INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Netflix showcased its star-studded presence in the heart of Hollywood with a lively event where it previewed its forthcoming streaming offerings. Among these exciting announcements were Lady Gaga’s casting as a teacher in “Wednesday” and the release dates for the concluding episodes of popular series “Squid Game” and “Stranger Things.”
The streaming juggernaut gathered an ensemble of esteemed actors, including Jenna Ortega, Oscar Isaac, Lee Jung-jae, Drew Starkey, Sofia Carson, Kerry Washington, Steven Yeun, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck for its anticipated annual Tudum event in Inglewood, Calif., on Saturday. This engaging show was bookended with musical performances, starting with Hanumankind’s “Run It Up” and closing with a medley by Lady Gaga, who also took this opportunity to announce her latest role.
This extravagant event takes its name “Tudum” from the iconic sound that accompanies Netflix’s N logo in its trailers and opening sequences.
The suspenseful series “Squid Game” is set to return for its final season, accompanied by a compelling trailer, with the third season slated to stream on June 27. This gripping South Korean drama captivated audiences globally during the pandemic, depicting a deadly competition where adults play children’s games. The series catapulted Lee Jung-jae to international fame, earning him the distinction of being the first Asian male to win an Emmy for best drama actor.
Enthusiasts of “Stranger Things” will bid farewell as the series concludes with its fifth and final season. Scheduled for release over the winter holidays, four episodes will launch on Nov. 26, followed by three more on Christmas Day, with the grand series finale set for New Year’s Eve. The latest trailer revisits the nostalgia-infused sci-fi world crafted by the Duffer brothers, highlighting the nine-year journey that turned Millie Bobby Brown, Sadie Sink, Joseph Quinn, David Harbour, and Finn Wolfhard into household names. The teaser sets up an epic highlight—the final face-off with the menacing Vecna as Noah Schnapp’s Will Byers’ character exhorts everyone to “RUN!”
Netflix also revealed a sneak peek into the first six minutes of “Wednesday’s” second season, featuring Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday Addams in a suspenseful encounter with a serial killer played by Haley Joel Osment. Following her role in last year’s “Joker: Folie a Deux,” Gaga returns to acting, portraying teacher Rosaline Rotwood at Nevermore, Addams’ school. Fans can anticipate the first segment of “Wednesday” season 2 on August 6, with the latter half arriving on September 3.