Universal's curious new reboot film based on classic sitcom The Munsters just got its first teaser, and there's definitely a lot of love for the original at play here. But unlike the beloved comedy series, now the ghoulish family is stepping out into a more colorful world.
The upcoming movie has been a bit of an oddity ever since Rob Zombie first announced his reboot of The Munsters, and this new teaser does some heavy lifting in that regard. At first glance, it feels like a faithful recreation of the show's intro sequence featuring the new version's cast members. But as one might expect from a Zombie production, it feels like there's something else behind the seemingly straightforward veneer.
The teaser features the cast of Zombie's The Munsters replicating the original series' humorous opening titles, complete with that iconic theme that's still catchy to this day. The first through is The Gifted's Jeff Daniel Phillips as family patriarch Herman Munster, who crashes through the door revealing a (particularly large) man-sized hole for the others to follow through. After him, Sheri Moon Zombie emerges as the vampire lady of the house, Lily Munster. Finally, the trio is rounded out with Dan Roebuck looking shockingly authentic to the original show as Grandpa Munster.
This is all shot in black and white, which makes the next shot pop even more, even if it still doesn't reveal any of the other new cast members like Richard Brake. The screen reveals some retro-looking text that says "now in living color" before cutting to an amusingly awkward shot of the previously-introduced characters sitting silently on the couch in full color. "Well... now what?" Grandpa poses as the teaser ends with a surprising rating reveal of PG. Well, maybe it's not surprising for The Munsters, but Zombie fans might be a little confused.
But some might have picked up a bit of an odd feeling from the teaser. It appears to be a straightforward homage at first glance, complete with a faithful reimagining of the show's opening. But long-time fans particularly may notice how the performances tend to feel more like attempts at a perfect copy rather than trying to embody the characters. Phillips' take on Herman seems to replicate the movements made by the original actor, but it sort of feels out of place. The same might be said for Lily, who is seen in the show trying to get a feel of her surroundings and checking for rain. But the teaser version has some subtle differences that might change how it comes across.
With this teaser, the upcoming film somehow feels more defined while also posing even more questions. Will it be an earnest attempt to replicate what made the original so beloved? Or will it do its own thing? Only time will tell. But luckily, there's not much time left to wait.
The Munsters will release in 2022.