One of the most beloved childhood festive favorites from way back in the before times of the 1980s is getting a reboot, the original writer has confirmed. Speaking exclusively with MovieWeb’s own George Edelman,Chris Columbus, who is best known for helming the likes ofHome Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire,andthe first twoHarry Pottermovies, confirmed that he now working on a script forGremlins 3.
During their conversation regarding Columbus’ upcomingNetflix crime comedyThe Thursday Murder Club, the filmmaker revealed that he is indeed working on bringing a thirdGremlinsmovie to life and offered some insight into his approach and desire to find “something new” to do with the mischievous (and murderous) critters. Notably, he doesn’t refer to the project as a sequel, but rather a “reboot”…
“I’m always looking for something new… But at the same time, if something like, for instance, Gremlins, [I’m] working on a script for Gremlins, a new Gremlins reboot that I feel, if there’s a reason to do it. Let’s do it. And you know, that’s to me, if, for lack of a better word, a franchise that I love, that I think is a lot of fun. And so that’s intriguing to me.”
Is the New ‘Gremlins’ Project a Legacy Sequel or a Reboot?
Released in 1984, the firstGremlinswas directed by Joe Dante from a script by Chris Columbus and introduces audiences toZach Galligan as Billy Peltzer, who finds himself the owner of the mysterious Mogwai known as Gizmo after receiving him as a Christmas gift from his father. Taking care of a Mogwai comes with three important rules: 1) Keep it away from bright light, especially sunlight, which will kill it; 2) Do not get it wet; and 3) Never feed it after midnight. When these rules are broken, all manner of havoc breaks loose as Gizmo spawns new creatures that evolve into the titular monsters.
Gremlinshas since become a holiday favorite thanks to itsdarkly comedic script and superb use of puppetry. A sequel,Gremlins 2: The New Batch, was released in 1990, with a spin-off prequel series,Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, being released on HBO Max in 2023. It’s now been 41 years since the firstGremlins, and while the idea of a revival after all this time is sure to have some fans worried, Columbus’ dedication to bringing something new to the franchise rather than simply trying to replicate what came before is certainly refreshing.
Not only isGremlins 3(which many assumed would be aGremlinslegacy sequel but could now be a reboot) in the works, a sequel to another Chris Columbus classic is also happening, with Warner Bros. revealing earlier this year thatThe Goonies 2is now in development. So, it seems our modern obsession with 80s nostalgia is all set to continue.
Chris Columbus will next direct an all-star cast that includes Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, and Ben Kingsley inThe Thursday Murder Club, which is due to land on Netflix on August 16, 2025.
