‘The Addams Family’ Finds Their Voice with Charlize Theron, Bette Middler, and More

Grab some Girl Scout cookies, the altogether ooky Addams Family are set to waltz into theaters next year.
The Addams Family Values

When word first hit that Oscar Isaac was cast as the voice of Gomez Addams, the internet cried out in preference for a live-action adaptation of The Addams Family. Understandable. Given the right angle and the right pencil-thin mustache, Isaac was born to embody the gothic patriarch. The actor oozes that special blend of suave mischievousness that is utterly essential to the character. Trapping him inside a cartoon almost sounds blasphemous.

However, The Addams Family have already starred in their own television series, an animated series, and two successful cinematic outings. Not to mention various guest-spots on variety shows and Scooby-Doo. We’ve seen them pulled from their 2D origins and brought to life in ghoulish fashion. Returning to animation is the only way to find perfection beyond what has already been attempted.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Addams roster is filling out quite nicely. Joining Isaac is Charlize Theron as Morticia, Nick Kroll as Uncle Fester, Chloe Grace Moretz as Wednesday, Finn Wolfhard as Pugsley, Bette Midler as Grandma, and Allison Janey as the treacherous Margaux Needler. Sausage Party filmmakers, Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan, are set to direct from a screenplay by Matt Lieberman (who is also working on remakes of both Short Circuit and Scooby).

MGM released the below image of their new Addams Family which also bears a striking resemblance to Charles Addams’ original cartoon creations.

The Addams Family first came into being in the pages of The New Yorker. Charles Addams concocted these one-panel rifts as jabs at the American Dream. While most mothers and fathers berate their children into happy smiles to the camera, Morticia and Gomez encourage a good sneer. You might see doom and gloom on a rainy day, but for The Addams Family, a severe rainstorm is the kind of afternoon that makes them feel alive. What most households strive towards, The Addams Family rightfully fear. They kept us honest.

Looking at Sausage Party, Vernon and Tiernan understand the pleasures of ruthlessly attacking social mores. Nothing is too sacred if a laugh is to be had, your precious decency deserves to be slaughtered. Sure, I do not think this Addams Family will delve into the horrors of supermarket orgies a la Sausage Party, but these two will certainly set their sights on American ideology 2018.

Now imagine these creatures with the bite of Isaac, Theron, Kroll, and Middler. Yes to the Hell Yes. These are actors that know how to pack venom behind each syllable. They’re masters of the vocal side-eye. Morticia Addams is going to slay.

The Addams Family appeals to children on the verge of questioning parental omnipotence. Why do we assign cuteness to puppies and villainy to snakes? Aren’t they all God’s little creatures? Who will love the creepy crawly bugs of this world? The Addams Family, of course. Forget your blue skies and rainbows; we’ll take the thunderstorms and lightning bolts. An animated adventure is just what we need to kickstart youth into challenging normalcy. Accept nothing. Demand everything.

Brad Gullickson: Brad Gullickson is a Weekly Columnist for Film School Rejects and Senior Curator for One Perfect Shot. When not rambling about movies here, he's rambling about comics as the co-host of Comic Book Couples Counseling. Hunt him down on Twitter: @MouthDork. (He/Him)