35 years after the last movie in the franchise, Gremlins fans were given the thrilling news last year that, after countless reports about the likelihood of a Gremlins 3, the project was officially happening. Given how much time had passed for the franchise and how its pop-culture prominence had largely stagnated, a third movie felt like nothing more than wishful thinking.
However, there was a surge in support and enthusiasm for the project starting in 2023, thanks in large part to the animated series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai. That two-season series showcased just how much mythology there was still left to explore in this world, no matter how much time had passed.
Gremlins 3 was previously announced with a November 19, 2027 release date, though Deadline confirms the disappointing news that the project has been pushed back almost a full year to October 6, 2028. There’s no confirmed explanation for the delay, though the lack of updates on the sequel might signal that it’s a more difficult project to pull off than was previously expected.
Warner Bros. also shared the below teaser that confirms the new release date.
10.6.28. Only In Theaters. https://t.co/kZVLPrNd12
— Warner Bros. (@warnerbros) September 23, 2026
Carl Ellsworth, Zach Lipovsky, and Adam B. Stein have written the script for the upcoming movie, which sees Steven Spielberg returning as a producer. In a potentially exciting move, Chris Columbus, who wrote the original movie, will direct the upcoming third installment. While there’s undeniable excitement for this directing shift, some will understandably be left disappointed that the new movie won’t be directed by Joe Dante, who directed Gremlins and Gremlins 2: The New Batch.
In the original movie, Billy (Zach Galligan) is gifted the cute, cuddly, and completely bizarre creature Gizmo (voiced by Howie Mandel), but when he gets him wet, he spawns multiple other creatures. When they eat after midnight, they transform into pint-sized beasts that wreak havoc throughout the neighborhood. In the sequel, Gizmo is captured in order to be subjected to experiments, only for Billy to come to his rescue. However, Gizmo undergoes a similar cycle of getting wet and having the mogwai turn into the terrorizing creatures, with this adventure being contained to a skyscraper.
As it currently stands, there’s no word on whether Galligan, Mandel, or costar Phoebe Cates will return for this third movie. Back in 2021, Galligan did have an on-screen reunion with Gizmo, though it was for a Mountain Dew commercial.
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