of discomfort:

Being nude in front of a bunch of strangers seems like a mortifying notion, but not all actresses have a problem once they undress. For instance, when Jennifer Lawrence filmed a nude scene in Red Sparrow, she felt so at ease that everyone around started to feel uncomfortable. Hearing a situation like that, one would think that crew members need more preparation going into those scenes than the on-screen talent does.

Other stars have also found unconventional ways to handle such scenes. For example, Dakota Johnson got through her nude scenes in the Fifty Shades of Grey films by drinking whiskey and sucking on mints. After Nicole Kidman was filming her nude scenes in Eyes Wide Shut, she would communicate with director Stanley Kubrick about whether or not she was satisfied with the what was shot, helping to determine what was ultimately added to the film. So this goes to show that filming nude scenes is a team effort, one that requires everyone to ideally have the same level of comfort.

Christina Ricci went on to tell Sydney Sweeney what she perceived to be the only way for her to be comfortable being nude on the Black Snake Moan set. She explained:

As for what Christina Ricci is up to now, you can see her return back to one of her classic franchises via Netflix’s Wednesday, an Addams Family spinoff. But don’t expect her to play the titular role again, as that part will be played by Scream’s Jenna Ortega, who portrays a Latina version of the character. Still, it's great that the show answered fans’ wishes by casting Ricci in the upcoming show. We don't currently know who she'll play, but she shared that she had a great time reuniting with Tim Burton and went on to praise Ortega's work. Also, don't expect her to strip for this role, either. 

Christina Ricci finished the chat with Sydney Sweeney by saying that she doesn’t feel bad about not being asked anymore to do nude scenes, considering that she doesn’t really enjoy them. Plus, I think most of us would agree that the actress has plenty of other amazing talents that she can offer any production.

Addams Family fans received a burst of great news in March when it was revealed that film franchise vet (and current Yellowjackets star) Christina Ricci would be lending her acting talents to Tim Burton’s upcoming live-action Netflix series, simply titled Wednesday. Ricci won’t be reprising the role of the sadistic youth, but will take on a new role within the darkly comedic killer thriller. Appropriately enough, even though she was the most recently announced cast member to join the project, she’s also one of the first cast members to open up about the project, as her filming duties came to an end already. 

As the focus of her own panel during this year’s Steel City Con in Pittsburgh, Christina Ricci answered a slew of fan questions about her long career, and her work on such projects as Monster, Speed Racer, the Addams Family movies (obviously), and the upcoming supernatural thriller Monstrous. Naturally, the conversation turned to Tim Burton’s Wednesday at one point, and Ricci had only good things to say about the new show and its Latina star Jenna Ortega. In her words:

It’s excellent to hear that Ricci, whose work as Wednesday Addams will arguably remain the most memorable take for the rest of time, is so enthused by Jenna Ortega taking on the role for the new show. Not that Christina Ricci comes across as a vindictive person in any sense, but it’s no mystery that a lot of people in Hollywood get very protective over certain roles and the way those roles are handled. Nothing of the sort on display here.

Wednesday will mark her reunion with filmmaker Tim Burton, who will be directing all episodes of the new series. They first worked together on the 1999 gothic thriller Sleepy Hollow, and somehow haven’t fully crossed paths in the decades since. But I think many would agree that this is the epitome of projects that they’d be paired best on, so thank goodness it all came together. 

While it’s unclear how Christina Ricci will fit into Wednesday’s plot, it’s presumed that she will take on some of the storyline that was originally meant for Thora Birch’s character, the dorm mother Tamara Novak. Birch ended up exiting the production midway through filming for undisclosed reasons, leaving things a bit up in the air where her role was concerned. But I think we can all agree that Ricci could show up on screen to play a lamp post and it would be the most watchable and engaging lamp post on Netflix. 

The fact that Ricci namechecked former Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie when talking Wednesday could indicate that they will be sharing scenes together. Christie will be playing the principal of Nevermore Academy, the school where Wednesday and others are students in the midst of the killing spree happening, so it would be fitting if Ricci’s character is indeed connected to the Academy. 

One can only hope that she will also share scenes with other members of the Addams family itself, including Luiz Guzmán as Gomez and Catherine Zeta Jones as Morticia. Even if that doesn’t happen, though, I can’t wait to see how it all comes out, and with Danny Elfman’s musical expertise tying it all together.

With eight episodes lined up for its first season, Wednesday will debut on Netflix at some point in 2022. Stay tuned for more info, and stay up to date with everything else hitting the small screen this year with our 2022 TV premiere schedule.

Hollywood star Christina Ricci has experienced quite the positive career resurgence as of late, thanks in part to the critical acclaim and popularity earned by her Showtime thriller Yellowjackets. Things haven’t been quite as celebratory in certain sections of her private life, however, as she’s been in the midst of a difficult split from her ex-husband James Heerdegen that has been ongoing for nearly two years. Now, however, Ricci and Heerdegen may finally be on the way to an official conclusion, and it involves the same judge that handled Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s high-profile divorce and its many financial agreements.

Ricci reportedly still has a restraining order placed against James Heerdegen, as she’d accused him of various instances of domestic abuse when initially filing for divorce. (He has denied such allegations, claiming her to be the abuser.) But the bad blood may soon be drying up now, as Radar reports the pair informed the L.A. court that they chose to go the private route by hiring former Los Angeles Superior Court judge Scott Gordon. 

The well-established legal figure entering the equation is as good a sign as any that Ricci and Heerdegen aim to put their personal issues aside in order to work toward a faster resolution. The new court documents reportedly disclosed the respective actress and producer hammered out details regarding childcare and custody related to Christina Ricci’s busy work schedule. 

It’s stated that James Heerdegen agreed for their son Frederick to travel with her to a production shoot in the U.K. from March through April, which followed a filming shoot in Romania, which itself followed another project being shot in California in January and February. What’s more, Ricci also agreed to foot the costs for Heerdegen’s legal fees, which come out to around $10,000.

Considering how long Christina Ricci and James Heerdegen have been handling this legal battle — she has already since remarried and had a child with new hubby, hair stylist Mark Hampton — it’s safe to assume that bringing Scott Gordon in as a hire was a major step in the right direction. Even if some of the extenuating circumstances regarding their divorce remain unresolved, it’s likely that everyone involved would prefer to put it all to bed as opposed to keeping things contentious ad infinitum. 

Scott Gordon has a history of handling cases involving Hollywood entertainers, having presided over custody cases for Mel Gibson and Britney Spears in the years before he retired from the L.A. Superior Court. His work with Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s divorce was a headline-maker, since the Grammy-winning talk show host and her ex were tangled up over property ownership and rent issues for months ahead of their settlement. 

When TV viewers see Christina Ricci on TV again, they will be looking at a woman who thankfully isn’t dealing with divorce mess anymore. (Assuming nothing else comes up in the interim.) But will that come in the form of Yellowjackets Season 2 on Showtime, or via her return to the world of the Addams Family with Tim Burton’s upcoming Netflix dramedy Wednesday? 

Ever since news first broke that Tim Burton would be bringing his vision of the Addams Family universe to live-action on Netflix, fans have kept their fingers crossed (on disembodied hands) that the streaming series would in some way tie into the beloved ‘90s films from Barry Sonnenfeld. And now, the upcoming series Wednesday has done just that with the reveal that Christina Ricci has been cast, although we can’t currently speak to whether or not Issac Ordonez’s Pugsley needs to be doubly worried about his fate.

Having starred as Wednesday Addams in both 1991’s The Addams Family and its 1993 sequel The Addams Family Values, Christina Ricci is obviously the perfect O.G. cast member for Tim Burton’s Wednesday to lock down. But fans probably shouldn’t expect to see her donning the trademark pale skin and long dark braids for her introduction, as Deadline reports she won’t be portraying an older version of Jenna Ortega’s Latina take on Wednesday.

