Jenna Ortega to Star in Lionsgate’s “Miller’s Girl”

Jenna Ortega is readying for a new project…

The 19-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexicam American actress and new Scream queen has boarded Lionsgate and Point Grey’s Miller’s Girl opposite Martin Freeman.

Jenna OrtegaThe film reps the directorial debut from writer-director Jade Halley Bartlett, whose screenplay for the project ranked on the 2016 Black List.

In Miller’s Girl, a creative writing assignment yields complex results between a teacher and his talented student. Point Grey has been attached to the project ever since it arrived on the Black List.

Mary-Margaret Kunze is producing with Point Grey.

Erin Westerman, President of Production for the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, tells Deadline, “While we are excited for the movie to speak for itself, the level of talent assembled for this special film is a testament to Jade, whose screenplay lures you in with her dazzling voice. And then eats you alive.”

The film is currently shooting in Georgia. Lionsgate is handling global sales.

Ortega will next star in the title role of the Tim Burton Netflix series Wednesday, centering on the Addams Family character.

In January she starred in the $140M-global grossing Scream and is set to reprise her role in the hit franchise’s sixth installment.

She recently wrapped production on the crime thriller Finest Kind directed by Oscar winner Brian Helgeland, was last seen starring in A24’s X and HBO’s The Fallout.

Netflix Releases First Look at Jenna Ortega as “Wednesday” in Upcoming Addams Family Television Series

Jenna Ortega is embracing her Family

Netflix has revealed the first look at “Wednesday,” the upcoming Addams Family television series starring the famous clan’s daughter, with the 19-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American actress and Scream 5 star in the title role.

Jenna OrtegaFirst created by Charles Addams for a series of New Yorker cartoons, the Addams Family is a bizarre aristocratic clan with an obsession of the macabre and a complete lack of concern regarding how others perceive them.

Following their creation, the characters grew in popularity after a 1964 sitcom fleshed out their personalities, and have since starred in two live-action theatrical films, two animated series, a Broadway musical and two animated films.

The only daughter of parents Gomez and Morticia, Wednesday was depicted in the original sitcom as the most sweet-natured of the family.

However, the 1991 Barry Sonnenfeld-directed film adaptation changed her personality to be much more deadpan and sadistic, with Christina Ricci’s portrayal in the film making her one of the most popular characters in the franchise.

“Wednesday” spins-off the character as she attends a boarding school Nevermore Academy, where she develops psychic powers and investigates a supernatural killing spree connected to her own family’s history.

In addition to Ortega as Wednesday, the rest of the Addams Family will make appearances in the show. Catherine Zeta-Jones is part of the main cast as matriarch Morticia, while Victor Dorobantu plays the disembodied hand servant of the family, Thing. Isaac Ordonez plays Wednesday’s brother Pugsley in a recurring role, while George Burcea plays the family manservant Lurch. Luis Guzmán will guest star in the series as Wednesday’s father Gomez.

The main cast of the show includes Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Percy Hynes White, Gwendoline Christie, Thora Birch, Hunter Doohan, Joy Sunday, Emma Myers, Georgie Farmer, Naomi Ogawa and Moosa Mostafa. In a nod to the ’90s films, Ricci will also appear in an unconfirmed role.

Al Gough and Miles Millar, the creators of the Superman series Smallville, serve as showrunners and executive producers for the series.

Tim Burton will also executive produce and direct the majority of episodes, with Gandja Monteiro and James Marshall serving as additional directors.

 

The series is produced by MGM Television for Netflix.

Jenna Ortega to Star in Netflix’s Addams Family-Themed Series “Wednesday”

Jenna Ortega is all about Hump Day

The 18-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American actress has landed the title role in WednesdayTim Burton’s live-action Addams Family series for Netflix focused on the iconic character of Wednesday Addams.

Jenna Ortega

The coming-of-age comedy, written by Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar and to be directed by Burton, is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ (Ortega) years as a student at Nevermore Academy. That’s where she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships.

The YA series, Wednesday Addams’ first solo vehicle, marks Burton’s first live-action show and his television directing debut.

Ortega is taking over the role from Christina Ricci, the actress most closely associated the character, who played Wednesday in both feature films, The Addams Family in 1991 and sequel Addams Family Values in 1993.

Burton executive produces with Gough and Millar, who will serve as showrunners on the series. Wednesday is produced by MGM Television, which controls the underlying rights to the IP.

Ortega burst onto the scene in 2014 with two major recurring roles on Fox’Rake and the CW’s Jane the Virgin. The latter, where Ortega played younger version of the title character, put her on the map, and Ortega quickly landed her first series lead role on Disney Channel’s Stuck In the Middle.

A lead role on Season 2 of Netflix’s You followed. On the streamer, Ortega also recently co-starred in hit feature comedy Yes Day.

Her recent feature credits also include leads in The Fallout and the upcoming Scream.

Ortega shared the news on Instagram:

Christina Aguilera to Contribute New Music to Animated “Addams Family” Movie Soundtrack

Christina Aguilera is joining the Family

The 38-year-old half-Ecuadorian American singer will contribute original music to the upcoming animated Addams Family movie soundtrack, according to MGM

Christina Aguilera

Aguilera will perform “Haunted Heart,” which was written by Antonina Armato, Aguilera and Tim James. It was produced by Rock Mafia. “Haunted Heart” will be released later this month by RCA Recordsahead of the film’s debut. 

But Aguilera isn’t the only Latina appearing on the soundtrack…

Karol Gwill perform “My Family” alongside MigosRock Mafiaand Snoop Dogg. The song was written by Antonina ArmatoQuavious Keyate MarshallCarolina GiraldoDanny ParraTim JamesCalvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. and Vic Mizzy. It’s produced by Rock Mafia.

It’ll be the first Addams Family track to be released. The track is being released by MGM Records and distributed by 12 Tone Music

“Christina Aguilera, Migos, Karol G, Rock Mafia and Snoop Dogg are powerhouse talents,” said MGM Motion Picture Group president Jonathan Glickman said in a statement. “We could not have asked for a better lineup of global superstars to help audiences embrace the weird and celebrate the absurd with two brand-new songs that perfectly [complement] this fresh, fun take on MGM’s beloved franchise, just in time for Halloween.”

The first new song, a collaboration between Migos, Karol G, Rock Mafia and Snoop titled “My Family,” will be released on Friday, September 13. 

Featuring the voice talents of Oscar IsaacCharlize TheronChlöe Grace Moretz and Bette Midler, The Addams Familyis slated to hit theaters nationwide on October 11.