One of the worst-kept secrets in Ireland’s film and TV sector has been officially confirmed by the local industry body: the second season of ‘Wednesday’ is now showing in the country.
The hit Netflix show – produced by Amazon MGM Studios – became a huge hit in 2023, with the first season (which was shot in Romania) racking up more than 250 million views and winning four Emmys. At the end of last year it was announced that production would be moved to County Wicklow in Ireland for the second performance.
But for Screen Ireland, which has welcomed countless major films and TV shows – including ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ – to its territory since its relaunch in 1993 (as the Irish Film Board), ‘Wednesday’ marks the ‘biggest production ever in Ireland’ in terms of production expenditure.
To celebrate the news, Irish Prime Minister Taoiseach Simon Harris visited the set and met with director Tim Burton, showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar, and several Irish creatives working on the production.
“I am thrilled to see that Ireland continues to be chosen as a location for film series and films that support our economy, create jobs, showcase our creative talents and promote our country on a global stage,” Harris said in a statement.
“Ireland has a thriving production sector and Netflix is keenly interested in its long-term potential,” said Anna Mallett, VP Production EMEA at Netflix. “In recent years we have invested substantially in productions from Ireland, such as ‘The Siege of Jadotville’, ‘The Wonder’, ‘Bodkin’ and ‘Vikings: Valhalla.’ Netflix plans to produce Marian Keyes’ ‘Grown Ups’ and Lisa McGee’s Belfast series ‘How to Get to Heaven’ also in Ireland. We are so proud to now be bringing Wednesday’s cultural juggernaut to Ireland as it is the country’s largest production and will create jobs and add millions of euros to the Irish economy.”
Ireland recently enhanced its Section 481 film and television tax incentive, raising the limit on eligible expenditure from €70 million ($75 million) to €125 million ($134 million) per project, and further extending the credit until 2028. Recent Hollywood productions to shoot in the country include Universal’s ‘Abigail’ and Warner Bros. ‘The Watchers’.