A $205 million horror-comedy franchise is eyeing a long-awaited sequel, and is just waiting for script approval fromSteven Spielberg.
In addition to being one of the most celebrated directors of all-time, Spielberg has made notable contributions to cinema in the role of executive producer, putting his name on projects as diverse asBack to the Future,Men in BlackandTransformers.
Spielberg’s name is also prominently displayed in the opening titles of Joe Dante’s 1984 horror-comedy hitGremlins, as well as its insane sequelGremlins 2: The New Batch. Together, the two movies grossed $205 million worldwide.
Director Dante has expressed disinterest in revisitingGremlins, but the original movie’s writer Chris Columbus is still on-board with makingGremlins 3, and has reportedly penned a script. Earlier this year,it was revealed that Warner Bros. is still developingGremlins 3, though no indication was given as to when the movie might actually start production.
The latestGremlins 3update sheds no light on when the long-awaited sequel may finally begin shooting, but does indicate one thing holding up the process, as Billy Peltzer actor Zach Galligan conveyed what he knows about the project during an appearance at Manchester Comic Con,saying there’s a script that just awaits Spielberg’s seal of approval(viacomicbookmoviedb/TikTok):
“After 35 years, they’ve come up with a script. Warner Bros. is incredibly interested in doing it, apparently it’s waiting on Mr. Spielberg to read it and approve it.”
What This Means For Gremlins 3
The Franchise Still Has Life
Galligan’s new remarks reinforce his 2024 assessment of theGremlinsfranchise, which he then believed was headed toward a return to the big screen, following the success of HBO Max’s animated showSecrets of the Mogwai. As the actor toldScreenRant:
I can’t really figure out why Warner Bros. would do two seasons - not one, but two seasons - of the animated series, and spend a lot of money on it, unless there was some kind of endgame. And usually the endgame for a huge studio like Warner Bros. Discovery is a live-action film.
Warner Bros. is not the only entity involved in making the call onGremlins 3. Spielberg also has a hand in the matter, as Galligan himself has now seemingly confirmed. Hopefully, the busy Spielberg can find time to read theGremlins 3script referred to by Galligan, and presumably written by the aforementioned Columbus.
Jenna Ortega has expressed interest in joiningGremlins 3if it ever happens.
Columbus himself has commented on the tone of hisGremlins 3script, and if the screenplay awaiting Spielberg’s approval is the same one he talked about,he wants the franchise to return to the dark and twisted flavor of the original movie.
Columbus made hisGremlins 3script remarks back in 2017, however, and it’s possible the draft referred to by Galligan is completely different.
Our Take On Spielberg And Gremlins 3
Everything Is Still Up In The Air
A dark and twistedGremlins 3may satisfy fans of ‘80s-style horror-comedy, but might not be the smartest play for the franchise. It all depends on whether Warner Bros., and Spielberg, viewGremlinsas a family-friendly property.
Secrets of the MogwaitookGremlinsinto the animated space, and was largely suitable for kids, despite a few darker elements. If the studio chooses to continue in that direction,Gremlins 3might be something akin to the recentGhostbusterssequels, movies that hit the nostalgia button hard, while appealing to the whole family.
IfGremlins 3follows the path Columbus said he was charting back in 2017, it will not be a kid-friendly movie.Gremlinsexecutive producer Spielberg will have his own say in the matter, once he reads the script.
Source: comicmoviesdb/TikTok
