Horror film director Rob Zombie has teased a look at design plans for The Munsters’ home in his upcoming big-screen reboot. Originally a TV series that ran from 1964-1966 on CBS, The Munsters took some of Universal’s classic monsters and gave them a sitcom setting, incorporating creepy elements with a fish out of water narrative that kept the series fun. Despite only airing for two seasons, the show gained a cult following that persists even today.
There had been talk for years that the IP was going to be rebooted in some capacity and Zombie himself had stated that he’d been trying to make The Munsters into a film for 20 years. Finally, after much conjecture and waiting on the part of fans, Zombie was officially confirmed as the director of a new Munsters film just last month. This came after NBC passed on a rebooted and apparently much darker version of the concept for a new TV series. Several years after that project came to an end, Seth Meyers was rumored to be producing a new Munsters TV series that would have seen the macabre family relocating from California to Brooklyn, New York, where they balanced life alongside the borough’s notorious hipster population. Once again, that attempt to revitalize the IP failed to come to fruition.
It might still be very early days for Zombie’s Munsters film, but judging by the latest bit of evidence that things are moving forward, this could be the most ambitious adaptation yet. Zombie offered fans their first look at design plans for the Munsters’ family home via his official Instagram account recently, calling it “the most perfect Munsters house since 1964” and assuring anyone who ever had any doubts about his commitment to the project that in terms of the house, at least, he wants it to be exact. Check out the finalized plans for what is unmistakeably the Munsters’ home:
Click here to see the post on Instagram.
It remains to be seen if Zombie will try to put some sort of unique twist on The Munsters' concept or if he’ll simply focus on making it as true to the original as possible. As previously mentioned, past efforts at bringing the series into the 21stcentury have all either outright failed to materialize or failed to interest anyone. As it stands, Zombie is very much a fan of the original series, so the manner in which he handles the reboot will likely end up being quite authentic – especially if his dedication to making the family’s home “perfect” is any indication. In terms of casting, there hasn’t been much news, but at present, it’s rumored that Zombie’s wife, Sheri Moon Zombie, will be playing the role of Lillian Munster.
Of course, the upcoming reboot of The Munsters can’t be seriously discussed without pointing out Zombie’s rather messy track record as a filmmaker. With seven feature films to his credit so far, his work has consistently failed to gain either critical acclaim or box office success. In fact, the vast majority of Zombie’s films have been unequivocal bombs, leading some to question whether his passion for The Munsters will be enough to deliver a worthwhile adaptation. His love for the Halloween franchise has previously led him to put his own mark on the iconic slasher series, the likes of which failed to impress creator John Carpenter. With that sort of history blatantly clear, Munsters fans are left feeling uncertain about what this latest attempt at rebooting a short-lived but deeply loved concept will be.
Source: Rob Zombie