New Goonies and Gremlins movies in development

January 15th, 2025 by Marc Comments

In a new article looking at the big movies coming out this year and beyond, Variety spilled the beans somewhat on two potential sequels/reboots/whatever of two of the 1980s greatest movies.

Casually dropping into the article right at the end, the report refers to ‘a new Gremlins from Christopher Columbus and a Goonies treatment’.

Sorry, what?

Gremlins director Joe Dante has joined the HBO Max Gremlins animated series

Now, just for clarity, the original Gremlins movie was written by Columbus, so his involvement is at least somewhat heartening even if, at this stage, we know nothing else about it.

Columbus is also a big director with movies such as Harry Potter and Home Alone under his belt, so it’s also possible he’s directing as his most recent movie was Netflix’s The Christmas Chronicles Part Two back in 2020, although I’d imagine it’s more likely he’s penning or developing the story.

A Gremlins reboot has been teased for long, long time, with Columbus saying back in 2020: “I wrote a script, so there is an existing script. We’re working out some rights issues right now, so we’re just trying to figure out when the best time to make that film would be. I would still do it the same way – I would do it as tangible puppets, not CGI. Maybe having — you know we had one stop-motion scene in the first Gremlins, but I don’t think I’d use much CGI in Gremlins 3.”

It looks like maybe this script is what’s getting developed and practical Gremlins? Well, I feel that’s a must-do.

More recently HBO Max developed a Gremlins prequels series called Secrets of the Mogwai, so it must have been a big enough hit if they’re now pursuing a new movie.

WATCH: Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai gets new trailer ahead of its release next week

The Goonies sequel/reboot – or treatment as it’s called here – is something else altogether though.

Every few months there’s a rumour on some disreputable website that a new Goonies movie is happening with all the cast returning and maybe this time they’re right, even if it’s completely by accident.

The original movie is 40 this year and some of the cast, especially Josh Brolin and Ke Huy Quan, are massive today, so having them back all these years later could be a great little flick although I cannot help but feel that it’s going to be a full reboot.

But I’ll be here pitching for the sequel and if it’s going to be released, this year, on its 40th anniversary, is definitely the time to do it.

Sadly, Gremlins missed the 40th anniversary as it was last year.

Anyways, would you be excited for either or both of these movies to get sequels or reboots? Let me know, guys.

If Gremlins 3 ever gets made, it will not be done using CGI but practical methods says Chris Columbus

Marc is a self-confessed nerd. Ever since seeing Star Wars for the first time around 1979 he’s been an unapologetic fan of the Wars and still believes, with Clone Wars and now Underworld, we are yet to see the best Star Wars. He’s a dad of two who now doesn’t have the time (or money) to collect the amount of toys, comics, movies and books he once did, much to the relief of his long-suffering wife. In the real world he’s a graphic designer. He started Following the Nerd because he was tired of searching a million sites every day for all the best news that he loves and decided to create one place where you can go to get the whole lot. Secretly he longs to be sitting in the cockpit of his YT-1300 Corellian Transport ship with his co-pilot Chewie, roaming the universe, waiting for his next big adventure, but feels just at home watching cartoons with his kids….