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EXCLUSIVE: British actress Charity Wakefield is set to co-star opposite Eddie Izzard in NBC’s Munsters reboot Mockingbird Lane. The pilot, written by Bryan Fuller and to be directed by Bryan Singer, is described as a reinvention of the 1960s sitcom about a family of “monsters” – vampires, werewolves and Frankenstein and their “plain” cousin (Wakefield) — with striking visuals in the vein of Fuller’s ABC dramedy Pushing Daisies. Wakefield will play Marilyn, Lily’s beautiful niece and the only “normal” Munster (which makes her rather abnormal). Saved from being devoured by her own mother as an infant, she lives with the Munsters but has not inherited any of their special attributes. A college student who believes in good manners and congeniality toward the new neighbors, she regularly clashes with Grandpa (Izzard), but she gets along well with Aunt Lily and Uncle Herman, as well as with her young cousin Eddie. Beverly Owen created Marilyn in the first episodes of the original series, replaced by Pat Priest for most of its run.
Related: Eddie Izzard To Star In And Produce NBC’s ‘Munsters’ Reboot
This marks the second U.S. gig for Wakefield following her starring role on another NBC pilot, 2010′s David E. Kelley dramedy Legally Mad. Well known for her stage work in London, Wakefield is probably best known to American audiences for her starring role on the BBC miniseries Sense And Sensibility, which aired on PBS. Wakefield, repped by Management 360 and UK’s United Agents, will segue to Mockingbird Lane after finishing the ITV mini Leaving, now filming in London. Additionally, she has received an offer to play Bradley Cooper’s sister Agatha in the Susanna Bier-directed feature Serena, which also stars Jennifer Lawrence.
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This “Munsters” reboot doesn’t deserve any Charity!! What is Greenblatt thinking?
Who’s playing Herman? Fred Weller would be awesome. He’s got the cheekbones and he can walk the line between drama and comedy.
Damn! You should be casting this thing!
Not only does Weller have the bone structure to pull off Herman, he’s a hoot to interview and would generate tons of goodwill for the pilot.
This has got to be one of the worst ideas to find a budget in a long, long time. There is no part of the “pushing dasies” production magic (a show that was quickly cancelled for being an expensive unwatchable mess) that can contemporize this stale concept in any salvageable way. Looking to Brian Singer to wrestle this one out of the toilet is even more insane– as it is difficult to understand how a homoerotic Munsters will reach a very broad family appeal. Herman Munster re-worked by Tom of Finland– you know, for the kids!! No Thanks!!!
I loved this show as a kid and still enjoy it when I get a chance to catch a re-run. Among all the shows that aired during that era I personally believe if done right, that “The Munster’s” now renamed “Mockingbird Lane” (nice start) has the potential to grab more than the older nostalgic generation. It seem’s that their are alot of critic’s out there already and the show has’nt even aired the pilot to my knowledge…then again, I make it a habit never to pay any attention too critic’s. I would have missed out on some real gems.
BTW: Your “Homoerotic Munsters” is really hilarious and speak’s volumes about your entire comment.
I heartily agree! I loved the Munsters, too! and can’t wait to see the New version! GO MUNSTERS!
Dude, are you so homophobic that you need to post a ridiculous comment like “..it is difficult to understand how a homoerotic Munsters will reach a very broad family appeal.” because the director is openly gay?? You better be careful, you might catch the “queer disease” if you get near one. Bwahaha!! As far as “Mockingbird Lane” goes, as much as I loved the original series, re-hashed TV series NEVER work out(and with good reason). Too many negative “character” comparisons, and most viewers don’t like people messing around with their “nostalgia”,IMO.
While not excited about this idea, I loved Pushing Daisies and regret that they were canceled..
Well, with Grandpa and Marilyn cast I guess this series is ready to go!
I normally am against reboots.Having said that,I think this may be interesting. I’ll probably watch the pilot because I like Eddie. Remembering Pushing Daisies,this Mockingbird Lane promises to be very colorful. I’ll check with you guys to see who else is added to the cast. Any chance at success begins with the right cast choices.
All this time I thought the Munsters were sort of like… monsters. Turns out they’re just British.
that is a hilarious observation.
can krysten ritter play Lily Munster? I would love to see that. she has the look
She’s playing a college student? I think she’s in her 30′s.
She can pass for college-aged. Catch her in “Sense & Sensibility” she is beautifully young and fragile.
Oh dear. I get that they’re trying to do a complete reboot. It I fear they’re losing the appeal of The Munsters which is the 50s movie monster look. Sure they can tone it down but if they’re all normal looking-ish then isn’t it just The Addams Family ?