To that end, though, that’s about all we know of the character as far as specifics go. But it will apparently be more interesting than just “Random Soccer Mom #2,” though, because the details are being intentionally withheld in order to keep the reveal a surprise for viewers.  That said, we already know that Catherine Zeta-Jones will be portraying Morticia Addams, with Luis Guzmán as her loving husband Gomez, so don’t expect her to take on the role of Morticia, either. (Unless it’s in a flashback…)

It does appear as if Christina Ricci was added to the cast to fill the void that was left when the previously cast Thora Birch exited the role mid-production. The new character is said to be similar to Birch's, though isn't meant to be a full-on replacement. 

Even though Tim Burton's Wednesday is set to finish filming in Romania by the end of March 2022, that doesn't necessarily mean that Ricci's role will be a limited one. On the contrary, she has reportedly been filming the show on the DL for several weeks now. 

The news of Christina Ricci's casting is pretty huge on multiple levels. First and foremost, it'll be amazing to see her once again within the world of the Addams, even if she's not directly related by...blood. Second, it wasn't long after the initial news broke about Wednesday that fans got a petition going to try and get the actress cast in the show. Which isn't at all how the casting process tends to work in any branch of entertainment, but now that it's come true in this case, one can only wonder how much of a precedent it will be. I mean, we might as well also petition for others like Christopher Lloyd, Anjelica Huston and Carel Struycken to return in some capacity.

Stay tuned for more info about Wednesday, while also awaiting Christina Ricci’s returning to the cast of the hit horror drama Yellowjackets for Season 2. And fans can also check out all the other big Netflix shows coming in later months.

Yellowjackets is the latest Showtime series to gain a lot of critical and fan buzz with it now possible to watch Yellowjackets Season 2. The TV show revolves around members of a high school soccer team called the Yellowjackets. They survive a plane crash and must survive in the wilderness. Yellowjackets bounces back and forth from flashbacks of the 19 months they spent in the wilderness and the current surviving members as adults. The Yellowjackets cast includes an array of Hollywood veterans and newcomers, including Melanie Lynskey, Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci, and Tawny Cypress.

The Yellowjackets cast is one of the most exciting aspects of the TV series because it’s thrilling to watch great performances on television. You’ve likely seen many of the Yellowjackets cast members in other projects, so let’s take a look back at some of their most well-known or best works.

Melanie Lynskey (Shauna)

As an adult, Shauna (Melanie Lynskey) has a fairly established life with her husband and daughter, but she doesn’t seem quite happy. She’s being haunted by demons of her past and present. Lynskey is one of the queens of independent films. She’s been in many well-known independent flicks, such as Happy Christmas, Hello I Must Be Going, I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore, and Heavenly Creatures. 

Melanie Lynskey has also appeared in plenty of cult classics like But I’m a Cheerleader, Win Win, and Ever After. She’s also been in more well-known movies such as Seeking a Friend For the End of the World, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Coyote Ugly, and Sweet Home Alabama.  Lynskey also appeared in the TV shows Two and a Half Men, Togetherness, Castle Rock, and Mrs. America. She recently appeared in Don’t Look Up.

Juliette Lewis (Natalie)

Natalie (Juliette Lewis) jumps right back into the action after leaving rehab. She was a tough teen and is now an even tougher adult. Juliette Lewis began acting at an early age, so she has decades and decades of screen credits. She appeared in many '80s and '90s classics, such as National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Cape Fear, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Natural Born Killers, and From Dusk Till Dawn. Juliette Lewis’s other popular movies include Whip It, The Basketball Diaries  August: Osage County, Ma, and Old School.

Juliette Lewis also appeared in the TV shows The Wonder Years, The Firm, Secrets and Lies, Camping, The Conners, Sacred Lies, I Know This Much Is True, and Wayward Pines.

Christina Ricci (Misty)

Misty (Christina Ricci) isn’t the type of person you would want to be stuck in the wilderness with, as an adult or as a teen. Christina Ricci also got her start in Hollywood at a very young age. She made her movie debut alongside Cher and Winona Ryder in Mermaids. She then went on to appear as Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family and Addams Family Values. Christina Ricci also appeared in '90s films Casper, Now and Then, Bastard Out of Carolina, The Opposite of Sex, That Darn Cat, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and Sleepy Hollow. 

In the 2000s and 2010s, Christina Ricci appeared in Prozac Nation, Monster, Cursed, Penelope, Black Snake Moan, Mothers and Daughters, and Distorted. Ricci also appeared in the TV shows Ally McBeal, Saving Grace, Grey’s Anatomy, The Lizzie Borden Chronicles, Z: The Beginning of Everything, and The Good Wife. 

Tawny Cypress (Taissa)

Taissa (Tawny Cypress) has a loving wife and son, and she has built a successful life in politics. She seems the most far removed from what went on in the wilderness, but a dark past is never too far behind even the most seemingly well-adjusted human. Tawny Cypress is a screen and stage veteran. Her movie credits are limited but she appeared in the movies Autumn in New York, Bella, World Trade Center, Brooklyn’s Finest, and Remains. 

Tawny Cypress’s TV work includes NYPD Blue, All My Children, Heroes, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Rescue Me, House of Cards, Unforgettable,  Supergirl, The Blacklist, and Billions. 

Warren Kole (Jeff)

Jeff (Warren Kole) is Shauna’s husband. They have a complicated relationship because they began their romance as teens, and in a less than honorable manner. Warren Kole has appeared in many of your favorite TV shows, including Third Watch, Medium, CSI: Miami, 24,  Mental, The Chicago Code, The Following, Stalker, Shades of Blue, Blue Bloods, and Why Women Kill. 

Kole has also appeared in the movies A Love Song for Bobby Long, Mother’s Day, Game of Assassins, and The Avengers.

Ella Purnell (Jackie)

Jackie (Ella Purnell) is Shauna’s best friend. Jackie believes she knows everything about her bestie, but may soon learn that there is a lot she doesn’t know. Ella Purnell was part of the Maleficent cast as teen Maleficent. She also played Emma Bloom in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and Kate Ward in Army of the Dead. Ella Purnell also appeared in the films Never Let Me Go, Kick-Ass 2, and UFO.

She appeared  in the TV shows Sweetbitter, Belgravia, Arcane, and Star Trek: Prodigy. 

Samantha Hanratty (Teen Misty)

Misty as a teen (Samantha Hanratty) may be even weirder and scarier than adult Misty. She’s socially awkward but oddly skilled at survival. Many fans of the Lifetime Flowers in the Attic series may recognize Samantha Hanratty for playing Cindy in Seeds of Yesterday. Hanratty also appeared in the movies An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong, Jack and the Beanstalk, Moms’ Night Out, and Countdown. 

Samantha Hanratty also appeared in the NBC soap opera Passions. She appeared in episodes of House, Charmed, Drake & Josh, CSI: NY, and That’s So Raven. Hanratty had recurring or series regular roles on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Pushing Daisies, Chosen, Salem, The Vampire Diaries, and Shameless. 

Sophie Thatcher (Teen Natalie)

Natalie (Sophie Thatcher) is haunted by typical high school gossip, a bad reputation, and some family secrets. This has led to being considered a bit of a loner and outcast. Sophie Thatcher has done theater work, appearing in stage productions of Oliver, The Secret Garden, and Seussical. 

She only began her TV and film career in 2015, so Thatcher only has a few screen credits so far. They include Chicago P.D, The Exorcist TV series. Chicago Med, and the movies The Tomorrow Man and Prospect. 

