One of Steven Spielberg’s most beloved cult classics may be returning for a long-awaited sequel, but fans shouldn’t expect a Gremlins reboot anytime soon.
Released in 1984, Gremlins became a massive box office success and a defining genre movie of the decade. Directed by Joe Dante, executive produced by Spielberg, and written by Christopher Columbus, the film followed teenager Billy Peltzer after he received the mysterious Mogwai Gizmo as a pet. Made on an $11 million budget, the movie grossed more than $205 million worldwide and spawned a sequel, 1990s Gremlins 2: The New Batch.
Speaking at the Indiana Comic Convention, star Zach Galligan talked about the franchise and explained why a Gremlins reboot will likely never happen. According to the actor, Columbus still has significant influence over the property and has consistently opposed any attempt to start over from scratch. Read his comments below:
Mr. Spielberg owns it, Amblin owns it, and I believe Mr. Columbus also has some kind of ownership ability. At least, he has the ability to say no to a reboot, and he has said — and is involved in Gremlins 3, which certainly solidifies this — that as long as he is alive, there won’t be a Gremlins reboot, he has the right to say no.
Development of a possible Gremlins 3 has been ongoing since 2013, with news once in a while over the course of eight years. In January 2025, a report confirmed Warner Bros. is still working on the sequel.
Galligan’s comments come at a particularly interesting time for the franchise, as Gremlins 3 has finally gained significant momentum after years in development. Following decades of false starts, Warner Bros. officially confirmed in late 2025 that a third live-action film is moving forward, with Columbus set to both write and direct and Spielberg returning as executive producer. Gremlins 3 is currently scheduled for release in November 2027.
Columbus’ involvement is especially notable because he wrote the original Gremlins screenplay before becoming one of Hollywood’s most successful filmmakers through projects such as Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire, and the first two Harry Potter movies. Although he was not creatively involved in Gremlins 2, he has remained attached to efforts to continue the franchise for years.
The sequel also arrives as Warner Bros. continues to lean heavily into some of its biggest franchises. Alongside Gremlins 3, the studio is developing The Goonies 2, expanding the Wizarding World with HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV series, and the new DC Universe following the success of Superman and the upcoming Supergirl film. With nostalgia-driven properties remaining a major priority, Gremlins 3 appears poised to become one of Warner Bros.’ next major franchise revivals.
While story details for Gremlins 3 remain under wraps, the confirmation that the beloved cult classic franchise is coming back to theatres is exciting. On the other hand, Galligan’s latest comments are somewhat reassuring. Reboots have become a staple of modern Hollywood, but Gremlins appears to be one of the rare franchises whose creators still have enough influence to protect it from being remade.
With Columbus and Spielberg now actively involved in bringing another Gremlins film to life, it seems the future of Gizmo and the mischievous creatures will be built on the foundation of the original films rather than replacing them altogether.
Gremlins 3 is scheduled for release in November 2027.
- Created by
-
Chris Columbus, Joe Dante, Steven Spielberg
- First Film
-
Gremlins
- Latest Film
-
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
- Upcoming Films
-
Gremlins 3
- First TV Show
-
Gremlins
- Latest TV Show
-
Gremlins
The Gremlins franchise began with the 1984 film Gremlins, directed by Joe Dante and produced by Steven Spielberg. The story follows a young man, Billy Peltzer, who receives a mysterious creature known as a Mogwai (Gizmo) as a Christmas gift. Billy is given strict rules to follow when caring for the Mogwai, but when those rules are broken, chaos ensues as Gizmo spawns mischievous and violent creatures called Gremlins. The film’s blend of horror, comedy, and holiday cheer made it a cult classic. The sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), takes a more satirical approach. The franchise has since expanded into animated series, video games, and merchandise, with an animated prequel series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai (2023) continuing to build the lore.