The Mogwai Are Back… Maybe
Remember Gremlins? Of course you do. That weird little horror-comedy about a furry creature multiplying into tiny, chaotic monsters after midnight? The one that made us all second-guess feeding our pets after dark? Yeah, that one.
Well, hold onto your Gizmo plushies—because Gremlins 3 is this close to happening.
According to Zach Galligan—Billy Peltzer himself—Warner Bros. is “incredibly interested” in making a third film. The script? Done. The director? Chris Columbus, who wrote the original 1984 classic. The only thing standing in the way? Steven Spielberg's stamp of approval.
And let's be honest—if anyone's earned the right to gatekeep this franchise, it's Spielberg.
Why Now? Blame Beetlejuice
Hollywood loves a legacy sequel, especially when there's money to be made. The runaway success of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice ($452 million worldwide) proved that audiences will still show up for decades-later follow-ups—even if the original stars are older, weirder, or (in Michael Keaton's case) just as delightfully unhinged.
Warner Bros., smelling blood in the water, is doubling down. A Practical Magic sequel is already in production. Gremlins 3? Locked and loaded—pending Spielberg's final say.
Chris Columbus Returns—But Where's Joe Dante?
Columbus hasn't directed a Gremlins film before (Joe Dante handled the first two), but he did write the original script—a twisted little thing inspired by classic Universal monster movies (The Mummy, Creature from the Black Lagoon).
His vision for Gremlins 3? Darker. Practical effects. No CGI. Just good old-fashioned puppetry and chaos.
But here's the thing—Dante's absence is felt. The first two films thrived on his anarchic, satirical edge. Columbus? He's more of a crowd-pleaser (Home Alone, Harry Potter). Will Gremlins 3 keep that bite, or soften into nostalgia bait?
The Spielberg Factor
Spielberg's involvement isn't just a formality. He's the godfather of this franchise—the producer who greenlit the original, the guy who helped birth PG-13 because Gremlins and Temple of Doom were too much for kids.
If he gives the nod, filming could start as early as 2026 for a likely 2027 release. If he doesn't? Well… we'll always have Gremlins 2: The New Batch (which, according to Quentin Tarantino, is “a fucking masterpiece”).
Final Thought: Will This Work?
Legacy sequels are a gamble. Some (Top Gun: Maverick) soar. Others (Independence Day: Resurgence) crash. Gremlins 3 has the right pieces—Columbus, Spielberg, practical effects—but will it capture that same weird magic?
Or will it be another case of Hollywood feeding us after midnight?
What do you think? Should Gremlins 3 happen, or is this one best left in the ‘80s? Sound off in the comments.