Sophie Nélisse (Teen Shauna)

Shauna (Sophie Nélisse) seems to be in the shadow of her best friend Jackie. However, their newly (forced) living off the grid situation may allow Shauna to step into the spotlight. Sophie Nélisse appeared in the films Monsieur Lazhar and The Book Thief, both roles won her some award nomination recognition. Her movie credits also include The History of Love,  Wait Till Helen Comes, The Rest of Us, Flashwood, and The Kid Detective. 

Sophie Nélisse also appeared in the TV shows Mirador, Les Parent, Vertige, Demain des hommes, and Amours d’occasion. 

Steven Krueger (Coach Ben Scott)

Coach Ben Scott (Steven Krueger) is the assistant coach of the Yellowjackets soccer team. He’s one of the few adults on the plane when it crashes. Many may recognize Steven Krueger for being part of The Originals cast as Josh. He also had a recurring role on Roswell: New Mexico. Steven Krueger also appeared on episodes of Cold Case, 90210, CSI; NY, The Middle, Pretty Little Liars, and Workaholics. 

Krueger appeared in the TV shows Hawaii Five-O, Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television, Good Trouble, and NCIS. He also appeared in the movies A Lesson in Romance, Escape Plan, Goosebumps, and Satanic. 

Jasmin Savoy Brown (Teen Taissa)

Taissa (Jasmin Savoy Brown) still seems to be figuring herself out, but starting to take on more of a leadership role while the Yellowjackets are trying to survive. Jasmin Savoy Brown has appeared in episodes of The Fosters, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Grim, and Grey’s Anatomy. She may be best known for her role as Evangeline Murphy in The Leftovers. 

Jasmin Savoy Brown has also had recurring or main roles in For the People, Love, Will, and Stitchers. Brown appeared in Sound of Violence and will appear in the upcoming movie Scream.

Liv Hewson (Teen Van)

Van (Liv Hewson) is another character with a bit of a tough side. She has a connection with Taissa. Liv Hewson may be best known for playing Abby in Santa Clarita Diet. Their TV work also includes Dramaworld, The Code, Top of the Lake, Marvel’s Inhumans, and Back in Very Small Business. 

Liv Hewson has also appeared in the movies Before I Fall, Puzzle, Bombshell, Under My Skin, and Let it Snow.

Kevin Alves (Teen Travis)

Travis (Kelvin Alves) finds himself having to take care of his brother, navigate his complicated feelings about his father, and make sense of a new wilderness romance. Prior to acting, Alves was a professional champion figure skater. He appeared in episodes of Warehouse 13, The Expanse, Saving Hope, Two Sentence Horror Stories, Chicago Fire, and Locke & Key. 

Kevin Alves also had a recurring role on Shadowhunters and Degrassi: The Next Generation.

If you haven’t caught up on Yellowjackets, there is still plenty of time. It’s a show on the 2021 fall TV schedule that you can’t miss. Not only is the Yellowjackets cast entertaining to watch, but it’s been setting up one of the most intriguing TV mysteries of the year. It’ll also be back for Yellowjackets Season 2, so you can watch it knowing that the story will continue on Showtime, and your favorite characters and actors will likely return. Catch Yellowjackets every Sunday at 9:00 pm EST  on Showtime. 

There are few things that truly connect all generations in similar experiences, but one such thread through time is The Addams Family. The family of polite yet foreboding characters were created back in the '60s, and there have been numerous recreations throughout time, the most recent being the sequel to the animated version, The Addams Family 2, which has the youngest generation of macabre ghoulies getting pulled into the family we all love to indulge in.  

The classic dark comedy sitcom centering on the odd family only lasted two Seasons, but it certainly made a lasting impression. The first film adaptation came out back in 1991, and the actors who portrayed the creepy and kooky family are pretty much cemented in history as those characters, despite many other versions of the family existing. The 30 year anniversary is coming up to the original Addams Family movie, and we’re taking a look at where the iconic cast is now.

Anjelica Huston (Morticia)

Casting Anjelica Huston as Morticia Addams could have been the easiest, most obvious decision ever made in the history of filmmaking. The woman is severe and startling beauty, and thirty years later, Huston looks like she could walk right on a live-action set and take back up the role as Morticia in an instant. Her dark hair, fair skin, and piercing stare are enough for anyone to want to kiss her hand and pee themselves at the same time. The Witches actress has stayed pretty consistent in Hollywood since the late ‘60s up until pretty much now.

Most recently, you may have recognized her voice as the narrator of The French Dispatch, Wes Anderson’s newest film that was released this October and had a pretty epically star-studded cast. She has done a fair amount of voice acting in the last few years, in both children’s programs and adult cartoons. She has small recurring roles in both American Dad! And BoJack Horseman, and she voiced a character in Isle of Dogs and Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia. You may have also seen her in the most recent chapter of the John Wick franchise, where she played the type of character she usually hates in The Director. Anjelica Huston is very openly passionate about animals, though, so it totally makes sense she’d be a softy for some puppy-avenging John Wick. 

Raul Julia (Gomez)

Unfortunately, The Addams Family and the follow up that came a couple years after, Addams Family Values, were two of the last films that Raul Julia worked on. The actor passed away just a year after Family Values was released at the age of 54, due to a stroke. Other than playing Gomez Addams, he was known for his role in Street Fighter, which was finished just days after he passed away. Although he had a successful career in Hollywood, including several Golden Globe nominations, it was only really starting to take off when he died - who knows what kind of iconic performances we were robbed of with his passing.

Christina Ricci (Wednesday)

Wednesday is probably the most beloved of the Addamses, an opinion supported by the upcoming series named after her, and the then 10-year-old Christina Ricci did a phenomenal job portraying her in The Addams Family. She’s been active in Hollywood ever since, and shows no signs of slowing down. Ricci has completed filming on the newest Matrix film, The Matrix Resurrections which is set to release December 21st of this year. She also is working on the film Monstrous and the series Yellowjackets, in which she stars alongside Juliette Lewis. The Black Snake Moan actress has stayed pretty true to her Addams Family roots and is known for playing pretty dark roles. 

Jimmy Workman (Pugsley)

Wednesday’s deviant older brother Pugsley was played by Jimmy Workman, who is still in the movie business, but out from in front of the camera. The Addams Family was his claim to fame, but he has continued to work on the production of films. Most recently he has worked behind the scenes on The Last Manhunt, which was written and produced by Jason Momoa. 

Interestingly enough, Jimmy Workman’s younger sister is Ariel Winters, who has been able to duplicate success in front of the camera, having had her big break by playing Alex in Modern Family for its 11 year run.

Christopher Lloyd (Uncle Fester)

For a man who has been working in the industry for decades, Christopher Lloyd stays on that Hollywood grind. The guy has been putting out multiple projects every year since the mid ‘70s and has been a part of more than one iconic franchise (although, being a mainstay in the Back to The Future cast is notably enough to count as a few just by itself). Out of everyone on this list, Lloyd has the most going on professionally and he has been keeping majorly busy.

You can catch Christopher Lloyd in the George Clooney directed and Ben Affleck led film The Tender Bar, which is getting a December release this year. You may have caught a peek of him earlier this year in Nobody as Bob Odenkirk’s father, and he’s got the next few years lined up with projects that are either completed, finished with filming, or announced. You’ll find him among a number of recognizable stars in Man & Witch and playing a familiar type of role as an eccentric time traveler in Time, The Fourth Dimension, just to name a couple upcoming projects of Lloyd’s. 

