As a child of the ’80s who grew up with a VHS copy of Gremlins worn out from countless rewatches, I can say without a doubt that this movie is a timeless masterpiece. Joe Dante‘s anecdote about Steven Spielberg’s intervention to keep Gizmo as the hero of the story only adds to the film’s legendary status.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the release of “Gremlins,” a film that has become iconic of ’80s cinema and remains cherished within pop culture. As the tale of Gizmo unfolds anew in animated form through “Gremlins: The Wild Batch,” now streaming with a Max subscription, director Joe Dante shared with TopMob how executive producer Steven Spielberg significantly boosted the movie’s popularity with a crucial decision.
Speaking about the endearing quality of Gizmo from the “Gremlins” franchise, the director, now serving as a consultant for the second season of the Max animated series, shares insights into what makes him so popular and discusses Steven Spielberg’s role in the character’s creation. In his own words:
As a gamer, I can confidently say that Gizmo has been the heart and soul of the Gremlins franchise. It was none other than the genius Steven Spielberg who insisted on keeping this lovable character throughout the film, even after he transforms into the villainous Gremlin. Initially, we were skeptical about maintaining his presence for the entire movie due to our limited technology at the time. But boy, did we pull it off! It was a real challenge, but in the end, we managed to bring Gizmo to life in a way that captured hearts and minds.
During our conversation, Dante mentioned an interesting tidbit about Gizmo from the 1984 film. Originally, Gizmo was intended to transform into the Gremlin leader, Stripe. But, Steven Spielberg found Gizmo so adorable that he decided to keep him as a heroic character instead. Could the charm of another beloved creature, E.T., have influenced this decision?
The concept for the movie “Gremlins” was initially created and scripted by Chris Columbus prior to his work on another beloved film, “The Goonies,” as well as directing “Home Alone,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” and the first two “Harry Potter” films. Although Spielberg handed over the director’s chair to Joe Dante and played a secondary role in the film’s production, this decision was crucial. The adorable Gizmo character in “Gremlins” would have been quite different without his endearing presence!
1) In my opinion, one of the key factors behind this image’s popularity back then and Gizmo’s peculiar sequel was their appeal. Over time, people have purchased merchandise featuring Gizmo and given that name to their pets. I even met a woman in Switzerland who named her daughter Gizmo! It has become part of our culture. To witness the character not only animated but also portrayed with more psychological complexity as it is in the second half of the second season, feels validating.
In the second season of the ‘Gremlins’ series, Gizmo embarks on a new adventure. This time, he explores 1920s San Francisco and later, the American West. As Dante hinted, this season further solidifies that Gizmo is destined to be a hero, with his character development becoming even more profound.
right now, you can stream the initial five episodes of “Gremlins: The Wild Batch,” with additional installments on the way. If you’re interested in learning more about Gizmo’s return to live action and our interview with Ming-Na Wen regarding her role as Fong Wing, be sure to check out those features on TopMob.
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2024-10-09 15:37