In the popular Netflix series “Wednesday,” the revived limb named “Thing” often steals the show. Interestingly, this character is in fact associated with Romanian magician Victor Dorobantu off-screen. Here’s an account of how Thing came to be a part of the peculiar and eerie Addams family.
A HELPING HAND
Initially, I participated in a talent show within Romania, only to be eliminated during the initial round. Later on, a woman contacted me with an intriguing offer – she wanted me to be a part of a television program. They had been searching online for magicians from Romania, as that was where the first season of Wednesday was filmed. Coincidentally, the role of “Thing” in the classic Addams Family films was played by another magician, Christopher Hart. We both possess exceptional skill with our hands.
TALK TO THE HAND
Characters typically exhibit features like eyes, a mouth or eyebrows to convey emotion. However, a thing lacks such characteristics. Instead, I often express emotions through the pace of its movement or the tension in my fingers. I strive to disregard my physical self and immerse myself completely into the character. This is mostly an improvisation process. Being a guitar player might aid in finger movements. Acting and speaking with just a hand can be challenging for others, but I’m adapting to it.
SHORTHAND
Through collaboration with director Tim Burton and his team, I established a unique approach in our work. We drew inspiration from sign language and the hand signals used by commando troops. When Thing needs to move quickly, we utilize skateboards. At times, the props department constructs trolleys for someone to push me, allowing me to focus on the hand movements rather than my body’s position.
ALL HANDS ON DECK
In this production, I don a “bluescreen suit” and wear prosthetics on my wrists. The visual effects (VFX) team then erases my physical presence from the frames, but I’m unable to manage the lighting, cast a shadow, or position myself in front of others. Most notably, when practical filming isn’t feasible – such as when a character jumps off a building – the scene becomes mostly computer-generated imagery (CGI). To capture my movements accurately for these digital recreations, they attach sensors to each of my fingers and employ motion capture technology.
RIGHT-HAND MEN
Tristan Versluis, our talented prosthetics artist, crafted movable replicas of my hands for me. These hand-casts contain an internal armature that allows them to mimic the natural movement of my palm bones. We utilize these models as stand-ins for setting up lights and as stunt doubles when Thing needs to be tossed around on set. Unfortunately, it’s become a common issue that some of these models have gone missing from the set, even turning up at airport security!
Wednesday seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Netflix.
Mark Wednesday as a favorite on the TopMob: Recommended TV Shows app – grab it today for personalized TV suggestions, exclusive content, and much more!
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2025-08-26 03:17