Welcome to the Cul-de-Sac from Hell: Everything We Know About Peacock’s ‘The ‘Burbs’

Pack your moving boxes and grab your industrial-strength binoculars, because suburban paranoia is getting a high-definition facelift. If you thought your neighbor’s un-mowed lawn was the height of residential drama, Peacock is about to make you feel much better about your zip code.

The streaming giant is reviving The ‘Burbs, a modern reimagining of the 1989 Joe Dante cult classic that famously saw Tom Hanks lose his mind over a pile of mulch. But this isn't your daddy’s cul-de-sac. Starring the incomparable Keke Palmer and British comedy export Jack Whitehall, the new series aims to blend the "mind your own business" suspense of the original with a sharp, satirical edge that fits right into our modern era of Ring cameras and Nextdoor app meltdowns.

Here is everything we know so far about the comedy-thriller set to take over your watchlist on February 8, 2026.

A New Couple, A Familiar Nightmare

The series follows Samira (Palmer) and Rob (Whitehall), a young couple who, in a move that screams "horror movie setup" decide to return to Rob’s childhood home in the supposedly safest town in America. They’ve got a newborn, a dream of domestic bliss, and absolutely no idea that their neighbors are likely hiding bodies behind their pristine hedges.

When a mysterious figure (played by the reliably unsettling Justin Kirk) moves in across the street, Samira’s maternal instincts pivot sharply into full-blown detective mode. Unlike the 1989 version, which focused on bored middle-aged men with too much time on their hands, this iteration puts a fresh spin on the "gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss" trope by exploring the specific anxieties of a Black woman navigating a predominately white, "perfect" neighborhood.

Respecting the GOAT: How It Honors the 1989 Original

Fans of the original film are usually wary of remakes and rightfully so. However, the creative team behind this reboot includes Seth MacFarlane and Brian Grazer (who produced the original), ensuring the DNA remains intact.

Keke Palmer recently noted that while the "heart and soul" of the original are present, viewers shouldn't expect a carbon copy. "Don't come to it expecting the same thing, but do expect there to be commentary and intrigue in the same way the original had," Palmer shared. "We’ve put this one into our own words."

The series leans into the "weirdness" that made the first film a classic, maintaining that thin line between "my neighbor is a serial killer" and "I’m just losing my mind because I haven't slept in three weeks."

THE BURBS -- Pictured: (l-r) Julia Duffy as Lynn, Keke Palmer as Samira, Paula Pell as Dana, Mark Proksch as Tod -- (Photo by: Elizabeth Morris/PEACOCK)

Scavenger Hunt: The Easter Eggs

If you’re a die-hard fan of the Klopeks, you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled. The series is reportedly littered with nods to the Tom Hanks era. Jack Whitehall let a few secrets slip, noting that his character, Rob Fisher, shares a surname with Carrie Fisher, who played the long-suffering wife in the original film.

"There is even a bar called 'Hanks,'" Whitehall teased, a direct salute to the man who made suburban breakdown an art form. Palmer also confirmed she filmed a scene involving the infamous sardines-on-crackers snack, a direct homage to one of the most uncomfortably hilarious segments of the 1989 movie.

Why This Is the Comedy Thriller We Need

Writing for The TV Cave, we’ve seen our fair share of "prestige" thrillers that take themselves way too seriously. The ‘Burbs looks like it’s actually going to be, you know, fun.

The supporting cast is a "who’s who" of people who know how to deliver a punchline while looking suspicious. With Paula Pell, Mark Proksch, and Haley Joel Osment filling out the neighborhood, the potential for weird, improvised chaos is sky-high. Proksch, in particular, feels born to play a suburbanite with a secret basement hobby.

The Verdict (So Far)

Peacock’s The ‘Burbs isn't just a nostalgia play; it’s a necessary update on the idea that the scariest things aren't under your bed, they’re living in the house with the perfectly manicured begonias next door. With Keke Palmer’s effortless charisma and Jack Whitehall’s "frazzled Brit" energy, this is shaping up to be the first "must-watch" event of 2026.

Keep your shutters closed and your streaming apps open. We’ll be recapping every episode right here at The TV Cave when the series drops this February. Stay nosy, friends.