Latest Movie News From Moviefone |
- Denzel Washington May Star in Antoine Fuqua's 'Magnificent Seven' Remake
- 'Frozen' Fandom Is Boosting Norway Tourism
- Lupita Nyong'o To Produce and Star in Love Story 'Americanah'
- Mark Ruffalo Says 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' Hulk Role is 'Bigger' and 'More Complex'
- 'Game of Thrones' Surpasses 'Sopranos' as HBO's Most Watched Show Ever
- New 'The Giver' Trailer: More Truth Revealed (VIDEO)
- 'Lost' Alum Daniel Dae Kim Joins 'Insurgent' Cast
- 'Sharknado 2: The Second One' Teaser Is as Ridiculous as You Would Expect (VIDEO)
- Young Adult Movies: Why They're Better Off Without the Vampires
- 'Ghostbusters' Gets 30th Anniversary Theatrical Re-Release
- Weekend Movies & TV: 'Edge of Tomorrow,' 'Orange Is the New Black,' & More (VIDEO)
- Watch LeVar Burton's Disturbing New Intro To 'Reading Rainbow' (VIDEO)
- TV #TBT: Shailene Woodley in 'The O.C.' and 'An American Girl Adventure'
- Matthew McConaughey Open to More 'True Detective'
- '22 Jump Street' Unscripted: Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill Get Bromantic (VIDEO)
- Disney's Live-Action 'Beauty and the Beast' Has a Director: Bill Condon
- Tom Cruise Movie Mistakes: 9 Blunders From the Actor's Biggest Movies (PHOTOS)
- 'Gremlins' Star Zach Galligan on Auditioning for Spielberg, Malfunctioning Mogwais, and 'Gremlins 2' Getting Its Due
| Denzel Washington May Star in Antoine Fuqua's 'Magnificent Seven' Remake Posted:  It seems that director Antoine Fuqua's proposed remake of "The Magnificent Seven" is getting a serious dose of star power: Denzel Washington is reportedly interested in taking the lead. Schmoes Know writes that Washington has been offered the starring role in the remake ofde the classic western, and his ties to Fuqua -- the pair worked together on "Training Day," which nabbed Washington an Oscar, and are currently collaborating on the TV adaptation flick "The Equalizer" -- may draw him in. The original "Magnificent Seven" debuted in 1960, and was a loose remake of Akira Kurowsawa's iconic film, "Seven Samurai." It starred Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Yul Brynner, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter, and Horst Buchholz as the titular seven American gunmen. Fuqua reportedly chose "Seven" over several other high-profile projects (including a possible sequel to "The Equalizer," which has been testing well in the months before its release), so it seems he's confident he can secure his chosen star and get this reboot made once and for all. We'll see whether Washington makes it official. via: Schmoes Know, h/t CinemaBlend Image courtesy of Getty This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Frozen' Fandom Is Boosting Norway Tourism Posted:  After inspiring fistfights over merchandise and divorce over disagreements on the film's merits, it's nice to hear that something positive is coming out of fans' obsession with "Frozen": Norway, the setting that inspired the animated flick's fictional city of Arendelle, has seen a huge bump in tourism thanks to its ties to the movie. The Associated Press reports that hotels in the country have seen a 37 percent increase in bookings compared with the first quarter of 2013, and tour operators have also received a 40 percent spike in profits during that same time frame. That's in addition to a 57 percent jump in the number of New York-based flights that have come in to Oslo Airport Gardermoen, also in the first quarter of 2014. That's no accident, according to Harald Hansen, a U.S. spokesman for Visit Norway, who told the AP that the country has been working with Disney on marketing itself to "Frozen" lovers in the U.S. Hansen said that the fjord region has proven most popular with tourists so far, but visitors are also flocking to Oslo and Northern Norway to see the Northern Lights, which make an appearance in the film. Such trips aren't cheap -- tour company Adventures by Disney is charging more than $5,000 per person for a "Frozen"-centric jaunt to the specific fjord that inspired Arendelle -- but Disney-obsessed families with cash to burn are willing to pay the price. Per the AP:
It seems the rest of us will just have to wait until winter and build a snowman in our boring American backyards. [via: Associated Press, h/t The A.V. Club] Photo courtesy of Getty This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Lupita Nyong'o To Produce and Star in Love Story 'Americanah' Posted:  Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o is keeping herself busy: After landing a role in "Star Wars: Episode VII," the actress has just agreed to star in and produce a new film. Nyong'o will play the lead in "Americanah," an adaptation of the National Book Critics Circle Award-winning novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The story follows a young Nigerian couple and their struggles as immigrants in the modern world. "It is such an honor to have the opportunity to bring Ms. Adichie's brilliant book to the screen," Nyong'o said in a statement. "Page after page I was struck by Ifemelu and Obinze's stories, whose experiences as African immigrants are so specific and also so