Jenna Ortega’s global rise since the hit Addams Family spinoff series Wednesday first arrived in 2022 has been nothing short of meteoric. Alongside Tim Burton’s gothic playground, she dipped into the Scream sequels, voiced a lead in Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, and racked up more brand deals than Cousin Itt has curls.
Yet it seems Ortega isn’t afraid to exit big franchises; she left Scream 7 and opted out of Jurassic animation after five seasons (both reasons completely valid, of course). But should she graduate from the Nevermore lunch table after Wednesday Season 2, Netflix would need a successor who can shoulder instant scrutiny (and sentient hands).
Enter Rachel Zegler. Her résumé is lined with headline roles—Maria in West Side Story, Anthea in Shazam!, Lucy Gray in Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes—but none carried the cultural baggage of Snow White, a project marred by debate over casting, dwarf redesigns, and Zegler’s own unfiltered press comments. Box‑office disappointment aside, her performance proves she can anchor a giant IP and weather social‑media storms.
Physically, Zegler mirrors Ortega: both are petite, dark‑haired, and capable of flipping from angelic to sardonic in a heartbeat. Vocally, Zegler owns Broadway‑level pipes, a skill Wednesday hasn’t needed yet but could in Burton’s off‑beat universe.
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But the bigger question is attitude. Zegler certainly rubbed audiences the wrong way during the Snow White rollout, but that same sharpened tongue might prove useful for Wednesday’s wry, direct quips.
Of course, casting her would undoubtedly spark plenty of debate. Some fans are still against anything tied to Disney’s remake, and, understandably, others can’t imagine anyone but Ortega delivering that signature deadpan stare.
Yet a recast isn’t unprecedented. Spider‑Man has swapped faces three times since 2002; Batman even more. What matters is whether the actor understands the character they’re embodying. Zegler’s background in musicals and drama offers the versatility to lean into the role’s macabre and morbid humor without losing its heart.
In a landscape where streaming giants fight to keep viewers, bold choices generate conversation. If Ortega exits, Rachel Zegler stepping through the gates of Nevermore could be the sort of left‑field move that keeps the show’s pulse—and its memes—alive.
Snow White is out in theaters now. Wednesday is streaming on Netflix.
Would you like to see Zegler replace Jenna Ortega in Wednesday? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below!
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