Carel Struycken (Lurch)

Carel Struycken is easily recognizable in pretty much anything he plays in, thanks to his towering height. It’s pretty safe to say that he has fallen into a type cast thanks to his distinct look and has been in some pretty recognizable horror/creepy projects like Doctor Sleep, Twin Peaks, and Gerald’s Game. He was in this year’s The Eden Theory and typically plays non speaking roles, similar to his portrayal of The Addams Family’s Lurch. 

It’s interesting to note that Carel Struycken is one of the only Addams Family cast members to portray his character in all 3 of the live-action films, as most actors did not return for the TV movie Addams Family Reunion.

Judith Malina (Granny)

Judith Malina only ever appeared as Granny Addams in the first live-action film, not returning to the role for Addams Family Values. Malina passed away in 2015 at the age of 88, and her last project, the TV movie Over/Under, was released just two years before her death. She also appeared in When in Rome, Dog Day Afternoon, and The Sopranos.

Christopher Hart (Thing)

Christopher Hart is a Hollywood enigma, and one of the most interesting “fun facts” to whip out at any Halloween party. Hart has only ever played a hand. Literally every single one of his roles has been a disembodied hand. He is the main hand behind Thing, the only actor besides Carel Struycken to play in all three ‘90s live action Addams Family films. He is also known for his part in Idle Hands - again, playing just a hand. 

The very niche actor is a sleight of hand magician, and although his hands haven’t acted since ‘99, they’re still very much making magic for awed audiences.

John Franklin (Cousin It)

While The Addams Family would certainly be a jewel on any actor’s crown, John Franklin actually is most well-known for his role as Isaac in Children of the Corn, which was actually his very first film appearance and came almost 10 years before he played Cousin It. It’s not surprising he didn’t get a push forward in his career after The Addams Family, though, because he was hidden under a body of long luscious hair. 

John Franklin took a break from acting for a while and became a teacher. After a stint teaching the future generations, though, he returned to acting and writing. You may recognize him from an episode of Brooklyn 99 as a member of the ham handed Boyle family, Most recently, he was in the horror comedy Hell’s Kitty. 

Elizabeth Wilson (Abigail Craven)

Sadly Elizabeth Wilson passed away back in 2015, just a month after Judith Malina. She was 94 years old, and her life was a collection of incredible roles dating back to the ‘60s. She played Dustin Hoffman’s character’s mother in The Graduate, and she was also in the iconic Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds and 9 to 5 with Dolly Parton. She stayed active in Hollywood until about 2 years before her death.

Dan Hedaya (Tully Alford)

Dan Hedaya has been killing it since the ‘80s. He’s played in some truly iconic films, maybe most notably The Usual Suspects and Clueless in the ‘90s. He also had roles in Mulholland Drive, Blood Simple, Swimfan, A Night at the Roxbury, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. This year, Hedaya had The God Committee on his agenda, where he acted alongside the likes of Julia Stiles, Kelsey Grammer, and Fear The Walking Dead’s Colman Domingo.

Dana Ivey (Margaret Alford)

Dana Ivey has been successful in both film and broadway acting. She is a five time Tony nominated Broadway star and has been active in her Hollywood acting career since the ‘80s. She appeared in Boardwalk Empire, Two Weeks Notice, Sabrina, and Rush Hour 3. The last film she contributed to was Ocean’s 8, but she is appearing in a documentary that is in the works about Broadway called Broadway: The Next Generation. 

This mismatched cast may have come from all different backgrounds and went on to do so many different things, but they certainly worked together making The Addams Family movie into something truly special, that has now been remade into an animated version that the new generations can enjoy. This year’s The Addams Family 2 is now in theaters and available for on-demand streaming purchase. Another live-action series is in the works from director Tim Burton centered around Wednesday Addams, and we can hopefully expect that to drop sometime next year!

If you’re anything like us, you can’t wait to see what’s next for the kooky family. To stay updated on what’s to come to the big screen or streaming on your own screen at home, check out our schedule of upcoming 2022 new movie releases.

The Matrix 4 is finally releasing this December after being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fourth Matrix film reportedly spent a ton of money shooting in San Francisco, and Neo himself, Keanu Reeves, can’t stop praising the sequel’s script. The movie will see Reeves reunite with director Lana Wachowski for the first time since The Matrix: Revolutions and, now, the highly anticipated film has added another big name to the cast, which marks yet another reunion for director Lana Wachowski.

The Matrix 4 has quietly added Christina Ricci to its’s already stacked cast, according to Collider. The trade reportedly discovered the casting through an updated press kit sent by Warner Bros. Details of her character are unknown, but Ricci’s addition is a welcome one and only adds to the anticipation for the upcoming film.

The Matrix 4 will mark a new collaboration between Christina Ricci and Lana Wachowski, as the two previously worked on Speed Racer, an underrated movie that has gained a cult-like status since its release in 2008. Christina Ricci s known for starring in the Addams Family films, Sleepy Hollow, and many more films. Because news of Ricci joining the cast was kept under wraps, it will be interesting to see what her role is and how significant it will be.

Christiana Ricci joins a Matrix 4 cast that is already packed with big names and talented performers, including Keanu Reeves reprising the role of Neo, Carrie Ann Moss, who is returning as Trinity, Jada Pinkett Smith, who returns as Niobe, and franchise newcomers Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Neil Patrick Harris, and Priyanka Chopra. It will be exciting to see the roles of the new characters and where the old guard stand after the events of The Matrix: Revolutions.

Not much is known about The Matrix 4, not even the movie’s official title, but it is undoubtedly one of the year’s most anticipated movies. One known detail is that Laurence Fishburne will not be returning as Morpheus in The Matrix 4. With this, the reunion will be missing one of its biggest stars from the first three films, but it will still be cool to see the rest of the original characters in action again.

One former Matrix star has seemingly taken issue with the new film bringing Neo back to life, but that is about the only concern you can find from those involved with the franchise outside of Morpheous not returning. New Matrix star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has spoken about the two things he has learned from Keanu Reeves and Lana Wachowski. Meanwhile, Neil Patrick Harris has remarked on how the giant blockbuster still felt very intimate. Hopefully, these comments from the new stars are indicate that The Matrix 4 is something special.

To put it plainly, The Matrix 4 can’t get here soon enough. Between the new players like Christina Ricci entering the game and the original characters like Neo and Trinity returning, there is a lot to get excited about and, with any luck, we'll get that first trailer soon.

The Matrix 4 hits theaters and HBO Max on December 22.

Of all the actresses known for playing Wednesday Addams on stage or screen, I struggle to think of one other than Christina Ricci who is as iconic and widely celebrated for the role. The child acting prodigy gave a pitch perfect performance as a darker interpretation of the youngest lady in The Addams Family, at 11 years old in Barry Sonnenfeld’s 1991 adaptation and its 1993 sequel, that is still the character’s definitive portrayal.

Now, at 40 years old, the Santa Monica born actress is famous for more than just playing demented little girls. Christina Ricci has also played such diverse and even challenging roles like an abuse victim whose soul Samuel L. Jackson intends to save in Black Snake Moan, Trixie in Speed Racer, and Lizzie Borden in both a TV movie and miniseries about the alleged murderer from the Lifetime Network. When she is not on set, however, Christina Ricci has been commended for her outspoken in supporting female empowerment and ending sexual violence, which is what led her to become a National Spokesperson for RAINN (Rape Abuse Incest National Network) in 2007.

Learning all of this about Christina Ricci (for those who may not have known already) may come as a surprise to those who still remember her as the little girl from The Addams Family. Well, despite expressing interest in returning to the role if the opportunity arose, I imagine that she would most likely prefer to be remembered for more than that. Thus, we have compiled six facts about the actress that prove she is more than just Wednesday Addams, starting with one fact related to her her days as Wednesday Addams.