imminently relatable. It is a thrilling challenge to tell a truly international story so full of love, humor and heart." Nyong'o will co-produce alongside Brad Pitt's company, Plan B. Pitt and Nyong'o last collaborated on "12 Years a Slave," which won them both Academy Awards, for Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. [via: Variety] This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Mark Ruffalo Says 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' Hulk Role is 'Bigger' and 'More Complex' Posted:  Mark Ruffalo has already been plenty generous with dropping hints about "Avengers: Age of Ultron," and now the superhero star is at it again. In an interview with Total Film, Ruffalo reinforces some recent statements he made about his work on the follow-up to 2012's "The Avengers," and how the Hulk will get a shot at more screen time for the second installment in the blockbuster franchise. "[My role's] even bigger than last time, and it's more complex and it has more layers and a bit more arc," Ruffalo told Total Film. Whether or not that bigger role includes a love interest for Hulk alter ego Bruce Banner, Ruffalo wouldn't say; but considering the actor has strongly hinted at that possibility in the past, we're banking on that being one factor in the green guy's expanded part. Another aspect of the "Avengers 2" production that Ruffalo has discussed before is the motion-capture work he's done with mo-cap legend Andry Serkis, and it seems that the actor is still excited about the effects that audiences will see next summer. "I'm really tripping on the technology of this motion-capture stuff," Ruffalo told Total Film. " ... [N]ow I just completely embrace it and see it as this other exciting place we can go as performers." We can't wait to see the fruits of Ruffalo's -- and his fellow Avengers' -- labors. "Avengers: Age of Ultron" is due in theaters on May 1, 2015. [via: Total Film, h/t CinemaBlend] Image courtesy of Getty This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Game of Thrones' Surpasses 'Sopranos' as HBO's Most Watched Show Ever Posted:  Just when you thought "Game of Thrones" couldn't get any more badass, the bloody, blockbuster HBO series goes and takes down a giant -- "The Sopranos", to be exact. HBO has revealed that "Thrones" has now officially surpassed "The Sopranos" to become the network's most-watched series ever, with the show earning an average of 18.4 million viewers per episode during its four-season run. That's up from former champ "Sopranos," which accumulated an average of 18.2 million sets of eyeballs during its viewership height in 2002. Not only has "Thrones" outdone Tony and co., but it's also bested itself: Its ratings for season three averaged only 14.4 million viewers, and the hits don't stop there. Per Variety:
Of course, given today's DVR and on demand culture, those 18.4 million viewers aren't all watching live. HBO calculated that sum based on a few different variables known as "live-plus-7 data," which looks at how many people view the show when it airs originally, plus encore broadcasts, on HBO Go, and On Demand during the week following an episode's first run. But in this day and age, 18 million-plus is nothing to sneeze at, and HBO knows it. The network has already renewed "Thrones" for a fifth and sixth season, and with more books set to arrive from author George R.R. Martin, on whose "A Song of Ice and Fire" series the show is based, there's plenty more opportunities for ratings records to be broken. We'd tell you to stay tuned, but HBO is already banking on it. [via: Variety] Photo by Macali B. Polay/courtesy of HBO This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| New 'The Giver' Trailer: More Truth Revealed (VIDEO) Posted:  A new trailer for "The Giver" gives audiences a closer look at the titular character (Jeff Bridges), and the jarring impact he has on the film's young protagonist, Jonas (Brenton Thwaites). As Jonas learns from The Giver, there was once more to life than the dull, black and white existence he and his people now live. "The way things look, and the way things are, are very different," The Giver explains. And once Jonas gets a taste for all the knowledge that The Giver imparts, there's no going back for him. Even the simple fact of an apple being red rather than gray is enough to make the young man question authority, much to the chagrin of the Chief Elder (Meryl Streep), who sees Jonas's curiosity as a threat not just to order, but to the very fabric of society. Just how far Jonas will go to understand his world -- and undermine the Chief Elder -- remains a mystery for those who have yet to read Lois Lowry's book on which the movie is based. But for fans of the novel and newcomers alike, "The Giver" appears to be full of surprises. "The Giver" hits theaters on August 15. [via: Yahoo! Movies] This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Lost' Alum Daniel Dae Kim Joins 'Insurgent' Cast Posted:  The "Insurgent" cast list keeps growing: "Lost" alum Daniel Dae Kim has just joined the ensemble. Variety reports that Kim will play Jack Kang in the follow-up to "Divergent," alongside fellow new additions Octavia Spencer