Jenna Ortega learns cello for "Wednesday" role

Jenna Ortega, the star of "Wednesday," recently shared her experience learning to play the cello for the show. This was featured in a new clip from the upcoming Tim Burton docuseries by director Tara Wood. The docuseries, which includes four episodes, premiered its first episode at the Tribeca Film Festival in the summer of 2024. It includes interviews with many of Burton's famous collaborators, like Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder. The series covers Burton's life, from his childhood to his latest work, including the 2024 sequel of "Beetlejuice." Ortega’s character, Wednesday, is an expert cellist. However, Ortega had never played the cello before being cast. Fortunately, she had help from Danny Elfman, who has worked with Burton for many years. Ortega praised Elfman’s talent and mentioned that she had to play cello in a way that accommodates the character's unique abilities. Burton encouraged Ortega during filming, assuring her that everything would look great. Despite her initial nerves, Ortega felt a connection with Burton’s storytelling style and themes. Tara Wood, the docuseries director, described Ortega as wonderful to interview and highlighted her fitting into Burton's artistic world. Wood noted that Ortega shares a love for monster movies and has a deep understanding of Burton's storytelling. The docuseries is currently seeking distribution and does not yet have a release date. Ortega will return for Season 2 of "Wednesday," set to be released on Netflix in 2025.