Actress Wendy Schaal Returns to 'The 'Burbs' Set

Actress Wendy Schaal, a familiar face from the 1989 dark comedy 'The 'Burbs,' has returned to set for the Peacock series reboot. Schaal, who voiced Bonnie Rumsfield in the original film, now portrays librarian Judy in the new series. She has primarily focused on voicing Francine Smith in 'American Dad!' for the past 20 seasons.

Schaal revealed that 'American Dad!' creator Seth MacFarlane, a fan of the original movie, specifically designed the character of Francine for her. Despite this connection, Schaal had not discussed the reboot with MacFarlane. She initially auditioned for a different role in the reboot before being offered the part of Judy.

This return to a live-action set marks Schaal's first on-screen work in two decades, a welcome experience outside of her long-running animated role. She recalled fond memories of filming the original 'The 'Burbs,' including interactions with Carrie Fisher and Tom Hanks, and director Joe Dante's comedic antics on set.