Tim Burton to develop live-action Addams Family TV adaptation and buyers are VERY interested

Tim Burton has another spooky offering up his sleeves.

The delightfully macabre director has been making the pitch for his own live-action TV version of The Addams Family, according to Deadline

Platforms are said to be clamoring for the opportunity to pick up the project, which has multiple buyers – including a very interested Netflix – bidding for the chance.

Spooky stuff! Tim Burton is looking for a network or streaming platform to help him develop a new live-action TV version of The Addams Family

Hot item: Platforms are said to be clamoring for the opportunity to pick up the project, which has multiple buyers - including Netflix - bidding for the chance. Above the beloved 1991 adaptation is seen

Hot item: Platforms are said to be clamoring for the opportunity to pick up the project, which has multiple buyers – including Netflix – bidding for the chance. Above the beloved 1991 adaptation is seen

The show, which would be Burton’s first major live-action TV series, will reportedly be set in the present and be seen from the perspective of Wednesday Addams.

The CalArts alum had previously dipped his toes into TV with the animated Beetlejuice series, which was loosely based on his 1988 movie and ran from 1989 to 1991 on ABBC and later Fox Kids.

Burton, the man behind re-imaginings of Alice In Wonderland, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and Alice In Wonderland, is ready executive produce and possibly direct the whole run of the new Addams gang. 

A writing team is already reportedly attached, with Smallville developers/executive producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar pegged as head writers and showrunners.

If the project comes to fruition, they will also executive produce with Burton. 

Say my name: Burton previously dipped his toes into TV with the animated Beetlejuice series, which was loosely based on his 1988 movie and ran from 1989 to 1991 on ABC and later Fox Kids.

Say my name: Burton previously dipped his toes into TV with the animated Beetlejuice series, which was loosely based on his 1988 movie and ran from 1989 to 1991 on ABC and later Fox Kids.

Here and now: The show, which would be Burton's first major live-action TV series, will reportedly be set in the present and be seen from the perspective of Wednesday Addams, seen played by Christina Ricci in 1993 above

Here and now: The show, which would be Burton’s first major live-action TV series, will reportedly be set in the present and be seen from the perspective of Wednesday Addams, seen played by Christina Ricci in 1993 above

MGM TV owns the underlying rights to the Addams IP and has reportedly financed the initial development of the series, according to Deadline.

The Addams Family began as a print cartoon from artist Charles Addams in 1938, following the strange lives of a family of spooky, but charming characters. 

It was eventually adapted into a live-action TV series starring John Astin as romantic patriarch Gomez, Carolyn Jones as the alluring mom Morticia, Lisa Loring as dark daughter Wednesday, Ken Weatherwax as their sweet son Pugsley and Jackie Coogan as eccentric Uncle Fester. 

The ABC series ran for two seasons, from 1964 to 1966.

Classic: The first live-action Addams starred John Astin as Gomez, Carolyn Jones as Morticia, Lisa Loring as Wednesday, Ken Weatherwax as Pugsley and Jackie Coogan as Uncle Fester, above in 1965

Classic: The first live-action Addams starred John Astin as Gomez, Carolyn Jones as Morticia, Lisa Loring as Wednesday, Ken Weatherwax as Pugsley and Jackie Coogan as Uncle Fester, above in 1965

Toon town: A Hanna-Barbera cartoon followed, airing from one 16-episode stretch in 1973, above

Toon town: A Hanna-Barbera cartoon followed, airing from one 16-episode stretch in 1973, above

A Hanna-Barbera cartoon followed, airing from one 16-episode stretch in 1973. 

Hanna-Barbera reprised the series again in 1992 and later Fox Family Channel hosted the characters on the animated The New Addams Family in 65 episodes from 1998 to 1999.

But perhaps the most memorable depictions of the family were in the 90s films.

1991’s The Addams Family was a sensation, largely because of a star-packed cast which included Anjelica Huston as Morticia, Raul Julia as Gomez, Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester and a young Christina Ricci as Wednesday.

Iconic: The family became a modern sensation with 1991's The Addams Family, which featured  a star-packed cast that included Anjelica Huston as Morticia, Raul Julia as Gomez, Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester and a young Christina Ricci as Wednesday

Iconic: The family became a modern sensation with 1991’s The Addams Family, which featured  a star-packed cast that included Anjelica Huston as Morticia, Raul Julia as Gomez, Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester and a young Christina Ricci as Wednesday

Replacements: 1998's Addams Family Reunion - a straight-to-video offering - was less of a hit, featuring Tim Curry and Darryl Hannah as the morbid mother and father

Replacements: 1998’s Addams Family Reunion – a straight-to-video offering – was less of a hit, featuring Tim Curry and Darryl Hannah as the morbid mother and father

After earning a health $191million at the box-office, the Barry Sonnenfeld-directed feature was followed by the 1993’s Addams Family Values.

1998’s Addams Family Reunion – a straight-to-video offering – was less of a hit, featuring Tim Curry and Darryl Hannah as the morbid mother and father.

In more recent years the property has been given the animated treatment again.

A 2019 version jointly produced by MGM, Nitrogen Studios, Cinesite Studios and The Jackal Group did well enough to warrant a sequel, which is due out October 8 2021.

Modern: There was also a 2019 computer-animated version of The Addams Family, which is set to get a sequel September 2021

Modern: There was also a 2019 computer-animated version of The Addams Family, which is set to get a sequel September 2021

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