A potential character recasting for Wednesday season 2 can put an actor in the spotlight after he went relatively unseen in a massive movie trilogy. While there are still many mysteries surrounding Wednesday season 2’s plot details, the cast for the follow-up installment is finally taking shape. Following the announcement that Steve Buscemi and Thandiwe Newton joined the show, Netflix announced the rest of Wednesday season 2’s cast, including Christopher Lloyd, Billie Piper, and Haley Joel Osment. There were also some updates regarding Addams Family characters.
Aside from Wednesday season 2 fixing an Addams Family complaint by promoting Gomez, Morticia, and Pugsley to series regulars, the upcoming installment will also feature Grandmama. Joanna Lumley’s character will join the immediate family, Uncle Fester, and Thing, as confirmed franchise characters set to appear in season 2. Based on teases, there is also reason to believe that Lurch will return, but it looks like there will be some changes with the Addams family’s butler.
Wednesday’s Lurch Actor Not Returning For Season 2 Hints Joonas Suotamo Has Been Recast In The Role
Another Wednesday Actor Won’t Be Back For Season 2 Of The Netflix Show
According to an Instagram post (via Reddit) from Wednesday‘s original Lurch actor, George Burcea, the actor won’t be returning for season 2. Granted, that doesn’t mean Lurch will be absent for the next season, considering Joonas Suotamo has joined the show. No announcement regarding who he’s playing has been shared, but Suotamo is likely taking over the role of Lurch for Wednesday season 2. Burcea appeared in three episodes of Wednesday‘s first season, accompanying the Addams family by driving them to and from Nevermore Academy.
The Addams Family character is, of course, known for his large, hulking presence. Therefore, anyone capable of portraying the butler must be intimidating in size, which was an easy feat for Burcea’s 6-foot 3-inch tall stature. Suotamo, best known for playing Chewbacca in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, would easily make for a convincing Lurch, seeing as the Finnish actor is 6 foot 11 inches in height. If Suotamo isn’t joining Wednesday as part of a recast, it would be interesting to discover what kind of character the show has in store for someone of the actor’s size.
Joonas Suotamo’s Role As Lurch In Wednesday Season 2 Can Redeem His Star Wars Roles
The Chewbacca Actor Can Finally Get More Exposure
Wednesday season 2 can break an important trend for Suotamo by highlighting more of the actor.
Playing Chewbacca in three Star Wars sequels, which went on to earn over a billion combined at the worldwide box office, is certainly something to celebrate. That said, Joonas Suotamo never had a chance to share the spotlight with his co-stars since his face was never directly shown during his acting roles. This remains true for Suotamo’s roles following the sequel trilogy, including Willow and Disney+’s upcoming Star Wars series, The Acolyte, which features the actor portraying another Wookiee. Wednesday season 2 can break an important trend for Suotamo by highlighting more of the actor.
Joonas Suotamo’s Notable Movies & TV Shows
Character
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Chewbacca
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
Chewbacca
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Chewbacca
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Chewbacca
Willow (2022-2023)
The Scourge
The Acolyte (2024)
Kelnacca
Wednesday (2025)
TBD
Lurch obviously has a notable look, in addition to his lack of speech, but if Suotamo takes on the character in Wednesday, viewers will finally become familiar with the actor outside of character suits and full prosthetics. With Wednesday season 2 teasing the Addams Family mansion, it’s possible that Lurch will have more of a presence in the next installment and beyond, giving Suotamo an exciting acting opportunity outside of Star Wars and Disney properties. The same can be said even if the actor doesn’t end up portraying Lurch.
