Tim Burton would call Ghali for one of his projects The two artists together on stage at the event of the second season of Wednesday in Rome
Rome calls Tim Burton. Tim Burton answers. At the Terrazza del Pincio, in the heart of one of the capital’s largest parks, the visionary director with a flair for the dark landed for the Netflix event celebrating the launch of the second season of Wednesday, arriving on the platform with its first part on August 6, and the second starting from September 3. And “finale” might be a stretch. Even before the evening began in the company of the creator of Edward Scissorhands and Sweeney Todd, the streamer announced the show’s renewal starring Jenna Ortega, confirming the power of one of its flagship series, a future as gloomy and death-filled as ever, but most certainly bright.
The second season of Wednesday was presented in Rome
A huge celebration also for Burton, executive producer of Wednesday as well as director of four episodes of both season one and the upcoming second. Netflix decided to open the event to the public by welcoming fans into a custom Lido, complete with deck chairs and umbrellas, before the evening show and the arrival of their cinematic idol. One of those experiences people are willing to brave, even on a late July afternoon with 38°C weather, just for a chance to get a book, DVD, jacket, scrap of skin, or generic postcard signed by Tim Burton. The evening kicked off with crowds gathering at the entrance and continued into the semi-beach setup where, aside from the occasional refreshment stands, guests could enjoy various activities and try not to think too much about the looming heatstroke.
A special event packed with experiences
There was a palm reading booth, another for getting Wednesday-style braids, and one more dedicated to the character's iconic makeup. There were Cadillacs to pose with, coffins to stage your own funeral, and rowboats for snapshots under the sign “No One’s Coming to Save You.” Despite the chaotic - and very hot - atmosphere, people who stumbled upon or joined the free pop-up event left with genuine enthusiasm. From hardcore fans waiting to see their hero on stage to unsuspecting tourists who accidentally planned a Villa Borghese stroll that evening, the Netflix event welcomed audiences of all ages and refreshed them with Wednesday-branded water bottles and popsicles, including blue-violet ones, just to keep things on theme. And of course, there were giveaways, handed out by staff carrying bags and bowls full of fans, stickers, and friendship bracelets.
And then Tim Burton arrives
Night falls and the stage lights come on. After exploring the stands and counting down on the big screen, it’s time for the Italian Cinema Orchestra, which delights the audience until Tim Burton himself makes an entrance, playfully conducting the musicians with his delightfully eccentric flair. “I’ve always dreamed of being a conductor,” he says, before briefly presenting the second season of Wednesday and promising even more mysteries, more strange family dynamics, and more darkness, classic Burton themes. A short appearance, more of a teaser than an in-depth discussion, but more than enough to send the crowd into raptures. Burton jokes about a strange round object in the distance, only to discover it’s St. Peter’s Basilica.
And it’s here that Netflix stumbles just a bit, turning what was a fan-centric event into something slightly more exclusive: after posing for photos and signing autographs, Burton is led over to the lineup of influencers who dotted the evening, many of whom were being asked for selfies by teens and twenty-somethings just as much as they might have asked Tim Burton himself. There was a brief chance for those who had been waiting by the stage since 6 p.m. to get a closer look at the director’s Roman arrival, but only a lucky few made it. Still, it was a good show, with another major draw that packed the Wednesday Lido: the promise of an appearance by Ghali. Whether or not there’s any logical link between Ghali and Burton is hard to say, but Netflix clearly made the right call, especially since, when the two shared the stage, the director joked that he’d consider casting him in a future project. Burton waves goodbye, Ghali performs and announces new music (dropping September 20, spoiler alert) and the Lido closes out the night with a DJ set playing Bad Romance by Lady Gaga. Now imagine if Mother Monster herself had shown up to sing at the Pincio. Luckily, we still have Wednesday season 3 to dream about.