Christina Ricci Helped Choose The Plot Twist In The Addams Family

As previously mentioned, then 11-year-old Christina Ricci’s performance as Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family (the directorial debut of Men in Black helmer Barry Sonnenfeld) has, essentially, become the benchmark for all subsequent portrayals of the character since - including Chloe Grace Moretz in the more recent animated film from 2019. Believe it or not, Ricci even had a tremendous influence on the first film’s story, as Paul Rudnick revealed in the following quote from The Hollywood Reporter’s oral history about the 1991 production:

Paul Rudnick is referring to the first film’s plot twist in which the lovingly creepy Fester Addams’ (Back to the Future’s Christopher Lloyd) is discovered to be a greedy lookalike who's seeking his part of the family’s fortune. Yet, thanks to Christina Ricci’s suggestion, it would be amended into a double-plot twist revealing that it was just an amnesiac Uncle Fester the entire time. I suppose that is why the producers (perhaps as a “Thank you”?) expanded Ricci’s role beyond the screen for the sequel.

Christina Ricci Narrated An Audiobook Adaptation Of Addams Family Values

Before people had online services like Audible to have a disembodied voice read stories to them, there was a device known as an audiocassette which people could buy for such purposes, among others. In tandem with Addams Family Values hitting theaters, Paramount Pictures, in association with Sony Music Entertainment, released an audio recording of the 1993 sequel’s novelization on tape, as read by the film’s own Wednesday Addams.

Devon Sawa Credits Christina Ricci For Helping Him Land The Title Role Of Casper

While The Addams Family was Christina Ricci’s first comic book movie, the most successful would be the 1995 Harvey Comics adaptation Casper, in which a 15-year-old Ricci plays Kat, whose paranormal researcher father (Bill Pullman) encounters the titular spirit and his uncles in an infamous haunted mansion. 

While Malachi Pearson (also known for playing Flounder in Disney’s The Little Mermaid) provided the voice of the friendly ghost, his human form was portrayed by Devon Sawa, whose chemistry with Ricci earned him the part according to a Twitter exchange between the actor and director Brad Silberling on the day of the film’s 25th anniversary. In a later tweet, Sawa mentioned how Ricci would recommend him to play her love interest in the coming-of-age drama Now and Then, adding that he “owe[s] her the world.”

While Hosting SNL, Christina Ricci Accidentally Punched Ana Gasteyer On Stage

Ironically, what Christina Ricci would later owe Ana Gasteyer is an apology for a painful mistake that was captured on live television. The former Saturday Night Live actress recalled to Jenny McCarthy on her Sirius XM show how first-time host Ricci was so nervous that she drank “a considerable amount of champagne” to calm her nerves, so when the time came for her, as a reckless teen, to give Gasteyer (performing as talk show host Sally Jess Raphael) a faux punch, it ended up being a genuine strike in the nose. It seems that Gasteyer was not too offended, considering how she jokingly describes the moment Ricci’s fist sent her glasses to the floor as “fantastic.”

Christina Ricci Shared An Apartment With Pan Am Co-Star Margot Robbie

For her first starring role on a TV show, Christina Ricci played Maggie Ryan - one of the four main 1960s flight attendants at the center of Pan Am - ABC’s aerial answer to the success of fellow period drama Mad Men on AMC. Unfortunately, the series only lasted 14 episode between 2011 and 2012, but one silver lining to come out of it was Ricci finding a friend in then up-and-coming actress Margot Robbie. Ricci told UK-based Evening Standard in 2017 that she knew the Australian future Oscar nominee was going to be a star while they shared a New York apartment during the production of Pan Am.

What do you think? Should Christina Ricci take a second career as a fortune teller from how spot-on her premonition of Margot Robbie’s success would turn out to be, or is acting still her true calling? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on the career of the Addams Family star, as well as even more inside looks into the lives of your favorite celebrities, here on CinemaBlend.

If you grew up in the 90s, then there is a high chance that you saw Casper, and if you’re like me, there is an even bigger chance that you loved that fun (but slightly ridiculous) movie. The movie Casper is based on the Harvey Comics character of the same name. It starred Christina Ricci and Bill Pullman with voice-overs by Brad Garrett and Malachi Pearson. It’s been 25 years since the movie premiered, but we’re constantly learning interesting behind-the-scenes facts about Casper.

By today’s CGI heavy TV and film standards, Casper might not be that impressive in terms of technology, but in 1995, it was revolutionary. Not only is Casper very technically advanced for its decade but it’s also a film that now has a dedicated cult following. Many of the Casper’s behind-the-scenes facts are just as fascinating as the movie itself. Here are a few cool things to know about the making of Casper.

Casper Used More CGI Than Jurassic Park

The original Jurassic Park premiered a few years before Casper, and though the film had a world full of dinosaurs, they were no match for one friendly ghost, at least not CGI wise. To celebrate Casper’s 25th anniversary, director Brad Silberling shared some little behind-the-scenes tidbits on his Twitter page. One of them was that there were more CG shots in the (Casper) kitchen scene than in all of Jurassic.

The Los Angeles Times also shared this interesting fact about Casper’s CGI versus Jurassic Park’s CGI:

Twenty-Five Animators Worked On Creating Casper

In the series Movie Magic, Season 4, Episode 13,“Ghost Effects: Ghost Stories,” the creation of ghosts in various popular ghost films and TV series is explored. In the Casper portion of the episode, it was revealed that 25 animators worked to create the character.

They used a special software that could alter Casper’s facial expressions to preset modes, and then the animators would go back and add more details to Casper to make him fully dimensional. The animators also used actors to map out how to make Casper’s facial movement more life-like. According to Movie Magic, it took the animators 18 months to complete Casper’s 330 ghost shots.

J.J. Abrams Did Uncredited Script Rewrites On Casper

In 2018, Devon Sawa (who played the alive version of Casper) revealed on Twitter that J.J. Abrams was asked to write an alternative ending to Casper. It was approved and casting began. Steven Spielberg produced Casper, and it was the first time the men worked together. They collaborated again for Super 8. In an interview for Entertainment Weekly to promote Super 8, it was mentioned that Casper was the first time they worked together. Spielberg then gushed over J.J. Abrams writing abilities back then:

J.J. Abrams' work on Casper is uncredited, so we don’t know how much of the ending he wrote. Sherri Stoner and Deanna Oliver are credited with writing most of the Casper script.

Devon Sawa Credits Christina Ricci With Getting Him The Casper Role

On the day Casper reached its 25th anniversary, Devon Sawa tweeted out a thank you to Christina Ricci for playing a part in him landing the role of human Casper. Casper director Brad Silberling then added that “It was the color in Christina’s cheeks when I flew you down to meet us at lunch - THAT’S what sealed the deal.”

In an interview with Vulture, Sawa explained that Ricci helped him land his other iconic teen role in Now and Then. Sawa shared that Ricci recommended him for his role in Now and Then because they bonded while filming Casper. Ricci may have been the catalyst that set off Sawa’s career. He then went on to have more iconic roles like in Final Destination and as Stan in Eminem’s Stan video.

Brad Silberling Reached Out To Little Richard To Record The Casper Theme Song

Casper got a major dose of soul when music legend Little Richard sang the theme song for the movie. During Silberling’s Twitter Q&A to celebrate Casper’s 25th anniversary, he answered one fan's question about Little Richard appearing on the soundtrack.

Silberling said he did things the traditional way by contacting him directly to be involved. He also shared that Little Richard spent a day in the studio adding his vocals, style, and funk to the Casper theme. Silberling also shared the fun behind-the-scenes fact that Little Richard drank a lot of coffee before singing.

