Even though the series is one of the most-watched originals in the platform’s history, a certified sensation, cultural behemoth, and now awards season darling, Netflix technically doesn’t own Wednesday.
While the streamer is the distributor behind the all-conquering Tim Burton adaptation starring Jenna Ortega that recently landed a dozen Emmy nominations in a string of high-profile categories including Outstanding Comedy Series, as well as Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Lead Actress in the corresponding shortlists, it’s wonderfully ironic that one of the company’s biggest rivals are the ones in charge.
Wednesday is an MGM Television production, and following Amazon’s takeover of the legendary studio in a multi-billion dollar deal, Jeff Bezos’ team are the ones who control the entire Addams Family back catalogue. As a result, there were panicked rumors last year that the spooky and kooky favorite would be snatched away from Netflix and transformed into a Prime Video exclusive, but it never came to pass.
However, Amazon Studios boss Jennifer Salke still found the time to congratulate Netflix on its success in an interview with Deadline, even if she did pat herself on the back ever so slightly despite contributing virtually nothing.
“Even though that’s a Netflix show, we take great pride and are huge fans of Wednesday. This is a group of studio executives working together across MGM and Amazon so there’s great pride and ownership in those shows.”
Heavy-hitting streamers congratulating the people creating content that’s blowing its own roster of originals out of the water? Whatever next, dogs and cats living together? Mass hysteria? A Prime Video show that doesn’t cost way more than it needs to? The possibilities are endless.