Gremlins 3: Rumor about Jenna Ortega
The release date for the new film has already been set
The "Gremlins" are returning to the big screen! And now rumors are swirling that Jenna Ortega is in talks for "Gremlins 3." According to Hollywood insider Daniel Richtman, the "Wednesday" star has been offered the lead role in the new film. However, as World of Reel reports, the actress's representatives have since denied Richtman's claim.
So, it's currently impossible to say for sure whether Ortega is actually set to star in "Gremlins 3" or not. The only certainty is that the third installment of the comedy-horror series was officially announced last year. Chris Columbus is set to direct. The filmmaker has already directed numerous films, including classics such as "Home Alone" and "Mrs. Doubtfire," as well as "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."
Gremlins 3: Chris Columbus to direct – Joe Dante sits this one out
Columbus is thus replacing Joe Dante, who directed the first two installments from 1984 and 1990. However, Columbus is very familiar with the franchise. The filmmaker wrote the screenplay for the first film. For "Gremlins 3," he is once again involved in the screenplay alongside Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein.
As with the first two "Gremlins" films, Steven Spielberg is on board as executive producer this time as well. Kristie Macosko Krieger, Holly Bario, Michael Barnathan, and Mark Radcliffe are serving as producers. The theatrical release of "Gremlins 3" is scheduled for November 19, 2027.
When it comes to Gremlins, there are some rules that must be followed
The plot has been kept under wraps so far. Joe Dante's 1984 original is about a boy who is given a cute little creature as a pet: a Mogwai named Gizmo. However, there are some rules he must follow. The creature must never be exposed to sunlight. It must also never get wet. And it must not be fed after midnight. When the rules are broken anyway, Gizmo suddenly multiplies—and the offspring aren't quite as cute.
The film became a box office hit and led to the 1990 sequel "Gremlins 2: The New Batch." Joe Dante returned to direct. Charles S. Haas replaced Chris Columbus as screenwriter. It wasn't until 33 years later that "Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai," an animated series, followed—comprising two seasons with a total of 20 episodes so far and serving as a prequel to the two theatrical adventures. The story is set in the 1920s, initially in Shanghai and later in San Francisco.
Jenna Ortega: The Wednesday star's career is going strong
Whether or not we'll see Jenna Ortega in "Gremlins 3," the actress has no need to worry about a lack of work. For one thing, her film career is going brilliantly—thanks in no small part to the horror genre. In recent years, she has demonstrated her talent in several horror films. Most recently, she appeared in the horror comedies "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" and "Death of a Unicorn." Before that, she was part of the ensemble cast of two "Scream" films. She will soon star in the new film by director and screenwriter J. J. Abrams: "The Great Beyond."
In addition, she will return as the lead in "Wednesday." As the title character of the darkly humorous series, Ortega rose to international stardom. No wonder: the reimagining of the Addams Family character became a massive hit for Netflix. The first season of the series became the most-watched English-language Netflix series of all time. In it, Ortega plays the teenage Wednesday Addams, who gets expelled from school at the beginning of the series—after attacking her classmates with piranhas. She gets a fresh start at Nevermore Academy, an unusual private school where the monstrous is part of everyday life. In the upcoming third season, Ortega will appear alongside Eva Green and Winona Ryder. The two stars are among the new additions to the new season.
