While many Gremlin fans are anticipating that the latest wave of ’80s reboots and sequels will eventually see the naughty little creatures return to wreak more havoc on the big screen, for now, there’s Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, an HBO Max animated prequel series.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the new series, which is set in the 1920s and follows the storey of how a Mogwai named Gizmo met 10-year-old Sam Wing, would have a cross-platform distribution. The sitcom will premiere on HBO Max and Cartoon Network, in addition to HBO.
While it isn’t quite the horror comedy that Gremlins and Gremlins 2 were, it is a positive step toward the franchise’s possible return to live action in the future. Many speculations have circulated that original star Zach Gallagher might be willing to return for another round of Gremlin action, but nothing has come of it thus far.
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The story for Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai follows Sam and Gizmo as they go on a treacherous excursion across the Chinese countryside with adolescent street thief Elle, encountering and sometimes fighting colourful monsters and spirits from Chinese folklore.
They are chased by a power-hungry industrialist and his expanding army of evil Gremlins on their journey to return Gizmo to his family and find a legendary treasure.
The show will air as part of “ACME Night,” a collection of family films and shows that will premiere on Sunday, September 19th, and will thereafter be available on HBO Max early next year.
Izacc Wang as Sam leads the series’ voice cast, with AJ LoCascio supplying Gizmo’s voice. Jurassic World’s BD Wong, Ming Na-Wen, James Hong, Gabrielle Green, and Matthew Rhys are also on the list of vocalists, with Tze Chun writing and producing the series.
We’ll have to wait and see if Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai provides the necessary impetus to revive the franchise.
