Universal has released a second trailer to hopefully drum up interest in the Rob Zombie-directed film adaptation of the 1960s live-action sitcom The Munsters. The film stars Jeff Daniel Phillips as Herman Munster, Zombie’s wife, Sheri Moon Zombie as Lily Munster, and Dan Roebuck as Grandpa Munster. While the sitcom was a family series showing this monstrous brood trying to blend into the suburbs, Zombie’s film takes place earlier and shows Herman and Lily’s courtship, much to the chagrin of Grandpa.
The Munsters Have A New Home
Universal had this earmarked for a theatrical release in September. However, it’s been announced that The Munsters will go straight to Netflix and will premiere around Halloween. Zombie made the announcement via Instagram, expressing excitement that The Munsters would be hitting the streaming service around the same time as Tim Burton’s TV series, Wednesday. That series isb ased on another monster-themed sitcom, The Addams Family, that aired around the same time as the original Munsters.
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Zombie has directed a few low-budget horror movies, including House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects, which have proven successful. But this seems to be his most ambitious project and a massive departure. Yes, it’s horror-inspired, but it’s also a comedy. Can Zombie nail this?
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that he could. The first trailer was ridiculed online. It appears that Universal hoped that a longer second trailer might win viewers over. But just days after its release, the announcement came that the film was sold to Netflix. (Personally, based on the trailers, Sheri Moon Zombie simply can’t act and was only cast because her husband was directing.)
Zombie has been very excited about The Munsters and has kept fans updated with a steady stream of behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram. Maybe his passion for this project — he sought the rights for over 20 years! — will actually translate. Maybe this will be better than the trailers seem to indicate.
With this going to Netflix, don’t expect a specific release date to be announced until closer to October. What do you think? Are you looking forward to Rob Zombie’s The Munsters adaptation?
