Netflix's Tudum Event Unveils Star-Studded Slate, Major Release Dates

Netflix flexed its considerable Hollywood muscle at its annual Tudum event on Saturday in Inglewood, California, offering fans a glimpse into its upcoming content. The streaming giant gathered a constellation of stars, including Jenna Ortega, Oscar Isaac, Lee Jung-jae, Drew Starkey, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck, to share exciting announcements and highly anticipated release dates. The event, named after Netflix's signature audio cue, also featured musical performances, with Lady Gaga closing the show and revealing her new acting role.

Key Announcements from Tudum:

Lady Gaga Joins "Wednesday" as a Teacher

In a surprising reveal, Lady Gaga is set to join the cast of "Wednesday" for its second season. She'll be playing Rosaline Rotwood, a teacher at Wednesday Addams' infamous school, Nevermore. This marks Gaga's first acting role since "Joker: Folie a Deux." Fans won't have to wait long for new episodes, as the first part of "Wednesday" season 2 drops on August 6th, with the second half following on September 3rd. Attendees at Tudum were treated to the first six minutes of the new season, showing Ortega's Wednesday Addams, with help from Thing, confronting a serial killer played by Haley Joel Osment.

"Squid Game" Season 3 Arrives This Summer

The global phenomenon "Squid Game" is back for its third season, set to begin streaming on June 27th. A bloody new trailer for the upcoming season accompanied the announcement, teasing more of the brutal competition that captivated audiences worldwide. The South Korean series, which turned Lee Jung-jae into an international star and an Emmy winner, continues to be a cornerstone of Netflix's international content.

"Stranger Things" Final Season to Be Split Over Holidays

The beginning of the end for "Stranger Things" is in sight, with its fifth and final season rolling out over the winter holidays. The season will be released in parts, with four episodes dropping on November 26th, followed by three more on Christmas Day. The highly anticipated series finale will then premiere on New Year's Eve. A new trailer at Tudum highlighted the show's nine-year journey, showcasing its evolution and teasing a final confrontation with the formidable Vecna, culminating in Noah Schnapp's Will Byers' character yelling "RUN!" The show has been instrumental in launching the careers of stars like Millie Bobby Brown, Sadie Sink, Joseph Quinn, David Harbour, and Finn Wolfhard.

The Tudum event underscored Netflix's continued commitment to delivering major original content and highlighted its ability to draw top-tier talent. What upcoming Netflix release are you most excited about after these announcements?