Hunter Doohan has had crazy two weeks. Ever since the premiere of his Netflix show, Wednesday - which instantly took over the platform and is already one of the top three most viewed series in its history - the Arkansas-born actor has been receiving an outpouring of love from fans all around the world. In the latest imaging on the story of the Addams Family's macabre-obsessed offspring, Hunter portrays the role of a ‘normie’ barista Tyler who tries to connect with new-in-town Wednesday (played by the wickedly funny Jenna Ortega). With his puppy eyes and seemingly shy demeanour, Tyler successfully tricks us to believe he’s a good guy up until the season’s drama-filled finale when, without spoiling too much, his monstrous nature comes out in full swing. For Hunter, this brief introduction to villainhood has been an experience that he would like to push further in the show’s very possible season two. “As I only got to play the evil Tyler for a couple of scenes, I’m really hoping that I get to explore more of that side of him in the future,” he says. “It would be really fun to delve into who he really is, having these two sides wrestling within him, and see if he’s gonna go after Wednesday!”

For Wednesday, you got to work with director Tim Burton who is not only a visionary but also has a larger-than-life personality. What surprised you the most about him once the two of you met?

I was surprised at how sweet he was! [Laughs] I expected him to be this wild character, in the best way, but he is also just a lovely human. When I first got to Romania for filming, he called me just to check in and see how I was doing. Also, one night, he told us that he hires actors that he likes and trusts for the role, so he doesn’t feel the need to nitpick them too much. Hearing that and realising that Tim Burton believes in me has filled me with a lot of confidence [while on set]!

You said previously that you were a big fan of the Addams Family movies from the ‘90s. Who was your favourite character in those movies?

I absolutely love Christina Ricci in them! But I also have to say that in Addams Family Values, Joan Cusack’s Debbie is so funny to me. I’m obsessed with her and I think that’s like the best villain performance of all time. Not that we’re anything alike, but to be a villain in the Addams Family story and be able to follow in her footsteps was really fun to me. [Laughs]

It’s actually so crazy that you got to work with Christina Ricci on this!

Yeah, it was awesome because it felt like the show got a stamp of approval from Wednesday from my childhood years. My first time getting to work with her was during the school dance scene, so I was just literally in between the two Wednesdays, looking back and forth.

Speaking of modern-day Wednesday, you and Jenna Ortega have many fun interactions in your scenes. Which one of Wednesday’s comebacks to Tyler is most stuck in your head?

There’s a few, she doesn’t really let Tyler in too much! [Laughs] I’ve actually been loving seeing people online making fun of the scene where Tyler’s like, ‘You keep giving me all these signals.’ And everyone’s like, ‘She didn’t give you anything!’ But I mean, at that moment, Tyler is gaslighting her to win her over.

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense – he’s trying to mess with her head! Tyler is a secret villain of the series and we only get to realise what he’s up to towards the very end – what did you find most useful in trying to channel this hidden dark energy? Who were the villains from the past that helped you get into this mentality?

First of all, I read the novel Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The detail that I thought was really interesting was that the more times he turned into Mr Hyde, the lines would become more blurred. And similarly, throughout the course of the season, each time Tyler would kill someone, he would be slipping more and more into the Hyde side. Then, I looked at a couple of films – the show creators, Alfred [Gough] and Miles [Millar] encouraged me to see Ed Norton’s performance in Primal Fear, and I also rewatched Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs. Also, the first Scream movie – I love when the character of Billy turns evil and I thought it was a fun, more campy example to look at as well.

Let’s talk a bit more about the school dance moment - would you say that was one of the most memorable scenes to shoot?

Yeah, I mean, the dance was crazy, and that blood rain was freezing! In the script, it said that at first, Wednesday starts to dance, then Tyler starts to copy her, and then everyone joins in. But when Jenna showed up and did that iconic dance that she came up with herself, I looked at Tim and I was like, ‘All I can do is stand here and be in awe of her – I definitely can’t replicate that!’

Yeah, I don’t think anyone can! [Laughs]

But it’s fun to watch people on Tik Tok try! [Laughs] There’s a trend now where they do it to a Lady Gaga song, and even Gaga has tweeted about it – honestly, the show has just been insane!

I would say it’s more than likely that the show will be given a second season. If that’s the case, where would you like to see Tyler go next?

As I only got to play the evil Tyler for a couple of scenes, I’m really hoping that I get to explore more of that side of him in the future. But I’m also just really curious to see what he’s gonna be like now that he’s no longer serving Christina Ricci’s character and the Hyde doesn’t have a master. It would be really fun to delve into who he really is, having these two sides wrestling within him, and see if he’s gonna go after Wednesday!

Having this amazing experience on the show, what are the types of roles that you want to play in the future?

I really would like to play an adult! [Laughs]

Fair enough! Finally, what’s one thing about you that not many people know about? Do you have any party tricks up your sleeve?

Well, I used to be a gymnast in high school…

Oh wow - do you still remember any moves?

Yeah, a couple! Actually, during our small wrap party with the cast, Moosa, who plays Eugene, posted a video of me doing a Back Handspring there. However, I do not remember doing it at all – I was drunk!

Maybe that was your other, evil persona…

Exactly! [Laughs]

Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Emilia Staugaard

Fashion by Jake Sammis

Casting by Imagemachine cs

Grooming by Zaheer Sukhnandan