Peacock‘s upcoming remake of Tom Hanks’ cult classic The ‘Burbs debuts its first teaser trailer. Producer Seth MacFarlane, of Family Guy and Ted fame, is producing the series along with Brian Grazer, whose credits include Arrested Development and Empire. The horror-comedy remake boasts a stellar cast, with Emmy-winning Keke Palmer front and center after recently starring alongside Eddie Murphy in The Pickup and Keanu Reeves in Good Fortune. The ensemble also features Jack Whitehall, Julia Duffy, Paula Pell, Mark Proksch, and Kapil Talwalkar.
Hanks’ 1989 version of The ‘Burbs, directed by Joe Dante and costarring Carrie Fisher, saw the young suburbanite father roped into a possible conspiracy about some new neighbors, pairing him with an eccentric cast of characters to help delve into the absurd mystery. The remake sees a young couple (Palmer and Whitehall) moving to the husband’s old neighborhood, where they are pulled into old secrets and deadly threats as new neighbors move in. The synopsis for Peacock’s The ‘Burbs reads:
Inspired by the 1989 horror-comedy film of the same name and set in present-day suburbia, The ‘Burbs follows a young couple who have reluctantly relocated to the husband’s childhood home. Their world is upended when a new neighbor moves in across the street, bringing old secrets of the cul-de-sac to light, and new deadly threats shatter the illusion of their quiet little neighborhood.
The first teaser trailer for The ‘Burbs was shared on YouTube by Peacock, giving audiences their first glimpse at Palmer filling in for Hanks, with a host of unique neighbors along for the ride. The series is created by Celeste Hughey, with past credits including Palm Royale and Dead to Me. It was inspired by Hanks’ film, though Palmer and Whitehall aim to breathe new life into the cult classic horror concept, ushering in a new age of nosy neighbors. All eight episodes of The ‘Burbs are slated to debut on Peacock on February 8.
Seth MacFarlane’s ‘The ‘Burbs’ Redefines A Cult Classic
The ‘Burbs is a noted film in Hanks’ resume, becoming a cult classic in the years since its release. It saw the lauded actor playing a father for the first time in a film, and he delivered an often physically comedic performance, which audiences would get less of as his career leaned into dramas. However, it became an endearing rewatch for fans who loved the neighborhood’s oddball characters. As Hanks and his paranoid friend and retired-veteran neighbor, Rumsfield, launch into a humorous mystery, they uncover dark things that become a show for the neighborhood as onlookers gather. While the future Forrest Gump star delivers, so does his supporting cast, making the Peacock series remake pose exciting possibilities.
The MacFarlane-produced series already appears to lean into Palmer taking the lead, possibly casting Whitehall in Fisher’s role from the 1989 film as the disapproving spouse. The dynamics at play remain to be seen. However, the trailer has already promised a well-populated neighborhood, allowing the supporting characters to play a part in what can enable the show to thrive. Further details will be forthcoming as the February premiere date of The ‘Burbs approaches.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
