Although Rob Zombie’s reboot of The Munsters is meant to stay true to the spirit of the original show, the movie will also serve as a prequel to the series. Set to premiere on Netflix on September 27, 2022, The Munsters will center on the love story between Herman and Lily Munster – despite the disapproval of Lily’s father, the Count. The horror comedy was written and directed by Rob Zombie, marking the creator’s first step into family-friendly films. In contrast to his previous movies, such as Halloween and House of 1000 Corpses, which have been known for their gore and violence, The Munsters has been confirmed to be rated PG.
This rating suits the tone and style of the original 1960s sitcom. Airing on CBS, The Munsters satirized the typical American suburban lifestyle by focusing on a family of friendly monsters living in a normal neighborhood. Herman Munster, a variation of Frankenstein’s monster, and his vampire wife, Lily Munster, led the family. Lily’s vampire father, simply referred to as “Grandpa,” lived with them. Together, the three adults raised the Munsters’ werewolf son, Eddie, and beautiful niece, Marilyn, who was ironically considered an “ugly duckling.”
A lifelong fan of the original series, Zombie has been trying to reboot The Munsters for over 20 years. After the Munsters movie was approved in 2021, Zombie began building excitement for the film by releasing production details through his social media accounts. However, The Munsters’ trailers revealed the film’s first plot details, both answering and raising questions. Based on The Munsters’ trailers, the movie will be a reboot but take place before the original Munsters series, serving as a prequel. In addition, The Munsters’ trailers highlighted some major differences between the show and the movie.
Prequel, Reboot, Or Both? How The Munsters Movie Connects To The Original Show
While Zombie’s The Munsters will reboot the series, the movie will also act as a prequel to the show. According to the trailers, The Munsters will center on Herman and Lily Munster meeting, falling in love, and ultimately getting married. In addition, The Munsters will feature major events like Herman’s creation by a mad scientist, Dr. Henry August Wolfgang, and the Munster family’s move from Transylvania to America. In the original series, the Munsters had already had their son, Eddie, and lived in America at their famous 1313 Mockingbird Lane address for several years. Due to this, The Munsters movie will take place much earlier in the timeline, setting up the original show without disrupting the previously established canon.
How Rob Zombie's Munsters Is Different To The Original Show
Based on his love for The Munsters, Zombie has ensured that his reboot will capture the spirit of the original show, combining a gothic aesthetic with a campy style. Due to this, the Munsters’ house and costumes – with the addition of a mustache on the Count – are almost identical to the original designs. However, there are some key differences between the Munsters show and film. First, Zombie’s The Munsters will be in color rather than black and white like the 1960s series. Second, Eddie and Marilyn Munster will not appear in the movie, which makes sense given The Munsters’ timeline. Third, The Munsters will feature new characters, including Dr. Wolfgang and his hunchback assistant, Floop, real estate agent Barbara Carr, and Lily’s former boyfriend, Orlock. The Munsters will also reinvent one character, changing the Count’s pet bat, Igor, into a human servant. Even with these changes, Rob Zombie’s Munsters movie still aims to honor the original show as both a reboot and a prequel.
