The chaotic, furry legacy of the 1984 horror-comedy classic Gremlins is set to return. Warner Bros. has officially slated Gremlins 3 for a theatrical release on November 19, 2027, nearly four decades after the last sequel. With original executive producer Steven Spielberg returning and director Chris Columbus back at the helm, the news has sparked a wave of nostalgia, prompting a look back at the fates of the original film's beloved stars.
The Unforgettable Chaos of Kingston Falls
For those needing a refresher, the film's premise is a masterclass in simple rules leading to complex disaster. It centres on a well-intentioned young man, Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan), who receives a mysterious, adorable creature called a Mogwai named Gizmo as a Christmas present from his inventor father. Three critical rules govern Gizmo's care: no bright light, don't get him wet, and never, ever feed him after midnight. Billy, of course, inadvertently breaks them all.
The consequences are legendary. Getting Gizmo wet causes him to multiply, spawning a brood of mischievous Mogwai. Feeding them after midnight triggers a terrifying transformation into the destructive, reptilian Gremlins, led by the malevolent Stripe. The resulting havoc wreaked upon Billy's sleepy hometown of Kingston Falls captivated audiences, leading to a worldwide box office gross of over $164 million and a sequel in 1990.
Where Are They Now? The Original Cast Revisited
Zach Galligan (Billy Peltzer) was just 19 when he landed the lead role. Now 61, he admits that the Gremlins films remain the pinnacle of his career. He believes his decision to prioritise university studies after the first film's success, under parental pressure for a 'stable career', ultimately sidelined his Hollywood trajectory. "Three years is a lifetime in Hollywood," Galligan has reflected, though he continues to act, recently voicing a character in the animated series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai.
Phoebe Cates (Kate Beringer), Billy's on-screen girlfriend, was already a star from films like Fast Times at Ridgemont High. She chose to leave acting entirely in 1994 to focus on family. Now 62, she is married to actor Kevin Kline and runs her own clothing boutique, Blue Tree, on New York's Upper East Side.
Corey Feldman played the gadget-obsessed Pete. He became one of the decade's biggest child stars with roles in The Goonies and Stand By Me. His adult career was impacted by struggles with addiction, and he has been vocal about the abuse of child actors in Hollywood. Now 54, he has found a new audience on reality TV, appearing on The Masked Singer and Dancing With The Stars.
Howie Mandel, the now 70-year-old judge on America's Got Talent, provided the iconic, squeaky voice for the beloved Gizmo. He described tapping into the character's "cute and naive" essence for his performance.
Frank Welker, the legendary voice actor now 79, brought the villainous leader Stripe to life. His prolific career includes voicing Fred in Scooby-Doo and Doctor Claw in Inspector Gadget. He received an Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
Other notable cast members include Judge Reinhold (Billy's boss), who later struggled with a reputation for difficult behaviour; Glynn Turman (the science teacher), who found later fame in The Wire; and the late Hoyt Axton (Billy's father), a celebrated singer-songwriter who passed away in 1999.
Returning to Tangible Terror in 2027
As anticipation builds for the third instalment, director Chris Columbus has made one crucial creative decision clear. Despite advances in CGI, he insists the new film will honour the original's practical effects. "I would still do it the same way – I would do it as tangible puppets, not CGI," he told Collider. This commitment to the film's handmade, anarchic charm suggests Gremlins 3 aims to recapture the unique magic that made the 1984 original a perennial favourite, as fans eagerly await to see what new rules will be broken.