Isn’t Eddie Izzard only about 50? How can he be Grandpa? How old will Herman and Lily be? Twenties? Thirties tops? I was intrigued by this at first but the more I learn about this reboot, the worse it looks.
Eddie Izzard will be playing a vampire, dear. It doesn’t matter that the actor is 50; the character can be 500.
In the original series, Al Lewis was only 41 when he played Grandpa.He was actually younger than the actress who played Lily(by about 7 months) and only 3 years older than the actor who played Herman.
Say genius, they’ve got this powdery, pastie, latex stuff in the show business called “make-up”.
The Munsters were working class. Morticia and Gomez were loaded.
“The Munsters” is still one of the funniest shows. Genius. Looking forward to “Mockingbird Lane”!
Don’t hold your breathm folks…Hollywood will find some way to F this up on a grand scale.
I liked the munsters tv show as a kid it was a great comedy, lets hope this remake is as good as the original.
Charity Wakefield really does`nt even remotely resemble the Marilyn Munster character.Even with makeup,she`d be a hard sell.they should consider someone else.
I don’t think it would be wise to stay too tight with the original show’s theme. That has been a sure killer of many re-boot’s. Some room for deviation is alway’s good for these types of shows and generally seem too work better. Charity can pass as Marilyn easy enough as I don’t think the production is going for a carbon copy of the original Munster’s. It was made to appeal to the current generation at the time, It only makes sense to do the same with today’s target audience.
Charity is such a wonderful actress. She’s actually the perfect choice for this part. Sweet, innocent family member to balance out the ghouls. Did you see her in the lmost recent BBC version of Sense and Sensibility? Shows her versatility.
I loved the Munsters! I loved all the characters, especially Herman. I would be very interested in watching this reboot & wish it all the success that the original Munsters had. Herman was halairous, lilly was great, Eddie was just plain funny, Grandpa was clever, nutty & palin goofy & Marylin added beauty to all of the bizarr goings on amid the creepy surroundings. Long live the Munsters & best wishes to the new ones!
Anyone that remembers the original “Munsters” knows that the original cast cannot be matched, never mind topped. This is a disaster in the making. Why do these people insist on tampering with classics?
There really is nothing new under the sun.
Anyone remember that LAST time they tried to reboot the Munsters?
Who can forget the other stinkeroo? I mean really, John Shuck as Herman?
Just stop the insanity already and think of something original, if you can.
here’s what i remember from “The Munsters” Hurman has a con man look alike brother i don’t remember hi name and a look alike cousin
Egore. Herman is not The Frankentein but a kinder gentaler but just
as strong verson created by a team under the supervision of Grandpa
who is Count Drakula but can go out in the day. nothing was said about granma ecept Grandpa has been married more times than he can count. Lilly has a werewolf brother and her part human sister mairlyn’s mom was destroyed. Marilyn turned 19 on the show.
Eddie is a werewolf and a mystery if Lilly and Herman have been married 100 yrs why is he so young? I suspect that Eddie is Lilly’s
werewolf brother’s son that Herman and Lilly have adopted because the living dead can’t have children.
or, you know, its a tv show about monsters and they can have kids because there are no rules on tv. like how the brady bunch had one bathroom and no toilet and Richie Cunningham’s older brother just up and vanished without a word.
Marilyn Munster was patterned after Marilyn Monroe. This Plain Jane doesn’t cut it. This is just as bad as the recasting of Marilyn Munster for the film Munster Go Home.
I liked “Munsters go home” i even have the DVD! it was funny! So what if all the charactors Don’t look EXACTLY like the originals! its a new story, new people, new everything. It should be lots of fun! Stop be party poopers! If u don’t want to watch it, then don’t! Let the rest of us, who like this kind of thing LIKE IT and watch it, u go watch ur boring shows, and leave us alone!
I grew up watching this show. I always look forward to Halloween, when Alice Cooper hosts the all day shows of the Munsters. Can’t wait for this one. I am glad that someone thought of the remake.
This is why there’s so much reality TV (besides $$$)..there’s no new ideas or perhaps no more smart people in the right jobs to think them up. The talented writers / creators all go shoved aside by the well-to-do “dumb” people of TV production who got in, not because of their talent. Whats after this then…are we re-doing Gilligan’s Island next?
It’s been done already…remember “The Real Gilligan’s Island” ‘reality’ show ?
Bryan Fuller having produced such shows as WONDERFALLS, DEAD LIKE ME, and PUSHING DAISIES,maybe this might work. SO, will Herman work at HAPPY TIMES Funeral Home, instead of “Gateman, Goodbury and Graves”?
Kirsty Alley would make a lovely Lily Munster. And yes Fred Weller for Herman.
Ed Helms would make a great Herman Munster !!!