The Munsters is an upcoming American comedy horror film produced, written and directed by Rob Zombie. It is a prequel to the 1960s family television sitcom of the same name. The film stars Sheri Moon Zombie, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Daniel Roebuck as the titular family, with Sylvester McCoy as Igor and Richard Brake as Dr. Henry Augustus Wolfgang.
The Munsters is a co-production of Universal 1440 Entertainment and Spookshow International Films and is scheduled for a September 2022 release by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
In March 2021, it was reported through various news outlets that Rob Zombie was developing a feature film adaptation of the 1960s television series, The Munsters.
In June 2021, Zombie confirmed these negotiations with his next feature film officially being The Munsters, with the filmmaker serving as writer/director on the project. Zombie, a life-long fan of the television series, stated that he had pursued developing a film for over twenty years. In July 2021, the filmmaker’s wife Sheri Moon Zombie stated that the film was in the pre-production stage with the crew currently scouting for filming locations. Rob Zombie revealed later that month that the character designs would be faithful to the source material, and that an exact replica of the Mockingbird Lane Mansion was being made for the film.
Through pre-production, Zombie had been posting continually on his Instagram updating fans on the status of the film. On July 19, 2021, Zombie revealed the empty location that would be turned into the Munster’s neighborhood. The only thing done at that point had been the grading for where the road would be paved. His next update came on July 21 with a glimpse at the early sculpting for Herman Munster’s head prosthetic. In the following week, construction had begun for the Munster’s home, and the neighboring houses, in addition to drains being dug, and curbs being laid that would eventually edge the road. The asphalt for the road was in place by August 8, 2021.
Casting
In October 2021, Zombie officially revealed the first members of the cast, including Jeff Daniel Phillips, Sheri Moon Zombie, and Dan Roebuck.
Filming
While construction for the sets necessary for production began in June 2021, principal photography officially began in November 2021, in Budapest, Hungary. Filming completed by July 7, 2022.
The first teaser trailer for The Munsters was released on June 8, 2022.
Additionally, prior to and during production, Zombie provided various updates through still-photograph and video clips via his social media platforms. These periodic updates were met with positivity and excitement from both fans of the original television series, and the filmmaker. The first trailer was released on July 13, 2022 revealing elements of the plot, while also indicating of the film’s scheduled release month. Despite the filmmaker’s life-long fandom of the series, the trailer was met with a largely mixed reception.
Release
The Munsters is set to release in September 2022.
Referring to Zombie’s previous R-rated films, he announced “for those of you speculating, wondering and assuming that The Munsters would be dirty, violent and nasty… well, you are wrong, the film is rated PG”.