Lead
Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein — the directing team behind this summer’s Final Destination: Bloodlines — have been tapped to co-write the next feature installment of Gremlins alongside Chris Columbus, The Hollywood Reporter reports. Warner Bros. has scheduled the film for release on Nov. 19, 2027, and the production is being shepherded by Amblin Entertainment and 26th Street Pictures. Steven Spielberg is returning to the franchise as an executive producer, while Kristie Macosko Krieger, Holly Bario, Michael Barnathan and Mark Radcliffe are listed as producers. The move reunites Columbus with the property he originally scripted and signals a major studio push to revive the IP for a new generation.
Key Takeaways
- Chris Columbus, who wrote the original 1984 Gremlins and is set to direct the new installment, is collaborating with writers Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein.
- Warner Bros. has dated Gremlins 3 for Nov. 19, 2027, according to the studio’s earnings call announcement.
- Amblin producers Kristie Macosko Krieger and Holly Bario, and 26th Street Pictures’ Michael Barnathan, Mark Radcliffe and Columbus will produce; Steven Spielberg is executive producer.
- Lipovsky and Stein join after directing Final Destination: Bloodlines, which opened in May and grossed $315.0 million worldwide on a roughly $50 million budget.
- Previous screenplays for the project included drafts by Toby Halbrooks and Carl Ellsworth; Columbus has been developing his own script since at least 2017.
- The staffing pairs an established franchise auteur (Columbus) with a currently bankable directing duo, positioning the film as both a legacy revival and a commercial tentpole.
Background
Gremlins began as a 1984 horror-comedy directed by Joe Dante with a screenplay by Chris Columbus. The film centers on a small-town protagonist who receives a Mogwai named Gizmo that comes with three strict rules — avoid bright light, never get it wet, and don’t feed it after midnight — all of which are famously broken, triggering a wave of mischievous and deadly gremlins. The sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), returned with Dante at the helm; Columbus did not write that follow-up.
After the early films, the franchise went through long periods of dormancy while the underlying property changed hands and Hollywood’s appetite for legacy sequels fluctuated. In recent years the brand resurfaced on streaming with the 2023 animated series Gremlins: The Wild Batch on HBO Max, which involved Joe Dante and kept the IP visible to contemporary audiences. Industry conversations about another theatrical feature have recurred intermittently, but studios have struggled to settle on a direction that satisfies both fans and modern market demands.
Main Event
Warner Bros.’ announcement that Lipovsky and Stein will collaborate with Columbus marks a clear development step for Gremlins 3. The two writer-directors earned strong industry attention after directing Final Destination: Bloodlines, which became the highest-grossing and best-reviewed entry in that franchise. Studios have increasingly paired veteran franchise creators with younger filmmakers who bring recent commercial credibility, and this hiring follows that pattern.
Production credits list Amblin’s Kristie Macosko Krieger and Holly Bario alongside Columbus, Michael Barnathan and Mark Radcliffe under 26th Street Pictures; Steven Spielberg is credited as an executive producer. Industry reporting indicates Columbus wrote a script draft that has circulated since at least 2017, and previous attempts included work from Toby Halbrooks and Carl Ellsworth before Lipovsky and Stein boarded the project as co-writers.
The studio confirmed a Nov. 19, 2027 release date on an earnings call, a slot that places the movie before the Thanksgiving weekend, a calendar position often used for family-oriented tentpoles and franchise entries. The film’s timetable suggests Warner Bros. plans a significant marketing campaign and a production schedule that will move from scripting into prep and principal photography well ahead of that date.
Analysis & Implications
Creative collaboration between Columbus and the Final Destination duo blends legacy authorship with current box-office clout. Columbus provides franchise pedigree and an established tone rooted in 1980s family-horror, while Lipovsky and Stein bring recent mainstream horror success and modern visual sensibilities. That mix can help the property feel both faithful and fresh — an important balance for reviving a beloved IP.
Commercially, the greenlight and the chosen release window indicate Warner Bros. expects Gremlins 3 to perform across multiple audience segments: nostalgic older viewers, families, and young horror-comedy fans attracted by the writers’ recent track record. The Nov. 19 date targets a high-attendance period and could maximize box office if studios avoid direct competition from other major releases.
On the merchandising and franchise strategy front, a theatrical Gremlins revival opens opportunities for toys, streaming spin-offs, and tie-ins with the recent HBO Max animated series. Successful box-office and audience reception could reboot the IP for sequels or serialized content across theatrical and streaming windows, while a weak performance would likely relegate Gremlins to sporadic streaming or animation projects.
Comparison & Data
| Title | Budget (approx.) | Worldwide Gross |
|---|---|---|
| Final Destination: Bloodlines | ~$50 million | $315.0 million |
The table highlights why studios courted Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein: their last film delivered a high multiple on production spend. Warner Bros. can use that financial metric as justification for investing in Gremlins 3 production values and promotion. Comparable historical grosses for the original Gremlins films vary by source and release window, but the franchise’s cultural recognition remains a key asset.
Reactions & Quotes
Chris Columbus framed his return as both personal and creative, expressing enthusiasm about rejoining the IP and collaborating with Spielberg and Warner Bros.
“I’m filled with a tremendous surge of inspiration and passion, as I embark on this cinematic journey.”
Chris Columbus (as quoted to The Hollywood Reporter)
Warner Bros. leadership positioned the hiring and date as part of a strategic move to bring Gremlins back for multiple audiences, noting the team assembled and the film’s intended emotional mix.
“Few titles are as beloved and iconic as Gremlins, and we’re beyond excited to bring it back for both lifelong fans and a whole new generation.”
Jesse Ehrman, Warner Bros. president of development and production (statement)
Joe Dante, who directed the original films and was involved in recent TV iterations, has emphasized that audience demand has a direct role in determining the franchise’s future.
“That’s up to the audience… it’s too big a property for somebody not to make something.”
Joe Dante (commenting to The Hollywood Reporter)
Unconfirmed
- No casting announcements have been made public; lead and supporting roles remain unconfirmed.
- The precise production schedule (start of principal photography) and shooting locations have not been disclosed by the studio.
- Details on whether Lipovsky and Stein will also direct or return to directing other projects concurrently are not finalized publicly.
Bottom Line
Warner Bros.’ decision to pair Chris Columbus with Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein represents a deliberate attempt to fuse franchise legacy with contemporary box-office proven talent. With a Nov. 19, 2027 release date and Amblin/26th Street producing, the studio is positioning Gremlins 3 as a major event rather than a modest nostalgia piece. The creative mix gives the project a realistic chance to satisfy longtime fans while attracting new moviegoers, but success will hinge on casting, marketing execution and the final tonal balance between horror and family-friendly comedy.
Over the next year expect casting news, production updates and promotional strategy to clarify how Warner Bros. intends to translate the property’s cult status into a modern theatrical success. If the team matches Bloodlines’ commercial efficiency, Gremlins 3 could re-establish the IP across theatrical, streaming and merchandising channels.
Sources
- The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade; exclusive reporting on staffing and studio announcement)