‘Gremlins 3’ Release Date Delayed Nearly a Year as First Teaser is Revealed

Avatar photoValentina Kraljik
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Few franchises have tested fan patience quite like ‘Gremlins’. The last live-action entry was ‘Gremlins 2: The New Batch,’ which debuted in 1990, and discussions about ‘Gremlins 3’ have lingered in Hollywood for years without any concrete developments.

That began to change in 2025 when Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav announced the project during an investor call. Chris Columbus is set to direct, with Steven Spielberg returning as executive producer. The sequel was initially scheduled for November 19, 2027, giving fans a date to look forward to.

However, the timeline has shifted once again. Warner Bros. has postponed the film to October 6, 2028, marking a delay of nearly a year. The studio made this announcement on Wednesday, coinciding with a separate change for DC Studios, which moved ‘Dynamic Duo’ to September 22, 2028, from June 20, 2028.

Warner Bros. has not provided a reason for the delay, leaving fans speculating that the project may be more challenging to execute than anticipated.

Despite the setback, the studio has reasons to feel optimistic about the new release date. The first weekend of October has proven successful for Warner Bros. in the past, including with ‘Joker,’ which grossed $1.078 billion worldwide after its October 4, 2019, debut. Collider reports that the merger with Paramount did not affect the date changes, and Paramount has no films scheduled for either the previous or new release dates.

The announcement came with a brief teaser clip shared by Warner Bros. on September 23, featuring a date card that reads “10.6.28. Only In Theaters.” The teaser showcases one of the franchise’s iconic creatures peeking out from a backpack, capturing the horror-comedy essence of the series.

This teaser marks the first glimpse of the film, though it reveals little else. No cast, plot, or creative team details have been disclosed, and the official title remains under wraps. Nevertheless, fans have taken notice, with the teaser post from DiscussingFilm amassing 1.8 million views and 38,000 likes within hours.

The screenplay is one of the more intriguing aspects of the project. The directing duo behind ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines,’ Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, collaborated with Columbus to write the new installment, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Their credentials are impressive, as ‘Bloodlines’ grossed $315 million worldwide on a budget of around $50 million, becoming the highest-grossing and best-reviewed entry in its franchise.

According to Variety, the current draft has changed hands, with Hannah Marks now writing the script based on an original draft by Columbus, Lipovsky, and Stein. Columbus has deep ties to the series, having written the original 1984 film but not returning for the 1990 sequel.

The production team is filled with Amblin veterans. Kristie Macosko Krieger and Holly Bario are producing for Amblin, alongside Michael Barnathan and Mark Radcliffe of 26th Street Pictures. Notably absent is Joe Dante, who directed the first two films and is now 79, and will not be directing the new installment.

Much remains unknown. No plot details have been shared, and no cast members have been announced, leaving fans wondering if any familiar faces from the earlier films will return.

For now, all we have is a release date, a talented creative team with solid horror credentials, and 11 seconds of a Mogwai hiding in a backpack. It’s a small tease, but it indicates that the film is still progressing.

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