An upcoming adaptation of Tom Hanks' blockbuster, The Burbs, has found itself at the centre of controversy following the release of its first trailer this week.
Actress Keke Palmer and British comedian Jack Whitehall are set to lead a fresh take on the 1989 cult horror-comedy The 'Burbs, with all eight episodes arriving on Peacock in the US on Sunday, February 8.
The original film, directed by Joe Dante, starred Mr Hanks and Carrie Fisher as a couple who stumble upon sinister goings-on in their seemingly ordinary American neighbourhood.
Rather than a direct remake, the new limited series is billed to present a contemporary story drawing inspiration from the themes and visual style of Mr Dante's picture, which earned a devoted following despite its modest $49 million box office performance upon initial release.
Tom Hanks starred in the original classic of The Burbs
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The series follows a young couple who find themselves uprooting their lives to settle in the husband's former family home.
Their domestic routine is swiftly disrupted when someone new takes up residence in the property opposite, an event that begins unearthing long-buried neighbourhood secrets and introduces potentially lethal dangers to their ostensibly tranquil surroundings.
Ms Palmer portrays Samira, who becomes captivated by an old Victorian dwelling across the road from their new home.
The house carries a dark reputation locally, with rumours suggesting it was the site of a murder and is now "haunted as f***."
Keke Palmer leads the reboot of The Burbs
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Determined to uncover the truth, Samira rallies her neighbours to mount their own investigation into the property's mysterious past.
The supporting ensemble features Julia Duffy, Paula Pell, Mark Proksch and Kapil Talwalkar, with guest appearances from Haley Joel Osment, RJ Cyler, and Justin Kirk, among others.
Celeste Hughey, whose previous credits include Palm Royale and Dead to Me, created the series and serves as showrunner. The executive producer roster brings together Seth MacFarlane, Brian Grazer and Ms Palmer herself.
Dana Olsen, who penned the screenplay for the 1989 original, returns as co-executive producer on this reimagining.
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Jack Whitehall also stars in The Burbs
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The action unfolds in Ashfield Place, a location described as the "safest town in America" – a reputation that proves somewhat misleading as events progress.
Following the release of the trailer earlier this month, cinephiles flocked to social media to share their thoughts on the reboot, and it's safe to say the reception was far from unanimously positive.
Objecting to the new-look series, one X user fumed: "The Burbs (1989) is a comedy/horror classic. This new version is everything wrong with movies right now. Fatigued."
"WOKE HOLLYWOOD RUINS EVERYTHING WE LOVED FROM THE 80’s LIKES IT'S THEIR MISSION," a second raged, while a third echoed: "I've just seen the trailer for a series of The 'burbs. It's in the category of 'We can't find anything new, so we're going to ruin the stuff you love'. An insult to the original movie." (sic)
🔥😡 WOKE HOLLYWOOD RUINS EVERYTHING WE LOVED FROM THE 80’s LIKES ITS THEIR MISSION.
— Johnny St.Pete (@JohnMcCloy) January 9, 2026
Here is the new trailer for the reboot of “THE BURBS”…Directed by all women. pic.twitter.com/H1Qv3AvIDH
Elsewhere, a fourth sarcastically weighed in: "It’s about time. I remember 5 years ago when my now 3 year old was 7 asked me with tears in her eyes if I thought anyone was ever gonna remake The ‘Burbs and cast a female POC as the lead."
A fifth slammed: "They remade The Burbs, removed everything that made the original awesome, and shoved in some DEI. Not cool, @peacock."
And another argued: "I just saw that they’re requeling The Burbs into a peacock series. Why the f*** can’t Hollywood script writers come up with some fresh ideas and stay away from beloved classics???"
However, there was some support for the reboot. "This looks intriguing. A familiar setting with a dark twist always works, and Keke Palmer feels like perfect casting for this kind of story. Definitely one to watch," one supporter argued.
And a second reacted to the trailer: "Honestly doesn't even look that bad glad they kept the same dark humor." (sic)