Despite being one of Netflix’s most popular releases of 2022, Wednesday could potentially fall into the hands of Amazon due to its ownership of The Addams Family IP.
The Addams Family has already been adapted numerous times since the 1960s sitcom of the same name, with Netflix’s Wednesday being the first spinoff focusing on the kooky bunch’s gothic elder daughter. After premiering in November 2022, the Tim Burton series broke several coveted records for Netflix, such as beating Stranger Things season 4 to become the platform's most-watched English-language series in its first week.
Given how popular Wednesday has been on Netflix, potentially losing the series would be a massive disappointment for the streamer. However, Netflix officially renewed Wednesday for season 2 on January 6, so The Addams Family spinoff is still safe for at least one more installment of episodes. Still, as the streaming wars continue and platforms reassess their ownership of popular IP, Wednesday’s appeal could lead to future disputes over streaming rights with Amazon Prime Video. Even if Wednesday remains on Netflix, the streamer may need to fight harder for the rights to the characters should they consider launching a franchise based on The Addams Family.
Amazon’s Ownership Of The Addams Family Franchise Explained
Wednesday Addams Family Theme Song
Following numerous deals within Hollywood to acquire production companies, Amazon successfully acquired Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) for $8.5 billion in early 2022 (via Variety). Within this deal, Amazon acquired rights to the IP already owned by MGM, which includes franchises like James Bond, Rocky, and The Addams Family. However, the iconic 1960s sitcom already streams on Pluto TV and Tubi TV's free ad-supported services, with the Paramount-owned 1990s Addams Family film series also streaming with third parties. Since Netflix had to obtain the rights to The Addams Family characters for Wednesday, MGM is still a producer for the Tim Burton series, but this doesn’t mean Wednesday will also stream on Amazon.
It’s unclear how Amazon’s merger with MGM impacts pre-existing deals with outside parties, though it seems Netflix is the only studio with which MGM had ongoing collaborations for The Addams Family. Since Netflix secured the rights for Wednesday long before Amazon's expensive merger with MGM in 2021, Amazon will likely honor this deal as Wednesday’s success continues to be profitable for them. MGM, and thus now Amazon, owns the license to The Addams Family for all media, so the kooky characters can still appear in new shows and movies created by Amazon’s platforms or competing streamers (if Amazon agrees to loan them), but Wednesday itself and its take on the characters are exclusive to Netflix for the time being.
What Netflix's Wednesday Season 2 Renewal Means For The Series' Rights
Jenna Ortega in Wednesday-2
Over a month after the series’ debut, Netflix renewed Wednesday for season 2 on January 6, thus sealing the streamer’s ownership of the characters for another group of episodes. While the delay in Wednesday season 2’s renewal is what increased speculation regarding the show’s rights potentially being reverted to Amazon, Netflix is notorious for taking its time before renewing hit shows. Amazon working with Netflix on another season of Wednesday seems to indicate that the latter streamer will hold onto the show’s rights throughout the entire series, demonstrating good faith with Amazon and MGM continuing to have positive relationships with their competitors. Unless some unforeseeable event urges Amazon to modify their deal, Netflix is Wednesday’s permanent home.
Why Wednesday Won’t Move To Amazon Prime
Netflix Wednesday The addams family reboot
According to Insider, reports about Wednesday potentially moving to an Amazon Prime original branding are unfounded, as Netflix’s deal with MGM for The Addams Family characters was made long before Amazon acquired the company. While Amazon is rebranding Epix and MGM-owned content as the MGM+ streaming service, it would be highly unconventional for Wednesday to eventually move over to an Amazon platform. MGM is known for producing projects for other parties, such as The Handmaid’s Tale for Hulu, and Amazon isn’t apt to risk rebranding Wednesday and losing its appeal just to secure it for one of its own streaming platforms. Amazon is still making money from Wednesday’s success on Netflix, with a move to Prime Video potentially complicating this.
Since Netflix is already losing its most successful IP when Stranger Things season 5 ends, the streamer needs to do all that it can to secure its future with popular original programming. Wednesday and Squid Game are two of the most-watched Netflix series of all time, with both receiving second seasons on the platform. Wednesday has more potential for longevity and franchising, so Netflix is apt to exhaust all of its possibilities to hold onto The Addams Family spinoff’s rights. Netflix’s Wednesday is also far more successful than MGM’s recent animated adaptation of the characters in The Addams Family 2 (2021), so Amazon isn’t likely to modify plans after realizing the capable hands Wednesday is in.
What Losing Wednesday Would Mean For Netflix
Wednesday Stranger Things Netflix Viewership Record
If Netflix was to end up losing Wednesday, it would be a bleak outlook for the streamer. Netflix has made a poor reputation for itself by continuing to cancel TV shows after only one or two seasons, including the 2022 series 1899, which received positive reviews and held a spot on Netflix’s top 10 list after its release. After missing out on so many potential shows by canceling them, it would be a terrible prospect if Netflix also lost its show with the most optimistic future due to disputes over streaming rights. Netflix would have to begin searching anew for its next Stranger Things replacement, while also having to worry about a competitor holding onto Wednesday’s popularity.
Ultimately, Wednesday leaving Netflix isn’t going to happen; considering co-creators Al Gough and Miles Millar have already planned out a multi-season arc, nobody will want to throw a wrench into the successful branding and production of Wednesday at its current streamer. MGM already produces Netflix’s series Vikings: Valhalla, so Wednesday is a positive continuation of their working relationship despite Amazon’s new involvement. While the record-breaking series Wednesday is seemingly safe, negotiations over Netflix’s access to The Addams Family characters and rights will likely only involve a significantly modified deal if the streamer seeks to expand the universe with more spinoffs.
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