After over 30 years of no new theatrical Gremlins movies, the franchise is moving forward with Gremlins 3 at Warner Bros. Pictures.
The next film will re-unite Chris Columbus, the screenwriter of the original Gremlins, in a more expanded role. He will direct and produce, with the film set for release on October 6th, 2028.
Steven Spielberg, who previously helped shape the first film, will return in an executive producer role.
The search term 123Movies does not indicate an authorized streaming agreement or an officially announced digital release.
Not many other details of the creative team have been announced, but the reveal of the first film's production team shows that the team wants to reconnect the franchise to its cinematic roots.
Gremlins 3 will also be returning to feature filmmaking after over 30 years. The franchise has continued in other mediums, but Gremlins 3 is the first theatrical installment since 1990.
Very little is currently known about the story. Gremlins 3 will be directed by a new team of filmmakers, but with a returning cast member of the original 1984 film. This gives us hope that the original spirit of the franchise will be returned to.
An official summary for Gremlins 3 has not been released.
Because of this, central setting and main characters for the story and primary conflicts are unknown.
The Gremlins films involve Mogwai and what happens if the rules for taking care of them are disobeyed.
These elements have been established, but how the new script will utilize them has not been confirmed.
It is also unknown if the film will pick up where Gremlins 2 left off or take a completely new direction.
A teaser trailer released for the 30th anniversary of the franchise and the announcement of the film's release date featured Gizmo.
A brief appearance doesn't explain the full scope of his involvement.
Official trailers or synopses will provide more information.
Because Chris Columbus wrote the first Gremlins and is directing this third film, there is some connection to the beginning of the franchise.
As a filmmaker, he is also highly experienced directing successful films in the family-adventure genre.
The script has undergone several changes.
Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein did the first draft, and Columbus did the subsequent draft. Hannah Marks recently did a draft as well.
Using multiple writers to work on a script reveals that the screenplay is an important element of the production process. It also does not reveal where the final story will go. It can simply mean that the process is still ongoing.
Spielberg and the Production Team
Steven Spielberg will be executive producing through Amblin Entertainment. The production will be by Kristie Macosko Krieger and Holly Bario, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan and Mark Radcliffe.
Also working with them through Maiden Voyage is Eleanor Columbus.
Together, these production relationships, in combination with the others in Hollywood, associate the new installment of the franchise with some of the veteran filmmakers and the established production companies in Hollywood.
Warner Bros. Pictures will be distributing the film for its theatrical release.
Although there are some confirmation behind the scenes, the studio has not disclosed a complete cast. Therefore, we should wait to hear it from the studio before confirming the return of the cast members from the original film.
Will Gremlins 3 have Practical Creature Effects?
Thanks to the practical effects and puppetry used in the original Gremlins, those creatures became immediate classics. The designs captured the imagination of the audience and became part of the Christmas classics. The Mogwai and Gremlins interacted with the audience through their expressive eyes and movements. The designs have withstood the test of time and new audiences appreciate the timeless classics.
Although modern technology has improved effects, Warner Bros. has not confirmed what kind of effects will be used in Gremlins 3. It would be unwise to predict that the next Gremlins will be done majorly in a practical manner or it will be done through CGI.
As of now, the best and only official way to watch the movie is to wait for its theatrical release. For those interested and impatient audience, they can get a glimpse of the film through 123 Movies.
Currently, the confirmed release window is the theatrical window.
Release Date and Expectations: Gremlins 3
Gremlins 3 will hit theaters on October 6, 2028.
Initially, Warner Bros. set the release date for November 19, 2027.
As of October 2026, the studio didn't announce a production start date. They also didn't officially confirm the complete cast or a detailed synopsis.
Announcing those things will be a good sign as to how the project is progressing.
One of the positives is that the return of Chris Columbus and Steven Spielberg gives this project the original connection to the first two movies in the franchise.
Ultimately, the movie must effectively blend creature-centered comedy and suspense to truly entertain and gain the affections of modern audiences to be a success.
This project is of great interest to both new and long-time fans of the franchise to find out what original creators and influences to this franchise can bring to the table for newer and younger audiences.