Does Wednesday Season 2 Have A Replacement For Xavier Thorpe's Character?

Summary

Actor Percy Hynes White will not return for Season 2 due to controversy, leaving a void for Wednesday’s love interest.
Wednesday Season 2 will focus on horror, introducing new characters to fill Xavier’s absence seamlessly.
Wednesday’s character should evolve independently, avoiding unnecessary romances to explore horror elements.

Actor Percy Hynes White, who portrayed Xavier Thorpe on Wednesday, will not be returning for Season 2. His controversial exit opens the door to countless possibilities for how the show might fill the vacuum left by his character. He played Wednesday’s complicated love interest on the show, oscillating between friend, adversary, and a potential flame.

A fellow psychic like Wednesday, Xavier’s arc saw significant character development throughout Season 1. Their bond culminated in a touching moment when he handed her a phone in the finale, hoping to stay connected outside Nevermore. However, the actor was dropped due to an off-screen controversy, leaving the fandom to wonder: Who, if anyone, will step into the void his character left behind? Could Wednesday introduce a new psychic love interest — one with the same potential to recreate the amazing chemistry the duo shared?

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Is Wednesday Prepared To Handle Xavier’s Absence?

Following the January 2023 allegations of sexual misconduct against Hynes White (via Variety), Netflix was quick to distance itself from the actor and responded to the controversy by dropping him from the show. Xavier gifting Wednesday a phone in the season finale meant that the show had bigger plans for the character, and thus, the actor’s removal was unexpected. With Jenna Ortega confirming that Wednesday won’t be romancing her peers at Nevermore, or anywhere else, it’s clear that the show is equipped to handle Xavier Thorpe’s absence.

Ortega explained to Elle Fanning on Variety‘s Actors on Actors that the show leans more into horror in the upcoming season, saying:

“I think that we’re kind of ditching any romantic love interest for Wednesday, which is really great.”

Ortega’s remarks are consistent with what she shared in her September 2024 Vanity Fair cover story, where she expressed that the fresh set of new actors joining the cast will make Xavier’s exit seamless. She called it “a weird redirect,” while noting, “…but we’re introducing so many different characters that I think it will get kind of lost.” Ortega’s statement that Wednesday’s “world does feel slightly askew anyway” captures the fleeting nature of things at Nevermore. Brooding as it may be, Nevermore witnesses change every season, making Thorpe’s absence less jarring, to say the least.

Should Wednesday Bring In A Replacement For Xavier’s Character?

There is no immediate need for Wednesday’s character to revolve around love interests, and romance shouldn’t become a focal point of her narrative. Wednesday prefers to ride solo and thrives on solitude. In Season 1, her love triangle only complicated things for her, as Tyler Galpin was revealed to be the Hyde, and she wrongly suspected Xavier of being the monster. Her suspicion led to Xavier’s arrest, and she deservedly got an earful from him at the police station. But all’s well that ends well — Wednesday and her pals saved the day, and Xavier was ultimately given a clean chit.

Considering the direction Season 2 is headed, it doesn’t do well for Wednesday’s character to be trapped in another unnecessary romance. The show has taken the right call in having its eponymous lead march to the beat of her drum. This move allows her arc to evolve independently, and prevents the show from becoming a victim of conventional tropes (a love triangle, in the previous case).

It’s best that in Season 2, Wednesday breaks free of any appendages that could potentially hold her back. Furthermore, she doesn’t need another Xavier-esque distraction to confuse her, especially when the show promises to delve into horror elements.

Can Another Character Recreate Xavier’s Chemistry With Wednesday?

Tyler Galpin (Hunter Doohan) and Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) in Wednesday

Xavier was himself caught in a complicated dynamic with another brilliant student at Nevermore — Bianca Barclay. They dated before Wednesday’s arrival at school. She still had feelings for him, but he pined for Wednesday, and this equation created a wedge between Bianca and Wednesday. Again, this led to a couple of predictable scenes, until Xavier’s behavior at the Rave’N put Bianca off, and she told him off for good.

Xavier and Wednesday had something special, but that simply ran its course. Season 2 marks the beginning of a new era for Wednesday, and even though it’s highly unlikely that another actor will recreate the same chemistry, that’s not the most important thing in the show anymore, not for Wednesday’s character. The real excitement for Wednesday lies in pursuing her goals more independently, focusing on her writing, solving mysteries at Nevermore, and connecting with her parents while pushing her boundaries along the way.

New Cast Additions To Wednesday Season 2

Wednesday Season 2 is all set to introduce exciting actors to its ensemble, from Steve Buscemi’s Principal Barry Dort to Lady Gaga in an undisclosed cameo role. The Wednesday universe continues to expand with The Addams Family alum Christopher Lloyd, who played Uncle Fester in the 1992 movie and its 1993 sequel. He has been cast in a mysterious guest role on Wednesday, while Fred Armisen continues to play Fester in the series. More additions include Thandiwe Newton as Dr. Fairburn, Joanna Lumley as Grandmama, and Billie Piper as Capri. Evie Templeton, Owen Painter, Noah Taylor, Frances O’Connor, Haley Joel Osment, Heather Matarazzo, and Joonas Suotamo are all set to enrich the macabre world of Wednesday.

The second season of Wednesday is slated to premiere on Netflix in 2025.