We sat down with Celeste Hughey, the creator, writer and executive producer of The ‘Burbs on STACKTV, to talk about revisiting the cult classic film and translating its iconic world to a present-day series. From set design to casting surprises, Celeste gives us an exclusive peek behind the scenes.

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Why bring The ‘Burbs back now?

“The ‘Burbs is such a cult classic,” Celeste tells us. “It was the perfect playground to build off of and create a new world. We were fortunate enough to film on the original cul-de-sac in Los Angeles. That gave us a foundation of the movie. Through that, we were able to build whole new storylines and characters, while still preserving the tonal essence and DNA of the movie, with some Easter eggs for the original fans.”

What inspired the design of the house?

One of the first things viewers notice is the show’s centerpiece, the revamped Munster Mansion. “Our production designer, Susie Mancini, is just a genius,” Celeste says. “The Munster Mansion is iconic, but on the back lot it was just a normal-looking house. I wanted to return it to its Gothic style. I’d written it as a Queen Anne Victorian. Susie and her team just ran with it and researched to try to find all the ways to add layers of history to it, and time and decay. The colour is more of a reddish tone and paled to a little bit more of a pink because of the passing of time.”

What changed from script to screen?

Adapting The ‘Burbs wasn’t just about updating the setting. It was about letting the cast breathe life into the story. Celeste explains, “When Jack and Keke met for the first time on set, their chemistry felt like a brand-new couple. Originally, they had been together for years, but we shifted the story to be a younger, new couple. And with comedic actors like Mark Proksch, Julia Duffy and Paula Pell, they add their own flavour to these characters. It became a funnier show just by having these people in it.”

How did the cast shape the making of the show?

Keke Palmer, who serves as both lead and executive producer, helped shape the series’ voice from the writer’s room to the screen. “She would read the scripts and ask really thoughtful questions to kind of make sure we were touching the themes and the character in a really great, authentic way,” Celeste shares. “She was super trusting of me in the writer’s room, but very collaborative through the process. And we have all these great actors who would do the words and also add their own ad-libs throughout. It was really fun to see what they could come up with.”

What’s the first thing you want viewers to feel when watching The ‘Burbs?

For viewers stepping into episode one, Celeste hopes for a balance of suspense and warmth. “I want them to feel like there can be anything that happens at any moment. I want them to be a little scared, but also feel welcome. Just like Samira is with this kooky group of neighbours that you want to come back week to week and spend time with, and drink wine with on the porch.”

Stream the full series starting Sunday, February 8 on STACKTV.

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