NEW YORK, Feb. 8 (UPI) — Writer-producer Celeste Hughey says multi-talented Keke Palmer is the perfect lead for her re-imagining of The ‘Burbs because the actress effortlessly moves between comedy and drama.

Loosely inspired by the 1989 Tom Hanks-Carrie Fisher movie of the same name, the mystery series premieres Sunday on Peacock and follows Samira (Palmer) and Rob (Jack Whitehall) — a happily married couple with a newborn son — as they move to the suburban neighborhood where Rob grew up.

“Keke was always who I dreamed of playing the lead. She was, from the get-go, exactly who I wanted. So, I wrote to her, basically. With the script, I always had her voice in mind,” Hughey told UPI in a recent Zoom interview.

“There were days on set where I couldn’t even look at her because I couldn’t believe she was there,” Hughey laughed.

A friendly reminder from your neighborhood HOA #TheBurbs arrives February 8 on Peacock. pic.twitter.com/Nb0dLViVcY— Peacock (@peacock) February 7, 2026

The show-runner was also excited that this project places Palmer “No. 1 on the call sheet for the first time since she did True Jackson, VP,” which ran 2008-11.

“She has the comedy chops. She can do the dramatic. She has the full range. She is, as we know, just a superstar in everything she does. She sang ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ perfectly the other day at a game,” Hughey said.

“And, so, I truly saw her as kind of the modern Tom Hanks. She can do it all and has that charisma and charm that we all love.”

Hughey said she was a fan of the 1989 film, but wanted to expand the story and move it into the 21st century.

“There’s so much I love about the original movie. It came out when I was quite young, so when I first saw it, it was very scary to me,” she recalled.

“So, those fears and thrills were important to maintain. But as I got older and revisited it again, got to see the amazing commentary and, also, just the hilarious characters and all the elements that they brought together through slapstick and just quips and zingers. So, it was really important to me to make sure that whole essence of the movie was in the show.”

In Hughey’s version, Rob commutes daily into the city for work, leaving Samira to befriend their quirky, wine-guzzling neighbors — played by Julia Duffy, Mark Proksch and Paula Pell — who are all fascinated by a neglected mansion where a young woman whom Rob lied about knowing may have been murdered 20 years earlier.

“We brought in all these really incredible comedic actors that people love but haven’t gotten to see do the full range of comedy and emotion. So, I think everyone was really excited to be able to step into these roles,” Hughey said.

“The cast really came together. They’re all friends. It’s a big love fest between the group. I think you see that in the show. You see them having fun. You want to show up and be on the wine night with them and be friends with everybody.”

After working on successful genre-mixing shows like Palm Royale, High Fidelity and Dead to Me, The ‘Burbs was definitely in Hughey’s wheelhouse.

“I love to be able to dance along different tonal lines where we can play with darker themes, but still cut it with levity and a joke. That’s the way I approach the world and that’s the way I like to write,” she said.

Hughey thinks the show’s themes of anxiety, curiosity and fellowship related to new neighbors will resonate with viewers.

“It’s universal. We all have a neighbor that we have spied on,” Hughey said.

“We all live next to people who we don’t choose and we can find found family through them or we can have a little suspicion,” she added. “Coming out of COVID, we were all stuck at home, looking out the windows, trying to find some entertainment. We’ve all gotten into the world of window watching and have had a lot of fun with that.”
Keke Palmer: Photos of the actress, singer, host

Palmer arrives for the premiere of “Madea’s Family Reunion” in Hollywood on February 21, 2006. Palmer starred as Nikki, a girl who Tyler Perry’s Madea takes in. Photo by Phil McCarten/UPI

Palmer attends the premiere of “Joyful Noise” in Los Angeles on January 9, 2012. Palmer, who sings in the film, also has a music career with her latest single, titled “Bottoms Up 2.0,” being released in 2022. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

Palmer arrives for Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards in Los Angeles on March 31, 2012. Photo by Jonathan Alcorn/UPI

Palmer attends the premiere of “Alex Cross” at the in Los Angeles on October 15, 2012. Photo by Phil McCarten/UPI

Palmer arrives at the Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on August 25, 2014. She made multiple appearances on television series “Masters of Sex” that same year and in a reboot of “90210” the year prior. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

Palmer (R) and Kiersey Clemons attend the Los Angeles premiere of “Dope” on June 8, 2015. Palmer starred as Zayday in television series “Scream Queens,” which debuted that year. Photo by Christine Chew/UPI

Palmer appears backstage during the annual Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on May 22, 2016. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

Palmer attends the premiere of “Ice Age: Collision Course” in Los Angeles on July 16, 2016. Palmer voiced Peaches in the animated feature after portraying the character in 2012’s “Ice Age: Continental Drift.” File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

Palmer arrives for the premiere of “Madea’s Family Reunion” in Hollywood on February 21, 2006. Palmer starred as Nikki, a girl who Tyler Perry’s Madea takes in. Photo by Phil McCarten/UPI