Eddie Izzard Al Lewis Inset - P 2012
Getty ImagesNBC’s reinvention of The Munsters has found its Grandpa.
Eddie Izzard has become the first person cast for the dramatic reinvention of the 1960s comedy, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
The former star of The Riches would play Grandpa Munster, portrayed by Al Lewis in the original CBS comedy. In addition, Izzard also would serve as a producer on the pilot, which hails from exec producers Bryan Singer and Bryan Fuller.
In the reboot, Grandpa is described as a powerful vampire with the quick wit that Lewis initially injected into the character. He’s the head of the mysterious family who continues to have Herman under his thumb.
NBC initially eyed the reboot, which has been titled Mockingbird Lane, for this development season but pushed the project to summer.
Pushing Daisies‘ Fuller is penning the project for Universal Television. Fuller and NBC first made an attempt to revive the sitcom last year, with the network ultimately passing. His newer version is said to be an edgier and slightly darker take exploring origins of Herman and Lily Munster (originally played by Fred Gwynne and Yvonne De Carlo) and how they arrived at the famed 1313 Mockingbird Lane address.
The original series, produced by Universal Studios, aired 70 episodes from 1964-66.
In addition to starring on FX’s The Riches, Izzard most recently had an arc on Showtime’s United States of Tara.
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