and Naomi Watts. The actor just wrapped his fifth season of CBS hit "Hawaii Five-O," and is no stranger to big screen action flicks, thanks to roles in "Spider-Man 2″ and "The Hulk." Stars Shailene Woodley and Theo James are reprising their roles from the first film, as are Jai Courtney, Miles Teller, and Ansel Elgort. Jonny Weston and Suki Waterhouse will also join the cast. "Insurgent," the second film in the "Divergent" series, is set for release on March 20, 2015. Its follow-up, "Allegient," will be released in two parts, with the first installment hitting theaters on March 18, 2016 and the second following on March 24, 2017. [via: Variety] This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Sharknado 2: The Second One' Teaser Is as Ridiculous as You Would Expect (VIDEO) Posted:  The teaser trailer for "Sharknado 2: The Second One" has arrived, and much like its moniker, it's both ridiculous and to the point. A tornado has scooped up a bunch of sharks, and Ian Ziering's character, Fin, helpfully explains to his wife (played by noted thespian Tara Reid), "It's happening again." This time, the action has moved from Southern California to New York City, giving the filmmakers the opportunity to throw sharks in the subway, around yellow cabs, and next to Citi Field, among other Big Apple landmarks. Fin is also seen holding a chainsaw aloft and staring ominously into the sky, an echo of the best/most outlandish scene from the first "Sharknado" flick and a hopeful omen of similar shenanigans to come. In addition to Ziering and Reid, the "Sharknado 2: The Second One" premieres on SyFy on July 30. [via: Dark Horizons] This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Young Adult Movies: Why They're Better Off Without the Vampires Posted:
The adaptation of John Green's heart-wrenching love story about two teens with cancer has a 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it looks like a lock for a No. 1 opening weekend. Other page-to-screen translations of realistic coming-of-age fiction have also been critically acclaimed: "Perks of Being a Wallflower" had an 85% critics' average on RT, and "The Spectacular Now" had an even more impressive 93% -- and both films ended up on critics' top-ten lists for 2012 and 2013. So why is it that despite the accolades, audiences aren't flocking to these films? Why aren't more of these contemporary novels making their way onto the big screen the way so many of the paranormal and dystopian stories do? These stories are cheaper to make and provide young actors with a real opportunity to act without all of the splashy special effects and computer-generated battle sequences. I do adore "The Hunger Games" books and films and hope "Insurgent" follows in "Catching Fire's" footsteps by being an even better adaptation than "Divergent." But I still think it's a shame that that the box office for the excellent "Spectacular Now" and "Perks" is a paltry $25 million (combined!) when "Divergent" alone made $242 million worldwide. Adaptations based on realistic young-adult books deserve just as much attention as their fantasy/paranormal/dystopia cousins -- especially when they're well made and beautifully acted and critically beloved. Studios would be better off looking closer at these books and then actually promoting them like Fox did with "The Fault in Our Stars," rather than trying so hard to secure the next multi-pic "Hunger Games"/"Harry Potter"/"Twilight" franchise. Yes, there are some fabulous, un-put-down-able trilogies and series starters currently awaiting adaptation ("The 5th Wave" by Rick Yancey; "Legend" by Marie Lu; "Shadow and Bone" by Leigh Bardugo; "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" by Laini Taylor -- to name just four out of dozens). All of those have the potential of being both critical and commercial successes, and I can't wait to see Cassie kick alien-invader ass; June pursue Day like a single-minded Javert; Alina fall under the spell of the Darkling; and blue-haired Karou find her destiny with angel Akiva -- but there are also many stand-alone realistic novels that are every bit as gripping and moving and worthwhile. If you read, see, and love "The Fault in Our Stars," here a few upcoming book adaptations that are also without any supernatural phenomena. Pay attention to these, read them, go see them, and send Hollywood a message that authentic stories about teens coming of age are just as important as ones about sexy vampires, wise-cracking werewolves, and hot fallen angels. 