For the past few years, there’s been frequent talk of a new instalment in the Gremlins franchise – either as a remake of the original movie, or a “reinvention” of the series – and for a while in 2015 it even looked close to becoming a reality as Warner Bros. tried to fast track the project into production.
Since late 2015 we’ve had no further word on its status, with the project seemingly stuck in development hell. However, during an interview with Bleeding Cool, star Zach Galligan has provided an update, confirming that it would indeed be a sequel rather than a reboot, and that original writer Chris Columbus is still actively pursuing it.
“There is a huge time gap but it’s Warner Bros, Spielberg and Chris Columbus. Now, Chris Columbus didn’t have anything to do with Gremlins 2 – because by his own admission he didn’t see a franchise. He kind of regrets it I believe, but he was ‘one and done.’ I don’t think he cared for Gremlins 2 and the direction some of the characters went in, so he’s kind of wrested control back. Everything I’m quoting is stuff he’s publicly said: ‘There will NEVER be a remake. There will NEVER be a reboot. There will only be a SEQUEL.’”
“[Columbus] has been aggressively working on a Gremlins 3 that takes place in present day,” he continued. “He tantalizingly says there will be some NEW characters and some OLD characters – I guess in the style of a Force Awakens type sequel. One thing we know for sure is they have a writer on board… Carl Ellsworth has been apparently working on the script for a year and a half now. If no new names start appearing on the IMDn listing then that means they like the script. If new names start appearing, y’know Kevin Smith appears, it means it’s back in rewrites with a new vision. Warner Bros definitely wants it, Chris Columbus wants to do it because he’d like to undo the Gremlins 2 thing as he wasn’t thrilled with it, and Spielberg wants to do it I imagine – because he’s Spielberg – and why wouldn’t he want to do it. Once he’s found the right script he can attach his name and make a ton of money. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
Would you like to see a third Gremlins set in the present day? And what’s the life expectancy of a mogwai? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
Originally published January 1, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
