Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai will air on HBO Max next year, but this next installment in the popular saga will carry on without one of its original stalwarts.
Tze Chun–executive producer of the highly anticipated animated series–said in a recent interview that comedian Howie Mandel will not provide the voice for Gizmo this time around, as reported by comicbook.com.
Mandel voiced the adorable, furry Gizmo in both the original 1984 film and in the 1990 sequel. Chun confirmed that Gizmo will remain the primary Mogwai in this animated adventure, but another (as yet unnamed) voice actor will bring life to the part.
Chun was understandably tight-lipped about certain aspects of the HBO Max project, but he did dish on some salient points. “We will see evil Mogwai,” he said, “but I think that is as much as I can say for right now.”
Chun expounded a bit on the thinking behind this venture, though, “What we really wanted to do was create more stories set in the Gremlins universe. We also wanted to service the fans. The fandom of Gremlins is so strong for movies that have been around for almost 40 years.”
Chun added that the series will feature “a lot of kind of ‘Easter eggs’ and Gremlins mythology that hopefully will satisfy long-term fans, while also bringing in new fans.”
He called the animated series a “co-viewing show. Some of the models that we are looking at are Pixar, Studio Ghibi movies–things that adults, kids and teenagers can all watch together.”
The show’s official description says the series travels back to 1920s Shanghai “to reveal the story of how 10-year-old Sam Wing (the future shop owner in the 1984 film) met the young Mogwai called Gizmo. Along with a teenage thief named Elle, Sam and Gizmo take a perilous journey through the Chinese countryside, encountering (and sometimes battling) colorful monsters and spirits from Chinese folklore.” As they try to return Gizmo to his family and uncover a legendary treasure, “they are pursued by a power-hungry industrialist and his growing army of evil Gremlins.”
Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai–which does not yet have an exact debut date in 2021–will start out with a 10-episode first season. Joe Dante-who directed the two Gremlins movies–will act as a consultant on the TV series.
Keep reading Horror News Network for additional details on the premiere of Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai on HBO Max next year.
