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Less than 2 weeks after receiving Bryan Fuller’s script for The Munsters, NBC has given a pilot order to the Pushing Daisies creator’s reboot of the 1960s comedy. Universal Television is producing the project, described as an imaginative reinvention of The Munsters as a visually spectacular one-hour drama. Fuller originally developed The Munsters last season and his was one of very few scripts new NBC chief Bob Greenblatt kept in play when he took over the network in January. Greenblatt rolled the project to get it redeveloped by his team. Fuller’s new outline submitted in September was received well, and his new script was delivered to NBC early this month. Word is that the network 
envisions the new Munsters as a potential summer or event series. Like Fuller’s previous series, Pushing Daisies, the project features striking visuals mixed with all the classic Munsters archetypes. Grandpa Sam Dracula is essentially Dracula who assembled Herman because no man was good enough for his daughter Lily, a sexy vamp. Lily’s niece Marilyn the freak is actually normal and Lily and Herman’s only child, Eddie, has his werewolf tendencies surface in puberty, forcing the family to relocate to their famous 1313 Mockingbird Lane address. In addition to The Munsters, Fuller also has Hannibal, based on the Hannibal Lecter character, in contention at NBC for a straight-to-series order via Gaumont International TV.
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I wonder if the script has leaked onto the net yet!
Will the canned laughter be included so everybody will notice the jokes?
I am the literary agent who represented Chris Hayward and Alan Burns, the creators of The Munsters, back in the 60′s, and the sale was made to then bright young Universal attorney, Sid Sheinberg, before he became its chief executive for many years.
I guess it’s time to go to Universal Legal, because, so far, no permission requests from these nice people.
I just thought I would point out that they already tried to “reboot” the Munsters about 25 years ago – or was it 50? – and it didn’t work then, either. So how bad does an idea have to suck before people who obviously make too much money for their own good are finally told to hang it up? Unless they completely “re-imagine” this and give it the “edgy and irreverent” treatment – like every show on FX, for example – this fiasco doesn’t have a prayer. But that would make it unrecognizable to anyone who could recall the original show. So why call it “The Munsters” at all? Give it a new moniker, go “high-concept” and pair it with some other equally implausible show – maybe with that zombie show on AMC. Why put it on NBC? And where? Before or after “The Office”…?
THEY HAD BETTER GET BRAD GARRET FROM EVERYBODY LOVE RAYMOND TO PLAY HERMAN MUNSTER
An “unfunny” Munsters– that is a very bad idea. Why do they always forget that there was a brilliant cast and the kind of very clever but PG writing that made the characters endearing and gave it family friendly appeal. That’s why 40 years later it’s still fun to watch and that’s what made “The Munsters”work. It’ like Classic Rock, it stays around because the musicians had talent, heart, and soul. Re-imagining is Hollywood’s current buzz-word for taking a lazy-ass approach to recyling material and adding vulgarity, violence, and a bunch of 20-something actors with model faces and no chops to produce a lame-o production punched up with a lot of CGI-rubbish. Amen.
I couldn’t agree more. I wouldn’t be interested at all if I didn’t have full confidence in the work of Brian Fuller. I still am waiting and won’t be shy about showing disapproval if it happens to suck. I do that all the time when people who I know and love come to a certain point and then just seem to lose their sparkle. Take David Sedaris for example. Brilliant writer right up until When You Are Engulfed In Flames. Then he writes this Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk book. Complete crap. I am hoping that Brian Fuller keeps his momentum going and this remake of The Munsters is just as brilliant as his other work. (Also hoping that David Sedaris goes back onto his A-game.)
Impossible. Who could possibly fill the legendary shoes of Fred Gwynn and Yvonne De Carlo as Herman and Lily Munster?
Really, SAM Dracula? That must be new, because the Grandpa character didn’t have a first name as I recall.
Regardless, the whole idea of remaking this AT ALL – comedy or drama – smacks of desparation and laziness. What’s next – “Beverly Hillbillies: The Musical?”
Idiots, do you always believe everything you read in a press release? I’ve read the script. It’s a comedy in the same way Pushing Daisies was a comedy. And it’s a drama in the same way Pushing Daisies was a drama. Wake up, sit back, and let Bryan Fuller bring you something you could have never thought of yourself.
A Munsters reboot as a comedy could work. Patrick Warburton as Herman would be fun to watch… but… a DRAMA? Why would anybody watch this?
This is fantastic news and if they can capture the essence of the origional show it would be exponential hit with all the sight gags the cookoo clock spot the phone boothe the munster cars the dungeon the dragula and the kook grandpa if it can be true to the origional series it would be a monster hit, now lets do a semi modern version of Lost in Space too and perhaps the time tunnel lets get remake TV to captivate the imaginations of children and adults alike ! A rekindleing of spirit in true nostalgia TV might be just the ticket this country needs at this time a true reminder of why we are America talent entertainment imagination and Ironic comic value
“Visually spectacular” and “striking visuals” totally sounds like there’s compelling storylines and intelligent dialogue – substance all over style. This is going to make you think and pull at your heart strings like only a show with all its energy put into crafting plot and characters.
Meanwhile, check out the new reality show about pigs flying in the 1960′s.
I agree with everyone, NBC is nothing but crap. The only reboot that has worked lately is on CBS… Hawaii 5-O.
it would only make money and be appealing if they make you 100 percent original with maybe some today splashed in
It .. Not you damn smartphone
I’m a fan of Fuller’s and I think it’s going to be great. I love the descriptions in this article. I think it will have a lot of heart and it’s going to be a lot of fun to watch. I feel like it will have a mix of Edward Scissor Hands and Pushing Daises with a splash of Dead Like Me. Now all of you jealous negative Nancies leave the guy alone and go work on your own damn pilot!
Y’know, I always preferred The Addams Family over The Munsters. They seem strange to outsiders, their family history is rich with strength and perseverance in the face of those who’d criticize, and condemn them… Gomez & Morticia were truly a couple in an unshakeable love… and they always welcomed people to their beautiful home, filled with wonder, adventure, seemingly impossible surprises, and most of all, innocent yet macabre fun.
I miss them.
I guess I just feel like – jeez, his other shows were so amazing and yet they didn’t get proper attention because the masses seem to be *sses (or braindead). So… here he is doing a remake of The Munsters. Maybe he had to attach himself to something already known and loved to get the attention of more people. Hopefully the humor won’t go zinging over most peoples’ heads.
I’m old enough to remember the original “Munsters”
I hope they’ll consider Brad Garrett for the role of Herman.
you can’t remake a classic like the munsters. those kinds of shows were great because they had great actors great scripts and kept the dialog out of the toilet