According to
Deadline Eddie Izzard is close to signing on for the lead role of Grandpa Munster in the NBC remake of the popular 60's sitcom
The Munsters. The role in the original series was played to perfection by the late and great Al Lewis.
Besides taking on Grandpa, Izzard will also be pulling double duty as a producer on the show. Eddie has the notable distinction of being the first cast member signed on for the television series. The pilot was written by
Pushing Daisies Bryan Fuller, and is expected to be directed by
X-Men director, Bryan Singer.
Izzard will play Grandpa, the Munster family patriarch, a powerful, ancient vampire with an irrepressible twinkle in his eye. He can shapeshift into rats, wolves, and other creatures at will, but he’s also dapper and charming in a fedora; he is a Don Juan-type womanized with penchant for flashy, sexy outfits.
The remake was set to launch earlier this year, but casting difficulties forced NBC to push back the series til June. Izzard actually was offered the role back when the pilot was originally scheduled to film in January, but the actor was tied to a drama at FX, that later fell through.