Warner Bros. has released the first teaser for Gremlins 3, offering a brief glimpse of Gizmo’s return to the big screen. The teaser also confirms that the long-awaited sequel has been delayed until October 6, 2028. The film was previously scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 19, 2027.
The 11-second teaser features the familiar Mogwai peeking out of a backpack before revealing the film’s new theatrical release date. Although the footage offers little indication of what audiences can expect from the story, it marks the first official look at the franchise’s return to theaters after nearly four decades.
Watch the official teaser:
Chris Columbus, who wrote the screenplay for the original 1984 film, is returning to write, direct and produce the third installment. Hannah Marks is writing the current screenplay from an earlier draft by Columbus, Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein. Steven Spielberg, who served as executive producer on the original films, is also returning to produce.
Directed by Joe Dante and released in 1984, the original Gremlins followed Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan), a young man who receives an unusual Christmas present in the form of a small, furry creature called a Mogwai. Billy quickly discovers that his new pet, Gizmo, comes with three important rules: keep him away from bright light, never get him wet and never feed him after midnight.
When those rules are broken, Billy’s quiet hometown is overrun by mischievous and increasingly destructive creatures. Combining horror, comedy and elaborate practical creature effects, the film became a box-office success and helped prompt the introduction of the PG-13 rating.
Dante returned to direct 1990’s Gremlins 2: The New Batch, which reunited Galligan and Phoebe Cates as Billy and Kate. Moving the action from a small town to a high-tech New York City skyscraper, the sequel embraced a more exaggerated, self-referential approach, introducing an assortment of mutated Gremlins and expanding the franchise’s creature effects.
Although a third film has been discussed for years, Gremlins 3 will mark the franchise’s first theatrical installment since 1990 and the first live-action entry not directed by Dante.
While the franchise has been absent from theaters for more than three decades, Gizmo recently returned in the animated prequel series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, which premiered on Max in May 2023.
Set in 1920s Shanghai, the series explores the origins of Gizmo’s relationship with Sam Wing, the elderly shopkeeper who eventually sells the Mogwai to Billy’s father in the original film. The story follows a young Sam and Gizmo as they embark on an adventure through the Chinese countryside, encountering creatures and spirits inspired by Chinese folklore.
The animated series continued with a second season, retitled Gremlins: The Wild Batch, which premiered in October 2024. The season follows Gizmo, Sam and their friend Elle as they travel to San Francisco and venture into the American West. Its final five episodes arrived in April 2025.
The series features a voice cast that includes Ming-Na Wen, James Hong, BD Wong, Izaac Wang and AJ LoCascio, with Simu Liu joining for the second season. Spielberg serves as executive producer, while Dante is credited as a consulting producer.
With Columbus now taking over directing duties for the third theatrical film, Gremlins 3 will reunite two of the original movie’s principal creative figures while bringing Gizmo back to live-action cinema.
Gremlins 3 is scheduled to arrive exclusively in theaters on October 6, 2028.