'Wednesday' producers receive corporation tax credits of up to €60m

Based on the 'Addams Family' character created by cartoonist Charles Addams in 1938, Netflix’s supernatural mystery comedy focuses on the teen years of Wednesday Addams, played by Jenna Ortega. Picture: Jonathan Hession/Netflix

The Irish-based co-production firm behind season two of the global Netflix ratings phenomenon  Wednesday has received corporation tax credits here between €20m and €60m this year.

That is according to figures published by the Revenue Commissioners, which show that, in the second quarter of this year, Metropolitan Films International Ltd received corporation tax credits of €10m to €30m for "Nero Season 2B ( Wednesday)".

This followed Metropolitan Films International Ltd receiving tax credits of €10m to €30m for Nero season two in the first quarter of 2025. The producers have named the production "Nero" in a nod to the name of Wednesday’s pet scorpion, Nero.

Based on the  Addams Family character created by cartoonist Charles Addams in 1938, Netflix’s supernatural mystery comedy focuses on the teen years of Wednesday Addams, played by Jenna Ortega.

The first part of season two of Wednesday was released on August 6, and set the record for being an English-language title ranked No 1 in the most countries at 91 in its first week.

The second part of Wednesday will be released on September 3, and seasons one — first broadcast in 2022 — and two are the two most popular shows on Netflix currently.

Season one of Wednesday was shot in Romania, and production transferred to Ireland in 2024 for season two.

'Truly magical' locations

The latest season of the gothic mystery show was shot at various locations around counties Wicklow, Dublin, and Offaly.

Executive producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar have called the filming locations “truly magical”, with settings including Powerscourt Demesne in Enniskerry, Charleville Castle in Offaly and Dublin’s atmospheric Deansgrange Cemetery.

Accounts for the Metropolitan Films International firm behind season two, Willow Hill S2 Production DAC, show that the production spend by the company in the six months to the end of April 2024 totalled €29.59m.

The number of people employed by the firm totalled 183, with staff costs amounting to €8.8m. Willow Hill is a reference to Willow Hill psychiatric hospital that features in the series.

Tourism Ireland has made "behind the scenes" films on Wednesday to use as marketing tools aimed at promoting the locations to tourists overseas.

Metropolitan Films International Ltd has received corporation tax credits totalling €46.1m for all of its productions in the 24 months to the end of April 2024.

Revenue figures also show that Wild Atlantic Pictures Ltd has received tax credits of between €5m and €10m for its Rainmaker TV series.

The figures also show that Metropolitan Films International received tax credits of €5m to €10m for its comedy thriller, How to get to Heaven from Belfast.

Due to be broadcast on Netflix, the showrunner for the production is Lisa McGee — who was the creator of the multi-award-winning Derry Girls.

Revenue confirmed in January that the value of overall payments made under the Section 481 film corporation tax credit scheme in 2024 was €121.63m.