A new television series is set to revisit one of the 1980s most famous suburban nightmares. The ‘Burbs, a dark comedy film starring Tom Hanks, is getting a modern makeover for Peacock. The streaming service has confirmed the series will premiere on February 8, 2026. All eight episodes of the first season will be available to stream that day .
Leading the new adaptation are Keke Palmer and Jack Whitehall. They play a couple who move back to the husband’s childhood home, only to find their new neighborhood is hiding dangerous secrets . The series has assembled a large and notable cast, including comedy stars like Paula Pell, Mark Proksch, and Julia Duffy .
The ‘Burbs Series Premise and Story Details
The new series is a contemporary take on the 1989 movie. It follows a similar basic idea but updates the setting and characters for a modern audience. The official description states the show follows “a young couple who have reluctantly relocated to the husband’s childhood home” . Their peaceful life is disrupted when a new neighbor moves in across the street.
This new arrival brings “old secrets of the cul-de-sac to light, and new deadly threats shatter the illusion of their quiet little neighborhood” . The series is described as a black comedy, blending humor with darker, mysterious elements . It will film on the backlot of Universal Studios Hollywood, the same location used for the original film .
Joe Dante, director of the 1989 film, reacted to the series announcement by saying, “I think my actual comment was, ‘How are they going to make a whole TV series out of that story?’” He added, “Good luck to them. It’s kind a one-off story…It’s always nice when things have a shelf life” .
Meet the Main Cast and Characters of The ‘Burbs
Keke Palmer leads the cast as the wife in the central couple. Palmer is also an executive producer on the series . Her co-star, Jack Whitehall, plays her husband, who is returning to his suburban childhood home .
They are joined by a core group of neighbors and supporting characters played by well-known comedy actors:
- Julia Duffy, known for Newhart and Palm Royale .
- Paula Pell, a former Saturday Night Live writer and star of Girls5eva .
- Mark Proksch, famous for his roles in What We Do in the Shadows and The Office .
- Kapil Talwalkar from Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and Night Court .
Recurring Guest Stars and Supporting Cast Members
Beyond the main cast, the series features a deep bench of talented actors in recurring roles. Haley Joel Osment, RJ Cyler, and Justin Kirk were announced for recurring parts . Justin Kirk’s character is highlighted in the trailer as a particularly suspicious new neighbor .
Later casting rounds added Max Carver (The Batman), Erica Dasher (Jane By Design), Georgia Leva (Orphan Black: Echoes), and Kathleen Kenny (Sex Lives of College Girls) to the recurring cast . Other actors appearing include Kyrie McAlpin, Danielle Kennedy, and Randy Oglesby .
The Creative Team Behind the Peacock Series Adaptation
The series was created and written by Celeste Hughey, who has worked on shows like Palm Royale and Dead to Me . Hughey also serves as an executive producer .
The executive production team brings together significant names from film and television. Seth MacFarlane and his company Fuzzy Door are involved, alongside Brian Grazer and Imagine Entertainment, which produced the original 1989 movie . Dana Olsen, the writer of the original film, is a co-executive producer on the series .
Nzingha Stewart, director of Daisy Jones & The Six, directed the first episode and is an executive producer . Additional directors for the season include Rachel Goldberg and Yana Gorskaya .
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Trailer Release and Fan Reactions to The ‘Burbs Series
Peacock released a full trailer for the series on January 9, 2026, giving fans a first real look at the tone and comedy . The trailer shows Keke Palmer and Jack Whitehall’s characters growing increasingly paranoid about their odd neighbors. One scene features Mark Proksch’s character deadpanning about “moon bathing” in the nude .
Early reactions to the casting have been positive, with particular excitement around the ensemble of comedic actors. The series was named one of IndieWire’s most anticipated TV shows of 2026, with the outlet noting the strength of the supporting cast around Palmer . The show has a TV-MA rating .
