Buscemi's 'Wednesday' Role: Burton's Gift Revealed!

Steve Buscemi's portrayal of Barry Dort, the new principal of Nevermore Academy in Netflix's 'Wednesday' season 2, has a surprising origin. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Buscemi revealed that director Tim Burton gifted him a unique item from his personal collection to inspire the character.

The Poe Connection: An Action Figure of Inspiration

According to Buscemi, the idea to base Barry Dort on Edgar Allan Poe was a mutual decision between him and Burton. To further fuel his inspiration, Burton presented Buscemi with an Edgar Allan Poe action figure. "He also gave me an Edgar Allan Poe action figure, and I think it was from his own collection because it wasn't brand new," Buscemi shared. "It was like, 'Oh my god, he gave me one of his possessions.'" The action figure became a tangible link to the iconic poet, helping Buscemi embody the essence of Poe in his performance.

A Reunion After Two Decades

Season 2 of 'Wednesday' marks a reunion for Buscemi and Burton, who previously collaborated on the 2003 film 'Big Fish'. Buscemi expressed his admiration for Burton's directorial style, stating, "It was really amazing. I just love the way he works, his process... I love that he counts on actors a lot to bring stuff, so that's always fun to work with a director like that." This collaborative spirit seems to have played a significant role in shaping Buscemi's character in 'Wednesday'.

The gift from Burton, a seemingly small gesture, speaks volumes about their creative partnership and the depth of inspiration behind Buscemi's portrayal of Barry Dort. Fans of 'Wednesday' can look forward to seeing how this unique influence translates onto the screen in the upcoming season.