Jenna Ortega has made a name for herself in the horror genre, and her next dream project could take her straight into the world of Gremlins. Known for her work in Scream, Wednesday, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Ortega recently revealed that she would love to join a new instalment of the Gremlins franchise if one ever comes to life., while promoting her latest film, Death of a Unicorn, at South by Southwest (SXSW). “You know what I used to love as a kid? Gremlins,” she said. With a playful nod to Warner Bros., she even put out the call: “Gremlins 3? 4? I don’t know. Call me!”
The original Gremlins, directed by Joe Dante and written by Chris Columbus, introduced audiences to the mischievous creatures that could transform from adorable Mogwai into destructive monsters under the wrong conditions. Led by Zach Galligan as Billy Peltzer and featuring the voice talents of Howie Mandel as Gizmo, the film quickly became a pop culture phenomenon. It was a box office success, grossing over US$212 million worldwide on an US$11 million budget, cementing its place as one of the defining films of the ‘80s.
A sequel arrived in 1990 with Gremlins 2: The New Batch, which leaned into satire and self-awareness but struggled to match the original’s financial success. Plans for a third instalment never materialised, leaving the franchise dormant for decades.
In recent years, Gremlins has made a return through animation. Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, a prequel series exploring the origins of Gizmo, premiered in 2023 on Max. Its second season, Gremlins: The Wild Batch, is set to release in April, keeping the franchise alive while fans continue to wait for news about a potential live-action comeback.
Earlier this year, Warner Bros. reportedly put a third Gremlins movie into early development, with Chris Columbus returning to write the screenplay. No official announcements have been made, and the studio has yet to confirm whether the project will move forward. Given Columbus’ involvement, speculation has ramped up, but fans are still waiting for concrete details.
Columbus, known for his work on Home Alone, the first two Harry Potter films, and Mrs. Doubtfire, first made his mark in Hollywood by penning the script for Gremlins. His ability to balance dark humour with heartfelt moments played a key role in the original film’s success. If he is indeed working on a new instalment, it could signal a return to the franchise’s classic tone, blending comedy and horror in a way that resonated with audiences decades ago.
Ortega’s interest in joining Gremlins adds excitement to the conversation surrounding a potential sequel. Given her track record in genre films and her rising status in Hollywood, she could be a perfect fit for a reboot or continuation. Whether playing a new protagonist, a descendant of Billy Peltzer, or even an antagonist facing off against the mischievous creatures, she has the star power and genre experience to bring something new to the franchise.
As of now, Gremlins 3 remains in development with no confirmed release date.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.
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