Jenna Ortega Plans Hiatus from Television After 'Wednesday' Season 3
The 'Wednesday' star announced her intention to step back from TV roles to pursue other opportunities.
Jenna Ortega, star of Netflix's hit series "Wednesday," has announced plans to take a break from television acting once the show concludes its upcoming third season. The actress revealed her intention during an appearance on Josh Horowitz's "Happy Sad Confused" podcast.
"I think after ‘Wednesday,’ I’ll probably be off the TV for a while," Ortega stated. She explained that she has been working in television since childhood, moving from one show to another. "I want to leave time for new things," the 24-year-old added.
Filming for the third season of "Wednesday," which is slated for a 2027 release, recently concluded. Ortega reprises her role as the titular character, Wednesday Addams, in the Tim Burton-directed series. The cast also includes Luis Guzmán as Gomez Addams, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams, and Isaac Ordonez as Pugsley Addams. Winona Ryder and Eva Green are also set to join the upcoming season.
"Wednesday" has been a significant success for Netflix since its debut in 2022, earning multiple Emmy awards. The second season aired in 2025.
Ortega's career in film and television began in the early 2010s, with previous roles in "Jane the Virgin," "Stuck in the Middle," and "You." She has also spoken about the pressures of being a young actor in the industry, recalling instances of not eating or drinking for an entire day on set as a child.
Her film credits include "Iron Man 3" (2013), "The Fallout" (2021), "X" (2022), and "Death of a Unicorn" (2025).
This planned hiatus follows Ortega's departure from the "Scream" franchise. After starring in the 2022 film "Scream" and "Scream VI" in 2023, she exited the series. Ortega cited the firing of her co-star Melissa Barrera and the potential lack of returning directors as reasons for her decision, stating that the project "didn’t seem like the right move for me in my career at the time."
Earlier this year, Ortega also shared that she had contemplated quitting acting before securing her role in "You."