A $205 million horror-comedy franchise is eyeing a long-awaited sequel, and is just waiting for script approval from Steven 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 as Back to the Future, Men in Black and Transformers.

Spielberg’s name is also prominently displayed in the opening тιтles of Joe Dante’s 1984 horror-comedy hit Gremlins, as well as its insane sequel Gremlins 2: The New Batch. Together, the two movies grossed $205 million worldwide.

Director Dante has expressed disinterest in revisiting Gremlins, but the original movie’s writer Chris Columbus is still on-board with making Gremlins 3, and has reportedly penned a script. Earlier this year, it was revealed that Warner Bros. is still developing Gremlins 3, though no indication was given as to when the movie might actually start production.

The latest Gremlins 3 update 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 (via comicbookmoviedb/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 ᴀssessment of the Gremlins franchise, which he then believed was headed toward a return to the big screen, following the success of HBO Max’s animated show Secrets of the Mogwai. As the actor told ScreenRant:

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 enтιтy involved in making the call on Gremlins 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 the Gremlins 3 script referred to by Galligan, and presumably written by the aforementioned Columbus.

Columbus himself has commented on the tone of his Gremlins 3 script, 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 his Gremlins 3 script 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 twisted Gremlins 3 may 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, view Gremlins as a family-friendly property.

Secrets of the Mogwai took Gremlins into the animated space, and was largely suitable for kids, despite a few darker elements. If the studio chooses to continue in that direction, Gremlins 3 might be something akin to the recent Ghostbusters sequels, movies that hit the nostalgia ʙuттon hard, while appealing to the whole family.

If Gremlins 3 follows the path Columbus said he was charting back in 2017, it will not be a kid-friendly movie. Gremlins executive producer Spielberg will have his own say in the matter, once he reads the script.

Source: comicmoviesdb/TikTok