Chris Columbus, the writer of the original Gremlins, has confirmed that work has started on a new installment in the franchise. In an exclusive interview with MovieWeb, Columbus explained that he is developing a script for what he described as a reboot of the 1980s classic.
Columbus became a household name after directing films such as Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire, and the first two Harry Potter movies. Asked about his current projects, Columbus said, “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.”
The original Gremlins was released in 1984. Directed by Joe Dante and written by Columbus, the film follows Billy Peltzer, played by Zach Galligan, who receives a mysterious creature known as a Mogwai as a Christmas gift. Named Gizmo, the Mogwai comes with three strict rules: avoid bright light, do not get it wet, and never feed it after midnight. Once those rules are broken, Gizmo multiplies and dangerous gremlins are unleashed. The film’s mix of dark comedy and puppetry effects helped it become a long-running holiday favorite.
A sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, was released in 1990. More recently, an animated prequel series titled Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai premiered on HBO Max in 2023. With the announcement of a new reboot rather than a continuation of the earlier storyline, Columbus appears interested in steering the franchise in a fresh direction more than four decades after its debut.
The filmmaker is also connected to another revival. Warner Bros. confirmed earlier this year that The Goonies 2, a follow-up to the 1985 adventure film, is now in development. Both projects reflect Hollywood’s ongoing “nostalgia” addiction of reviving popular titles from the 1980s.
Before moving forward with Gremlins, Columbus will release his upcoming Netflix project The Thursday Murder Club on August 28, 2025. The crime comedy stars Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, and Ben Kingsley in leading roles.
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English (US) · 