Percy Hynes White, the actor who played Xavier Thorpe in Wednesday Season 1, does not appear in the show’s second season. His absence was noticeable because Xavier was a major character in the first season, acting as both a key friend to Wednesday and a plausible love interest while she investigated the mystery of the Hyde.
In May 2024, it became clear that White’s contract option for Season 2 was not picked up, and he was missing from the official cast list, effectively signaling that he would not return to the series. White later confirmed on social media that he would not be reprising the role, expressing gratitude for his time on the show.
Although Netflix declined to publicly comment on his removal from the cast, his absence follows years-old online allegations of misconduct — claims he has denied as “false” and a “campaign of misinformation.”
How the Show Explains Xavier’s Absence Within the Story
Wednesday Season 2 doesn’t ignore Xavier’s disappearance, the premiere episode addresses it early on. New Nevermore principal Barry Dort (played by Steve Buscemi) tells Wednesday that Xavier has transferred to Reichenbach Academy in Switzerland, after his father Vincent pulled him out of school. This allowed the show to write the character out neatly without simply vanishing him off-screen.
Principal Dort explains that Vincent withdrew financial support from Nevermore after Xavier was falsely accused of murder in the prior season, a storyline development that provides an in-world reason for the sudden relocation.
Even though Xavier does not appear in person, the series gives him one final narrative touch. Wednesday later receives a letter and a small painting from him, a crow portrait tied to the ongoing mystery in Season 2. It’s presented as a kind of symbolic “goodbye gift,” letting his psychic art still play a part in the story even in his absence.
Cast and Narrative Changes Around Wednesday Season 2
With Xavier’s exit, Wednesday has reshaped some of its character dynamics in Season 2. Other cast members return, including Jenna Ortega as the title character, and new faces such as Steve Buscemi, Billie Piper, and Joanna Lumley are introduced to expand the world of Nevermore Academy.
Executive producer and star Jenna Ortega described White’s departure as “a weird redirect,” adding that Season 2’s focus on new mysteries and characters means Xavier’s absence is less disruptive to the overall narrative arc.
The Legacy of Xavier’s Story
Although Xavier does not feature on screen in Season 2, the show’s explanation aims to maintain narrative continuity and respect his prior role in Wednesday’s life. By relocating him to another academy and tying his final message into the season’s central mystery, Wednesday acknowledges the character’s past importance without obscuring the changes in its cast and creative direction.
