A third Gremlins film is still technically up in the air, but some key elements are finally starting to fall into place.
Chris Columbus–who wrote the screenplay for the original 1984 Gremlins–this week said a script has been completed for the much-anticipated project, as reported by movieweb.com. There is no word at this time if Columbus–who has been pushing for this sequel for years–would also sit in the director’s chair.
Columbus–who mentioned there are still “rights issues” to be ironed out before the sequel can be shot–said he would “love to do it. I wrote a script, so there is an existing script.”
The filmmaker–also known for such box office hits as Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire and two Harry Potter entries–added that the powers-that-be are “working out some rights issues right now–we’re just trying to figure out when the best time to make that film would be.”
Columbus also explained how he would like to tackle the making of the film. “I would still do it the same way,” he said. “I would do it as tangible puppets–not CGI. We had one stop-motion scene in the first Gremlins, but I don’t think I’d use much CGI in Gremlins 3.”
Specific plot elements are being kept under wraps right now, but Columbus previously hinted at doing a “dark and twisted” version of the original film.
The original Gremlins–directed by Joe Dante from Columbus’ screenplay and starring Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates (with Howie Mandel voicing Gizmo)–told the story of a young man who gets a strange creature called a mogwai as a pet–a creature that spawns small, but destructive, monsters. The film was a hit with moviegoers, grossing $213 million worldwide on a budget of just $11 million. The 1990 sequel–Gremlins: The New Batch–was a dark comedy against a Christmas backdrop that did not fare as well at the box office.
Keep reading Horror News Network for future updates on the next Gremlins movie.
