If you've been hoping for a shiny new Gremlins reboot to hit theaters, you might want to sit down. According to original star Zach Galligan, that's never going to happen—and he's got the inside scoop on why.
Speaking at a panel during the Indiana Comic Convention, Galligan—who played Billy Peltzer in both Gremlins (1984) and Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)—revealed that the franchise's creative gatekeepers have no interest in a full reboot. While studios have been busy digging up old IP for remakes and reimaginings, Galligan says the rights to Gremlins are held tightly by Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment and original screenwriter Chris Columbus. And as long as those two are around, a reboot is off the table.
“Mr. Spielberg owns it, Amblin owns it, and I believe Mr. Columbus also has some kind of ownership ability,” Galligan told the audience, as reported by Collider's Maggie Lovitt. “At least, he has the ability to say no to a reboot, and he has said—and is involved in Gremlins 3, which certainly solidifies this—that as long as he is alive, there won't be a Gremlins reboot, he has the right to say no.”
Galligan also noted that Spielberg has long been wary of sequels and reboots, famously avoiding Jaws 2 for decades with the simple reasoning, “guys, we blew up the shark.” That said, Galligan isn't entirely anti-reboot—he admitted he enjoyed Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead, calling it “pretty good.”
What About 'Gremlins 3'?
While a reboot is off the table, a proper sequel is very much alive. Columbus, who broke into Hollywood with his Gremlins script, is returning to write and direct Gremlins 3—his first involvement with the franchise in over 40 years. He's co-writing the film with Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein, the duo behind the recent Final Destination: Bloodlines. The project is currently in pre-production, with filming expected to begin later this year and a release date set for November 27, 2027, through Warner Bros.
The original Gremlins, directed by Joe Dante, was a sleeper hit that grossed $212 million worldwide on a modest $11 million budget. Its blend of dark humor, holiday cheer, and groundbreaking animatronics made it a box office sensation—though its violent content also helped push the MPAA to create the PG-13 rating.
As for the broader trend of reboots, Galligan's comments come at a time when Hollywood is churning out fresh takes on everything from Cape Fear to Tomb Raider. But for Gremlins, the original magic will remain untouched—at least while Spielberg and Columbus have a say.
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