Nothing gets a conversation and/or debate going faster than an alternate casting. Everyone has their own opinion about what actor should play which role and, more importantly, nobody can ever agree with anyone else’s picks. If it’s even slightly different than what you pictured in your head, you will immediately disregard it and ridicule the person who suggested it. The aim of the FanCast is to inspire conversation, create debate and provide ammo for the bloodthirsty nerds who can’t ever be wrong.
The Munsters will forever be compared to The Addams Family. Why? Could it be that they were both created in 1964 and starred a family of weirdos that represent the supernatural? Yes, but that’s not the point. Even though both franchises have been able to last into the 21st century (through reruns, reboots, and revivals), it’s safe to say that The Addams Family TV show as well as its characters have cemented their place in pop culture.
However, The Munsters aren’t without some charm of their own.
What follows isn’t exactly what I would call an original idea per se, but rather something of a mash-up of other swirling ideas that “came to me in a dream one night”.
Here are my choices for The Munsters that will never see the light of day.
Javier Bardem | Herman Munster
Okay, so, let’s just get right to this: the only reason that I chose to cast Javier Bardem is simply based on the fact that he had once been cast to play Frankenstein’s Monster for Universal‘s ill-fated “Dark Universe”. There’s really not much more to it than that! Who knows what that movie would’ve been about or what his portrayal would’ve looked like, but it still would’ve been interesting. He may not be the best choice to play Herman Munster, mostly due to being far from the spitting image of Fred Gwynne, — but I don’t care!
Catherine Zeta-Jones | Lily Munster
This casting comes hot off the heels of the hit Netflix TV show Wednesday (2022), in which Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Morticia Addams. Considering how many incarnations of Morticia Addams there have been over the decades, I can’t say that Catherine Zeta-Jones stood out in the role. That said; she was only in two of the eight episodes so that can’t be held against her, I guess. But still, in the role of Lily Munster. I have always seen Morticia as detached and mysterious. Whereas Lily Munster has more of a “loving, mother vibe”.
Luis Guzmán | Grandpa Munster
Again, this casting is plucked from Wednesday (2022), where he plays Gomez Addams. I would agree that he certain looks just like the original comic book strip of Gomez Addams, but I’m still not entirely sold on this casting decision but that could be because of who has portrayed the character in the past. Which is why I would prefer to see him as Grandpa Munster instead! Rather than he and Catherine Zeta-Jones being lovers, perhaps a father / daughter relationship might be a little more fitting, (and also a lot more appropriate).
Tony Revolori | Eddie Munster
This is probably the only “original” casting on my part due to process of elimination. The truth is, I wasn’t sure who I was going to cast as Eddie Munster but ultimately decided to go with Tony Revolori. I enjoyed him in The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) and his recent stint as Flash Thompson in the MCU was okay, even though he was completely wrong for the role. Oh, and just for the record: I did not think about gender-bending the character and casting Jenna Ortega in the role … but now that I think about it, it might not be the worst idea.
Scarlett Johansson | Marilyn Munster
Yes, I’m sure you knew this one was coming. For most of her career, Scarlett Johansson has often been compared to Marilyn Monroe — but only when it comes to her physical attributes. Regardless, she has stated that she has absolutely no intention of portraying Marilyn Monroe on the big screen. Which is a shame but how about playing Marilyn-adjacent! She’s not really playing Marilyn Monroe, it’s a cheap knockoff! Yes, this casting is simply based on her looks but there isn’t anybody else that I would want in the role.
These are the actors I would cast if I was making a live-action The Munsters in a modern reboot that would never happen. Who would you FanCast?