Wednesday Season 3 Brings Hollywood Magic to Ireland as Filming Continues
Netflix's global phenomenon Wednesday is continuing to film its third season across Ireland, with production underway at Ashford Studios in County Wicklow and at a range of iconic locations across Dublin and the surrounding counties — providing a major boost to Ireland's film and television industry and cementing the country's reputation as one of the world's premier destinations for high-end international productions.
The production, which began principal photography on 16 February 2026 and is scheduled to run until 22 May, is drawing on Ireland's Section 481 tax credit and its wealth of cinematic landscapes to create the gothic world of Nevermore Academy for a third consecutive season on Irish soil.
Background
Wednesday, the Addams Family spin-off starring Jenna Ortega as the iconic Wednesday Addams, became one of Netflix's most-watched series ever upon its debut, breaking streaming records and spawning a global cultural phenomenon. Season 2 also filmed extensively in Ireland, using locations including Ashford Studios in Wicklow, Trinity College Dublin, Charleville Castle in Offaly, and Powerscourt Demesne in Wicklow. Showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar have described the Irish locations as "truly magical" and ideally suited to the show's distinctive gothic aesthetic.
Ireland's Section 481 tax credit, which offers a rebate of up to 32% on eligible Irish expenditure including cast, crew, and locally sourced goods and services, has been a key factor in attracting the production back to the country for a third time. Recent enhancements to Section 481 in Budget 2025 have further strengthened Ireland's competitiveness in the global film market, and the expansion of Ashford Studios has provided the world-class infrastructure needed to support productions of this scale.
Key Developments
Season 3 sees the return of Jenna Ortega as Wednesday, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia, and Luis Guzmán as Gomez. The new season welcomes a host of exciting additions to the cast: Eva Green will play Ophelia, Morticia Addams' long-lost sister; Winona Ryder joins as Tabitha; Chris Sarandon appears as Balthazar; and Noah Taylor, Oscar Morgan, and Kennedy Moyer also join the ensemble. Lena Headey, Andrew McCarthy, and James Lance have also been confirmed in undisclosed guest roles, adding further star power to an already impressive lineup.
Filming is taking place across a range of locations that showcase Ireland's extraordinary variety of landscapes and architecture. Key sites include Ashford Studios as the main production hub, Charleville Castle in Offaly for Nevermore Academy's gothic exterior, Powerscourt Waterfall in Wicklow for outdoor action sequences, Deansgrange Cemetery in Dublin for atmospheric scenes, and Clonliffe College in Drumcondra, repurposed as an outcast asylum. According to RTÉ, the production is expected to have a significant economic impact on the local communities where filming takes place, supporting hundreds of local crew members, technicians, and service providers. According to Deadline, Season 3 will delve deeper into the Addams family's history and secrets, with key plotlines revolving around the mysterious return of Aunt Ophelia and the ongoing struggles of Enid Sinclair and Tyler Galpin.
Why It Matters
The continued choice of Ireland as a filming location for one of the world's most popular streaming series underscores the country's growing reputation as a world-class destination for high-end television and film production. The production supports hundreds of local crew members, technicians, and service providers, contributing substantially to the Irish creative economy and providing valuable experience and employment for Irish talent. The use of iconic Irish locations also generates significant tourism interest, with fans travelling from around the world to visit the places where their favourite shows are filmed — a phenomenon that has been well documented in the case of Game of Thrones, which transformed Northern Ireland's tourism industry.
Local Impact
For the island of Ireland, the Wednesday production represents a significant economic and cultural opportunity. Northern Ireland has its own thriving screen industry, built in large part on the success of Game of Thrones, and the continued growth of the Irish film sector creates opportunities for collaboration and talent development across the island. The expansion of Ashford Studios and the investment in Irish film infrastructure benefits the entire creative ecosystem, from Belfast to Cork. The tourism spin-off from major productions is also increasingly significant: visitors who come to Ireland to see Wednesday filming locations spend money in local communities, stay in local accommodation, and contribute to the broader hospitality sector. For a country that has invested heavily in its creative industries, the return of Wednesday for a third season is a powerful validation of that strategy.
What's Next
Filming is scheduled to conclude in late May 2026. Netflix has not yet announced a release date for Season 3, with a potential premiere window of Summer 2027. The show's return to Ireland is expected to generate significant tourism interest in the locations used for filming, and Screen Ireland is likely to use the production as a centrepiece of its international marketing efforts. The success of Wednesday in Ireland also bodes well for future major international productions choosing the country as their base, further cementing Ireland's position as a leading European film and television production hub.