Casper Used The Equivalent Of 19 Million Floppy Disks For The Visual Effects

In the same Los Angeles Times article mentioned earlier, it states that Casper required “the equivalent of 19 million floppy disks of computer-generated images.” Remember floppy disks? Those little square thin things that you pushed into your computer and could save a few files, well it was the '90s, baby, so technology like CD ROMs hadn’t really taken over, followed by the boost of hard drives, and eventually the transition to Cloud storage. Imagine trying to save movie files or images on floppy disks for an over $50 million blockbuster movie. That thought adds a scary element to Casper.

James Horner Tapped Into The Fairytale Elements Of Casper’s Story To Compose The Movies’ Music

On the Casper: Special Edition DVD, there is a segment called “Revealing Casper,” which partly discusses composing the music for the film. Renowned composer James Horner, known for composing music for films like Titanic and Braveheart, composed the score for Casper.

In the DVD section, Silberling stated that Horner saw Casper as a modern fairytale and wanted to bring all those elements to it. Horner added that (at that time), he wanted to take on projects that brought something to him spiritually.

Horner went into the project with very little knowledge of the Casper comic, so he based most of the music on what he saw in the film. Horner said the film had charm and that his duty was to bring out the elements that showcased lost youth. He said that the loss of youth makes the film more of a fairytale.

A Maquette Of Casper Was Used During Filming

In an interview with Bobbie Wygant, Christina Ricci revealed that for plate shots, someone would hold a maquette, a small model, of Casper to help the actors know where to focus their attention. Ricci stated that it really helped her with scenes.

Ricci also shared that there was always someone reading the lines for Casper and the other ghost characters, but it was hard to visualize the final product until seeing it on screen.

Malachi Pearson Did All The CGI Voice-Overs Of Casper In The Film

Devon Sawa is the actor most associated with the character Casper in the film, but all of the voice-over work for the character was done by Malachi Pearson. Sawa even stated that he had 30 seconds in the film, but Malachi Pearson did most of the work. Sawa shared that it was a last-minute decision to make Casper human, and Pearson was too young at the time to play his human counterpart.

Pearson later went on to voice Casper in the spin-off animated series The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper. He voiced Casper from 1996 to 1998.

The Same House Used For Whipstaff Manor Was Used For A Backstreet Boys Video

The main mansion where all Casper’s action took place, where Casper and the Ghostly Trio resided, was also where the Backstreet Boys told everyone to “rock your body.”

In 1997, Backstreet Boys released “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” and the accompanying video. It was the first single from their second studio album Backstreet’s Back. The video had the boys ending up at a haunted house. They then each turned into various haunting creatures, like a vampire, mummy, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and a werewolf.

The video didn’t have any ghosts, likely because Casper was already there. Fans of both Backstreet Boys and Casper may recognize the similarities, especially the main circle floor where the Backstreet Boys do their memorable dancing scenes.

Steven Spielberg’s Cameo Was Cut From Casper

Casper features a scene where Dr. Harvey (Bill Pullman) takes on the appearance of several different celebrities, including Mel Gibson and Clint Eastwood. When Spielberg got his celebrity friends to appear in the movie, he pitched them by saying he would do a cameo as well.

Entertainment Weekly revealed that Spielberg’s moment in the movie was cut out because director Silberling thought the cameo scene was getting too long and he told him “you’re not the strongest of the group.” Silberling added that Spielberg was a little relieved to have his part cut because he felt obligated to do the cameo because that’s how he got others to agree to it.

Christina Ricci Said Casper Was Demanding Physically

In the same Bobbie Wygant interview, Ricci shared that Casper required a lot from her physically. She also added that it kept her mind busy because she had to focus on knowing where Casper would be and what he would be doing in each shot.

Ricci also added she had to run up and downstairs, screaming, and even had to exaggerate her reactions to match the ghosts.

Casper is currently available to stream on Netflix. Stream it here.

Christina Ricci, the actress known for her work on Casper, Speed Racer and Black Snake Moan, has filed for divorce from her husband to the L.A. County Superior Court on Thursday. She cited irreconcilable differences, and also reported a domestic altercation.

According to TMZ, Christina Ricci was married to dolly grip and film producer James Heerdegen for seven years, and they share a five-year-old son, of whom Ricci requested sole legal and physical custody. Reportedly, Christina Ricci received an emergency protective order a week ago after she claimed James Heerdegen spit on her. Heerdegen has not been arrested, but he has been ordered to stay away from Ricci.

Christina Ricci and James Heerdegen both met on the set of short-lived 2011 TV show Pan Am, a story about pilots and flight attendants in the 1960s which, at the time, came under fire for sexism; an accusation Christina Ricci denied. Shortly after the one-season show ended, Ricci and Heerdegen got married on October 26, 2013 in New York City.

Christina Ricci started her career as a childhood actor in the early '90s. It wasn’t until her roles in The Addams Family as Wednesday Addams and Kat in Casper that she started becoming a household name. During that time, she hopped back and forth between family-friendly movies, like That Darn Cat, to not so family-friendly movies, like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and The Ice Storm.

Like most childhood stars that grow up fast, Christina Ricci took on more edgy, dramatic roles, like in Black Snake Moan. The movie, which received fair reviews at the time of its release and wasn’t a commercial success by any means, is a 2006 southern gothic starring Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci about a God-fearing bluesman named Lazarus (Jackson) that finds a half-naked, drunk, party girl in his driveway. He nurses Christina Ricci’s character back to health but then chains her to a radiator to help cure her mental health as well.

Fast forward to nowadays, and you’ll find Christina Ricci has performed primarily in dramas and thrillers, with the occasional family-friendly project like Smurfs 2. She more recently spoke about her performance in Distorted about a woman with bipolar disorder who thinks the state-of-the-art apartment complex she lives in isn’t what it seems.

Christina Ricci isn’t the only big star filing for divorce this year, particularly during these turbulent times. It was reported in early June that The Voice’s Kelly Clarkson filed for divorce from her husband Brandon Blackstock after seven years of marriage. Like Christina Ricci, Kelly Clarkson also cited irreconcilable differences and requested to not have to pay spousal support.

Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for the latest in movie news and updates on the actors who appear in them.

Warning: minor SPOILERS for Distorted are ahead!

For her latest movie, Distorted, Christina Ricci's character, Lauren Curran, has already been through a lot before the events of the thriller begin. In addition to suffering from bipolar disorder, it's also revealed during the movie that she's still coping with losing her child. Take all that and throw in a building that has darks secrets in every corner, and you have a main character who has a lot to deal with mentally. When it came to preparing for this role, Ricci certainly didn't shy away from delving into her character's headspace, although she didn't dwell that much on the child aspect of it all. The actress explained:

Distorted sees Lauren and her husband Russell, played by Brendan Fletcher, moving into a state-of-the-art apartment complex packed with smart technology. However, Lauren soon begins to suspect that this building is not as it seems, but due to her bipolar disorder and loss, she has trouble convincing Russell and others that the strange things she's seen and heard are real. As Christina Ricci told me when I recently spoke with her about Distorted and other areas of her career, even if she wasn't keen on imagining what it would be like to lose her child, she was certainly game to play a character who'd suffered through such trauma and has that lingering doubt in the back of her mind about if all this is real.

Fortunately for Christina Ricci's Lauren, she eventually learns that everything she's experienced since moving into this complex is not one big delusion. With the help of John Cusack's Distorted character, investigative journalist Vernon Sarsfield, she figures out that the people controlling this building are brainwashing its inhabitants, and now must avoid being turned into another one of their pawns.

Directed by Rob W. King, Distorted is now playing in theaters and is available on VOD. To find out what other movies are coming out this year, look through our 2018 release schedule.

