Gremlins 3 is gaining momentum after nearly thirty years of dormancy, largely due to the commercial success of a $452 million movie featuring Jenna Ortega. The popularity of Ortega’s latest film has spurred Warner Bros to move forward with the Gremlins sequel, which is currently awaiting approval from executive producer Steven Spielberg.
The Gremlins series, centered on mischievous creatures, originally debuted in 1984 and saw a follow-up in 1990 before fading from theaters. Actor Zach Galligan, who starred in the previous Gremlins films, confirmed that a script for the third installment exists and is now under Spielberg’s consideration. Galligan attributes the series revival to Jenna Ortega’s success in the Beetlejuice sequel.
Jenna Ortega’s Role in Beetlejuice Fuels Gremlins Franchise Revival
Jenna Ortega, widely recognized for her leading role in the Netflix hit series Wednesday, has also made a significant impact at the box office. Her starring role in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice sequel released last year garnered positive reviews and achieved a remarkable $452 million gross worldwide, marking the highest box office total of her career.
Zach Galligan revealed during an interview at San Diego Comic-Con that the Gremlins 3 script is ready and merely awaits Spielberg’s approval before production can begin.
“It’s waiting on Mr. Spielberg to read it and approve it. But you can thank the success of ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,’”
Galligan stated.
Galligan further explained that Warner Bros and Amblin Entertainment, Spielberg’s production company, are eager to revive the franchise together, as they did with the previous Gremlins films. If Spielberg gives his approval soon, fans may see Gremlins 3 come to life in the near future.
Chris Columbus Returns to Pen Screenplay for Gremlins 3
The Gremlins franchise experienced a decline following the disappointing box office results of the 1990 sequel, which earned only $41.5 million. Despite this, Warner Bros has been developing a third installment for over a decade, with renewed efforts confirmed earlier this year.
Warner Bros Co-CEO Pamela Abdy publicly expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating,
“We’re super excited about Amblin developing with Chris Columbus, new entries in the Gremlins and Goonies franchises.”
Columbus, known for directing the Harry Potter series, wrote the original Gremlins film and is now attached to the screenplay of Gremlins 3.
In 2017, Columbus hinted at a darker, more twisted direction for the upcoming Gremlins movie, though it remains uncertain if the current script awaiting Spielberg’s review reflects that earlier version.
The collaboration between Warner Bros, Amblin Entertainment, and Columbus suggests a strong creative team is in place to bring the Gremlins back to theaters, pending final approvals.
The Significance of the Upcoming Gremlins 3
The renewed development of Gremlins 3 marks an important moment for fans of the franchise and the horror-comedy genre. The involvement of high-profile talents like Jenna Ortega, Steven Spielberg, and Chris Columbus promises a carefully crafted continuation of the story.
Warner Bros’ commitment to the project, fueled by Ortega’s box office success and the longstanding legacy of the Gremlins films, indicates a revitalization of the brand for modern audiences. As the script awaits Steven Spielberg’s approval, anticipation builds for the possibility of Gremlins returning to the big screen after nearly three decades.
Until an official greenlight is announced, fans can revisit the original Gremlins movies, which are available to stream on platforms like Amazon Prime Video in the USA.
