Disturbia writer Carl Ellsworth discusses his Gremlins 3 screenplay

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Five years ago, it was announced that DISTURBIA screenwriter Carl Ellsworth had been hired to write a new GREMLINS film that would be produced by Steven Spielberg and original GREMLINS writer Chris Columbus. So all this time later, where is GREMLINS 3? It doesn't look like it's coming any time soon. Ellsworth is currently making the press rounds for his latest film, the Russell Crowe thriller UNHINGED, and when ComingSon brought up GREMLINS 3 he said, 

The last time I touched (the script) is now going on three years ago. I was so excited to do it. I got the chance to work with Chris, and I loved the story we came up with. I’m so bummed that it hasn’t seen the light of day yet."

Ellsworth went on to say that GREMLINS 3 was being thought of as "a direct sequel mostly to the first film", although GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH was not being disregarded. The new movie just wasn't meant to be as crazy and cartoony as THE NEW BATCH was.

I saw it as very much a passing-the-baton story, staying in the tone of the original. I think that helped get me the job: I said, ‘Yeah, there’s a lot of humor in the movie, helped by the classic Jerry Goldsmith score that gives us a license to laugh, but it’s first and foremost a horror movie.’ These little creatures — what they’re really doing, they’re cold-blooded little murderers, you know? They’re psychotic little creatures that are killing everybody. So that’s where it all started. I tried to preserve the humor, but at the same time, I was starting with the foundation of this being a horror movie, which I was really thrilled about."

The idea was to bring Zach Galligan back as Billy Peltzer, with a small role for Phoebe Cates' character Kate as well. And of course there would be Gizmo.

Gizmo was at the very core of the story; it explored more of the mythology and the history of the Gremlins."

Ellsworth isn't sure why GREMLINS 3 didn't end up moving forward, and is especially disappointed that the film wasn't made in time to be released during the original's 35th anniversary last year.

I have no idea what they’re doing with it nowadays, but I hope, as everybody does, that something happens, whether it’s with my script or somebody else’s."

GREMLINS 3 appears to have gone dormant, but the franchise is getting a new addition for the first time in thirty years. There's an animated series called Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai in the works at the HBO Max streaming service, and that show is aiming for a 2021 release.

Ellsworth's other writing credits include Wes Craven's RED EYE, the remake of THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, and the RED DAWN remake.