The "Sliders" actor has been cast as Herman Munster in NBC's upcoming reboot of the classic comedy "The Munsters," the network confirms to The Wrap.
The revamp, titled "Mockingbird Lane," also includes Eddie Izzard as Grandpa Munster. The pilot is scheduled to begin shooting this month, and could air midseason 2012-13.
"Mockingbird Lane" will represent a dramatic departure from the original series. For starters, it's being reincarnated as a one-hour drama. The brainchild of former "Pushing Daisies" scribe Bryan Fuller, the project has been described as a darker, edgier take on its predecessor, which starred Fred Gwynne as Herman and Al Lewis as Grandpa.
The revamp has had a roundabout path to fruition. After initially greenlighting the project in Sept. 2010, NBC brass initially passed on Fuller's original script, but incoming NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt was intrigued enough by the project to give it another go.
Izzard will also serve as a producer on the series.
O'Connell most recently starred in the CBS legal dramedy "The Defenders."
