New ‘Gremlins’ & ‘The Goonies’ Movies Reportedly in Development at WB

It seems the 2020s are keen on reliving the past, proving that nothing is truly sacred anymore. A new report has revealed that Gremlins and The Goonies will be the latest classic films from the 1980s to get the reboot treatment. Although both franchises have kept relatively quiet for the past few decades, Warner Bros. has seemingly decided to mine nostalgia once more. There have been murmurs of a sequel to both iconic franchises for a long time, but it seems they are finally closer to being made.

According to Deadline, Warner Bros. Discovery is currently developing on new films for Gremlins and The Goonies. Christopher Columbus, who wrote the scripts for both original films, is working on another Gremlins follow-up. Meanwhile, The Goonies seems to be further away from being made, as only a treatment has surfaced for the next film. A potential Goonies sequel has long been discussed by the original movie’s cast members, and it seems most are keen on reprising their roles from the 1985 film. That said, it’s unclear if either Gremlins or The Goonies will be a sequel or a straight-up reboot, but like most movies these days, we predict that the end result will be a little bit of both.

As the report details, the studio saw massive shifts in leadership over the past week, which was foreshadowed by a newfound company mantra that focuses on auteur-driven work. In 2025, they are releasing several big-budget original films, including The Bride and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners. However, they hope to fabricate new franchises out of Gremlins and The Goonies. They’re not stopping there, as Deadline also adds that a new Matrix film is still on the way from Drew Goddard. Mixed messaging aside, WB has recently shown an explicit desire to revisit its beloved franchises, and Gremlins and Goonies are just the tip of the iceberg.

Warner Bros. Discovery is Banking on IP-Based Films

The announcement of new Gremlins and Goonies projects coincides with Warner Bros. Discovery’s recent push to capitalize on their well-known franchises. From remaking Harry Potter on HBO to rebooting the DC Universe with James Gunn’s Superman this year, the studio is keen on “taking advantage” of its expansive IP library. And it seems there are no qualms about revisiting classic films, even though they’ve remained out of the pop culture conversation for decades now. When it comes to reviving dead franchises, WB is taking the Goonies’ words to heart – Never say die.

To many, it should come as no surprise that the new Gremlins film seems to be the upcoming project that has seen the most development. WB’s main streaming service, Max, has released two seasons of Gremlins, an animated prequel series to the live-action films heavily geared toward kids. It’s been well-received by critics, and although it’s not as popular as its predecessor, it likely gave the studio the confidence to greenlight a new film in the franchise. It’s unclear if either Gremlins or The Goonies will be a sequel or a complete reboot of the respective franchises, but we’re leaning toward the former.

Release Date

June 7, 1985

Runtime

114 minutes