10 Fun Facts You Might Not Know About The ’80s Christmas Classic Movie: Gremlins

5 – Steven Spielberg decided to cast an unknown actor, Zach Galligan, for the role of Billy Peltzer because of the chemistry between him and Ms. Cates displayed during auditions. The well-known, popular actors Emilio Estevez and Judd Nelson were originally considered for the role.

6 – The movie settings for the fictitious towns of Kingston Falls in Gremlins, and Hill Valley of Back to the Future are the same. Back to the Future was released a year after the first Gremlins movie.

7 – Steven Spielberg suggested that the role of Gizmo-the cute little Mogwai- should stay until the end of the movie. Originally, Gizmo, the pet, would transfer himself into “Stripe” the Gremlin, but Spielberg decided the audiences would want to see the lovable Gizmo as much as possible (Gismo was literally a “ray of sunshine” compared to the troublesome gremlins.), so he withdrew the idea and kept the characters totally separate.

8 – Every last gremlin was an animatronics robotic device which cost upwards of $30,000-$40,000 dollars each. Every night when the crew went home they had to open their vehicle trunks for security just to make sure they weren’t being stolen. 

9 – Early drafts of the Gremlins movie script, featured the Gremlins eating Billy’s dog and decapitating Billy’s mother’s head. All the producers decided this was probably a bit dark and morbid for a Christmas movie. (On a personal note: “I’m glad they decided against it!”)

10 – Good News! If you’re a fan of the 1984 cult-classic Gremlins movie, you’ll be happy to know Gremlins 3 (the title is still pending )is on its way- in the near future- to your nearest movie theater. (I’m hoping to see the original cast members Phoebe Cates, and Zack Galligan together again.). The original writer, Chris Columbus, confirmed the script for Gremlins 3 has been completed and will be more reminiscent and a sequel of the first Gremlins movie, not the second wacky sequel, which he didn’t write. Chris has reassured fans the animatronic puppets will still be heavily featured in the production, with some CGI elements added as well. 

Always remember,  ” Be careful! Sometimes what you see, isn’t always what you get!”

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For more stories from Contributing Writer, Patty Penke, check out her blog: Turn Trash 2 Cash