Christina Ricci has played a wide variety of roles over her acting career, from Kat Harvey in Casper to Terra in the animated movie Teen Titans: The Judas Contract. In recent years, Ricci has primarily left her mark in smaller movies and the television realm, but should the opportunities present themselves, she'd love to to return to two classic properties she lent her talents to. Specifically, the actress has expressed interest in both revisiting the world of Addams Family and reprising Trixie from Speed Racer.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Christina Ricci about her upcoming thriller Distorted, which she stars in alongside John Cusack, and we also spent a little time talking about other areas of her career. As most of you already know, Ricci's breakthrough performance was playing Wednesday Addams in 1991's The Addams Family, and she reprised the dark, precocious youth in 1993's Addams Family Values. When I asked her if she would be interested in appearing in anything Addams Family-related again, be it as matriarch Morticia Addams, an adult Wednesday or in another capacity, she responded:

While there isn't another live action Addams Family movie on the way anytime soon, the creepy and kooky clan are getting the animated theatrical treatment next year, though the Morticia and Wednesday roles have already been filled by Charlize Theron and Chloë Grace Moretz, respectively. While Ricci thinks it's great that Charles Addams' creation is still being kept alive and revamped, she's also interested in participating in the franchise again should the occasion arise.

Then there's Speed Racer, the 2008 adaptation of the same named 1960s anime and manga that was earned negative reception at the time of release, but has since become a cult favorite. Shortly after Speed Racer's release, there was talk about The Wachowskis possibly making a sequel, and while nothing ever came of that, Christina Ricci is still game to play Trixie again. The actress said:

Back in May, Emilie Hirsch, who played Speed Racer's eponymous protagonist, tweeted that there is a Speed Racer 2 script that's been written, and he called upon fans to show their support for seeing a follow-up. Given that the original movie didn't even make its budget back, the odds of a sequel going into production certainly don't seem likely, but if by whatever chance Speed Racer 2 does move forward, fans can rest easy knowing that Christina Ricci would be willing to jump back into this colorful world.

You can see Christina Ricci next in Distorted, which will be released in theaters and VOD tomorrow, June 22. Don't forget to also look through our 2018 release schedule to find out what other movies come out this year.

Nobody should be forced to make out with someone while their mother is watching. But that's exactly what Elijah Wood had to go through when he shot The Ice Storm, and he only found scant consolation in the fact that the person he was smooching was Christina Ricci. Things got even worse for both Elijah Wood and Christina Ricci on the set of that film, as the Lord Of The Rings actor admitted that their kissing in the scene was far from conventional. Elijah Wood explained,

Yep, that sounds like one of the most awkward circumstances known to mankind. If Debbie Wood, Elijah's mother, had any sense about her she had her fingers in her ears and her eyes firmly closed while her son partook in his bout of tonsil hockey with Christina Ricci during filming. But while Elijah Wood, who was 16 at the time of The Ice Storm's release, had to endure this particularly excruciating experience, which he recalled on Talking with Chris Hardwick over at AMC, things were even more awkward for Christian Ricci during production.

That's because Christina Ricci, who was 17-years-old when the Ang Lee drama was released, had to film a lot more than just kissing Elijah Wood in the film. In The Ice Storm Christina Ricci's rather promiscuous character Wendy explores her burgeoning sexuality with her two neighbors Mikey (Elijah Wood) and Sandy (Adam Hann-Byrd) throughout, and even finds herself getting drunk and sharing a bed with the latter in the film, too.

Released back in 1997, The Ice Storm is set in 1973 and revolves around two dysfunctional upper-class families from Connecticut. Ben (Kevin Kline) and Elena (Joan Allen) Hood have a 16-year old son Paul (Tobey Maguire) and a 14-year-old daughter (Christina Ricci), while their neighbors Jim (Jamey Sheridan) and Janey (Sigourney Weaver) Carver have their sons Mikey and Sandy. However, Ben is having an affair with Janey, and The Ice Storm explores the social changes of the decade, as well as sexual experimentation, adultery, and alcoholism. As well as its pretty impressive ensemble cast, it was also directed by future two-time Academy Award winner Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain and Life Of Pi).

However, despite impressive reviews and a score of 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, The Ice Storm ultimately failed to find an audience, grossing just $8 million from its $18 million. Those of you who decide to watch the film after this article will probably struggle to get the thought of Elijah Wood's mother watching her son and Christina Ricci kissing out of their minds, which I'm guessing could be enough to immediately ruin it.

Lifetime is taking another stab at Lizzie Borden. This week, the cable network announced that it will produce a 6-episode limited series based on the life of the woman acquitted for killing her mom and dad. The new series is rolling with the title Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles. The limited series is the follow-up to the network’s recent movie Lizzie Borden Took An Ax.

The series will pick up after the events in Lizzie Borden Took An Ax, and as it is a sequel of sorts to the movie, many of the same characters will be involved. Christina Ricci will be back to play Lizzie and Clea DuVall has signed on to play Lizzie’s sister, Emma, once more. According to the network, the show will pick up a short time after Lizzie was acquitted for murdering her mother and father with an ax.

In real-life Lizzie Borden stayed in Fall River, Massachusetts after her high-profile trial. She lived a mostly quiet life, although she never lived down her reputation, exacerbated by her probable shoplifting issues. That wouldn’t exactly make for great television, however, and that’s not how Lifetime plans to play out Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles. Instead the show will focus on a series of mysterious deaths in Fall River, including the deaths of Lizzie’s half-brother and a criminal mastermind.

Lifetime has also signed on a few other names for Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles. Prison Break and Home Alone dad John Heard has signed on to play William Almy, a businessman who just so happened to work with Lizzie’s father before he was whacked. Limitless actor Andrew Howard will play Lizzie’s half-brother, although we have no idea how long that gig will last before he becomes one of the aforementioned victims. Finally, Rogue’s Cole Hauser will play Pinkerton detective Charlie Siringo, who will investigate the deaths, attempting to prove that Ms. Borden was the mastermind behind them all.

Christina Ricci and Judith Verno will executive produce the project, which will be written by Greg Small, Rich Blaney, Barbara Nance, Jason Grote and David Simkins. Covert Affairs director Stephen Kay will helm the first two episodes.

We’ve moved from the realm of historical fiction into historical fantasy, but Lifetime seems pretty happy to be there. After all, why not? The network is known for its juicy storytelling and Lizzie Borden Took An Ax did quite well for the cable channel, pulling in 4.4 million total viewers, just falling short of the highly watched Flowers in the Attic premiere.

Lifetime hasn’t set an official premiere date, yet, but whether you are interested in the fake history of Lizzie Borden or not, expect to see Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles hit the schedule in 2015.

Christina Ricci often favors playing oddball characters in her work, which is probably why she recently signed on to play a famous alleged murderess in a made-for-TV movie. The actress has been hired to play Lizzie Borden, the woman famous for standing accused of killing her stepmother and father with a hatchet-like item way back in 1892. In the time since, the woman has been remembered thanks to books and even some small screen projects based on her life and potentially murderous motivations. Now, it seems she’ll join the likes of Amanda Knox and Casey Anthony in becoming the topic of a Lifetime original movie. The movie will be based on Borden’s trial after the murders of Andrew Jackson Borden and his second wife, Abby Durfee Gray Borden.

Deadline first reported the news that Ricci was attached to play the supposed hatchet killer on Friday. Currently, the movie still seems to be in the early stages over at Lifetime, but the outlet is also noting that Nick Gomez is signed on to direct and frequent Lifetime collaborator Judith Verno is signed on to executive produce the Sony Pictures Television movie. Currently, the Lizzie Borden flick doesn’t seem to be rolling with a title.

During pilot season, there was a brief period of time where it looked like Christina Ricci might be returning to the TV realm. The actress signed on for NBC’s Girlfriend in a Coma pilot, but dropped out about a month later. It’s a shame; while I get why Ricci would want to try her hand at getting into the mind of a murderess and taking on a character like Lizzie Borden, I really wish we could have seen her on TV in a more regular capacity next season. Despite not really digging ABC’s boring airway program, Pan Am, I did like the actress on the series and do think she could be a good fit for television if she finds the right role. In the meantime, we’ll keep you updated as Lifetime continues to let audiences in on details concerning the Lizzie Borden movie.

Looks like Christina Ricci won’t have to be in a coma after all. She is exiting the NBC pilot for Girlfriend in a Coma, in which she was set to play the leading role, apparently after the table read. I’d like to think she just left because the show’s title is too awful to bear.

Ricci was the first cast member to come on board the project back in February. She signed on to play the role of Karen, a woman who has been in a coma for seventeen years and wakes to discover she has a teenage daughter she didn’t know about. iCarly star Miranda Cosgrove is set to play the daughter, Evie, whose overachieving ways are thrown into chaos when her mother suddenly wakes up. I had thought the two might make a good mother-daughter pair, but now Deadline says the part will be re-cast in the wake of Ricci’s decision to drop out.

Ricci came on board the comedy project on the heels of her failed ABC show Pan Am, which was cancelled after just one season and low ratings. She went on to a guest starring role in The Good Wife, and has been busy on the big screen in films like Around the Block and the upcoming Mother’s Day with Susan Sarandon and Sharon Stone.

Girlfriend in a Coma is based on the book by Douglas Coupland and comes from Nurse Jackie’s Liz Brixius. With Ricci out, the will need to find another talent who can make us all see past the awful title.

Christina Ricci's work of late seems to have the common thread of being period pieces, with her starring role in ABC's Pan Am and a part starring alongside Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman and Kristin Scott Thomas in Bel Ami. With Pan Am grounded after one season, that should leave her schedule open for feature roles, among which will be a part in Mother's Day.

From Welch writer/director Paul Duddridge, the film will look at the relationships between various mothers and daughters. According to Deadline, Ricci has been cast in the movie, joining Susan Sarandon and her real life daughter Eva Amurri Martino. At this point, it looks like that's it for the announced cast, though it seems likely that we'll hear of more casting soon enough. There's no word on whether Ricci will be playing the mother-side or the daughter-side of a duo, assuming it's one or the other (or both).

Mother's Day is described as a drama, and seems to bear no relation to other recent "Day" movies (Valentine's Day, New Years Day), with Duddridge's past credits appearing to be focused mainly on television. But it looks like the movie is already having some success bringing in notable names. Sarandon's recent work has her playing Joy in Showtime's underrated drama series The Big C, and she has a number of movies in the works, including the feature adaptation of Cloud Atlas. Meanwhile, Ricci's recent roles include Pan Am and Bel Ami, and she's also set to lend her voice to the Smurfs sequel. It'll be interesting to see who else joins Mother's Day.

On July 29 of last year, The Smurfs opened nationwide, and despite being largely loathed by critics was a box office smash. In just two weeks it had already banked $128 million worldwide, and so Sony giddily announced Smurfs 2 would descend on audiences in summer of 2013. The Smurfs went on to make more than $560 million worldwide, confirming to Sony that not only was a sequel a mandate, but also that they shouldn't change a thing.

Their next move was bringing back J. David Stem and David Weiss, who wrote the first movie, to draft Smurfs 2. Director Raja Gosnell—who is also responsible for Scooby Doo and Beverly Hills Chihuahua—is likewise set to return. All that's left, it seems to re-wrangle The Smurfs cast.

While none of the first feature's stars have yet to commit to a sequel, THR expects many of them will reprise their roles. But the news of the moment is that Christina Ricci has signed on to play Vexi, a sort of evil twin of Smurffettes's.

Now those who saw the movie may recall that Smurfette—in a weird real talk/gal pal bonding moment—confesses to Jayma Mays' character that she was actually created by Gargamel as part of an evil ploy, but has been accepted by the Smurfs as one of their own. It's an element from the TV show (I'm admittedly unfamiliar with the original Belgian comic) that's disconcerting because of its gender implications—since Smurfette was the only female character in Smurfville for a long time—and was introduced to destroy them. But in the context of the movie it also managed to totally undercut the plot where Gargamel pursues the Smurfs to use them for magic, because a little bit of Smurfette's hair contained enough—I don't know—Smurfiness to work. So why chase them? Why not just create another Smurf? It seems this is where the sequel will go, though whether the story will stay confined to the Smurf's dimension is unknown.

If you, like me, did not enjoy The Smurfs movie, I suggest listening to the podcast How Did This Get Made, which serves as a brilliant catharsis for being oversmurfed.

At the Television Critics Association press tour Sunday, the Pan Am panel including Christina Ricci sought to dispel concerns that the new drama will be sexist -- and they argued that it won’t in any way resemble Mad Men, according to TV Guide.

Sure, the ladies of the sky portrayed in the drama will have to wear girdles, and they will be shown being weighed in to conform to required weight standards. But Christina Ricci, who will star as the head stewardess, Maggie, insists that the message is really one of empowerment and a good one for young women.

Set in the 1960s, when air travel was really taking off and a flight was a true experience to be savored, Pan Am tells the story of the flight crews, including stewardesses and pilots. In spite of being set in the same era, the show is in no way similar to the hit Mad Men, which is known for its decidedly misogynistic leanings. In fact, the producers and cast are really getting a little tired of the comparison. Executive producer Thomas Schlamme told TCA press in no uncertain terms that Pan Am “has nothing to do with Mad Men."

Although the producers admit that the physical requirements of the job as portrayed in the series raise eyebrows by today’s politically correct standards, it won’t be a focus of the show. The series incorporates the reality of that aspect of the job but is meant to show the excitement and drama of the time. Pan Am aims to portray intelligent women taking on a career that offered opportunities for experiences not otherwise available to women at the time, the TCA panel insists. Right, as long as they looked good doing it.

Pan Am premieres Sunday, September 25th at 10/9c on ABC.

Well, this is about as sure of a thing as you can get in pilot season. It seems period dramas are mounting a comeback. Stepping up to fill a possible void that may or may not be left by Mad Men's heated contract negotiations, the Playboy Club with ace in the hole Amber Heard and now Pan Am with its own star, Christina Ricci, are two new show candidates putting a racy spin on the notoriously stuffy genre.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ricci is in serious talks to topline the cast of Pan Am. The primetime soap follows the once promising airline during its heyday in the 1960s. Think of it like Grey's Anatomy in the air with less doctorates. The pilots and the stewardesses will mingle and work during the glory years when people still wore suits when they flew and considered hotness a flight attendant prerequisite.

West Wing director Thomas Schlamme will helm and Jack Orman, a heavy force behind E.R., has already completed the script. If Ricci officially boards, look for this to make the fall schedule.

A children's movie done right can be a great thing. Creating a film that both kids and adults can enjoy equally is nothing short of a magical process, with each demographic getting something different out of the experience. From the look of the first international trailer for Lionsgate's Alpha and Omega, this film won't be one of them.

Lionsgate Films UK posted the trailer on its YouTube account and the video is nothing more than a Lady and the Tramp ripoff with wolves instead of dogs (real stretch there, guys). The short clip is nothing more than a minute of cheap slapstick humor and jokes about heavy wolves lying on top of smaller wolves. By the end you get the sense that someone just plum forgot to stick in a fart sound effect. Also, Steppenwolf's Born To Be Wild should be forever banned from appearing in another movie promotion.

Check out the trailer below.