1. "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman hits theaters Aug.29, starring Chloe Moretz and Jamie Blakely. Mia Hall has it all: she's a Juilliard-bound cello prodigy from Portland with cool hipster parents, an adoring little brother and possibly the best boyfriend in all of YA literature, singer-songwriter Adam. When Mia's family is in a horrific car accident, she has an out-of-body experience. Now an orphan on the brink of death, her soul must choose whether to pass on or fight to live. 2. "Paper Towns" by John Green is in development for a 2015 release with Nat Wolff (who plays Isaac in "The Fault in Our Stars") attached as the lead. Considering it has the same screenwriters and producers as "FIOS," we expect great things. Quentin (Wolff) has loved his cool, gorgeous neighbor Margo for years, so when she mysteriously disappears toward the end of their senior year, he'll stop at nothing to figure out where she went. 3. "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell is being adapted by the author herself, and should start shooting in 2015. An epic '80s romance about two Nebraska misfits (an eccentric curvy red head and a half-Korean comics-and-New Wave aficionado) who meet and fall in love while sitting next to each other on the school bus, "Eleanor & Park" is chock-full of pop-culture references that should appeal as much to Gen-Xers as Rowell's huge following of teen readers. 4. "The D.U.F.F." by Kody Keplinger has already cast Mae Whitman ("Parenthood") and Bella Thorne ("Blended") for an adaptation that should get a 2015 release. D.U.F.F. stands for "Designated Ugly Fat Friend" and follows the wickedly funny and smart Bianca (Whitman) as she figures out how to shed herself of the moniker once the hottest guy in school refers to her that way. 5. "When You Were Mine" by Rebecca Serle is also being adapted by the dynamic screenwriting duo of Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. Retitled "Rosaline," the story is a modernized retelling of "Romeo and Juliet" from the perspective of the girl Romeo crushed on before Juliet struck his fancy and they fell crazy in love for each other. Shawn Levy is attached as producer. EXCLUSIVE: Watch a scene from "The Fault In Our Stars" This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Ghostbusters' Gets 30th Anniversary Theatrical Re-Release Posted:  This summer marks 30 years since the "Ghostbusters" burst onto the scene, and in honor of that anniversary, Sony is re-releasing the classic comedy in theaters. Fans can see Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson take down the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man on the big screen again on Labor Day weekend for a limited run. The flick will be screened at 700 locations in the U.S. and Canada. The 1984 blockbuster, which also starred Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, and Annie Potts, has been fully restored and remastered. It's also getting a new DVD and Blu-ray re-release to coincide with its big milestone celebration, with a bunch of new special features. "'Ghostbusters' is still one of our studio's most beloved franchises - I was lucky enough to work on the release of the film on its first run, so it's a real thrill for me to see that it's still connecting with audiences everywhere," said Rory Bruer, Sony's president of worldwide distribution, in a statement announcing the news. "On the big screen or in home entertainment, this is a great movie to experience again and again." A new Ghostbusters.com is also launching that will feature news about the franchise (and potential "Ghostbusters 3" announcements, perhaps?) alongside merchandise, including the aforementioned DVD/Blu-ray packages, as well as a remastered vinyl edition of the "Ghostbusters" soundtrack and new toys from LEGO and Mattel. "Ghostbusters" is back in theaters beginning August 29. The DVD and Blu-ray will be available on September 16. [via: TheWrap] Photo courtesy of AP This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Weekend Movies & TV: 'Edge of Tomorrow,' 'Orange Is the New Black,' & More (VIDEO) Posted: This weekend, Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt relentlessly battle time-looping aliens in "Edge of Tomorrow," Shailene Woodley embarks on an unconventional journey of love in "The Fault in Our Stars," the second season of the hit show "Orange Is the New Black" comes to Netflix on Friday, and Hugh Jackman hosts the 68th annual Tony Awards this Sunday on CBS.  Also in theaters this weekend:
Also on TV this weekend:
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| Watch LeVar Burton's Disturbing New Intro To 'Reading Rainbow' (VIDEO) Posted:  LeVar Burton, the former lieutenant commander of the Starship Enterprise, has been making headlines lately for attempting to revamp his beloved PBS series "Reading Rainbow." He recently started a Kickstarter campaign for the revival, one that proved so popular that it brought Burton to tears (yes, seriously). And if you want to know what the intro to the new "Reading Rainbow" could look like, well, take a look at this Funny or Die clip (via Gawker). In the spoof, set to the original theme song by Steve Horelick, Dennis Neil Kleinman and Janet Weir, Burton starts to imagine the truly limitless powers associated with a life full of reading. And things turn dark and scary and profoundly hysterical. This is also the first Funny or Die video that could have plausibly been scripted by original "Watchmen" writer Alan Moore. Just watch it. And have your giddy sense of nostalgia curdle before your eyes. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| TV #TBT: Shailene Woodley in 'The O.C.' and 'An American Girl Adventure' Posted:  Before Shailene Woodley starred in films like 'Divergent' and 'The Fault In Our Stars', she was just a rich little girl from Newport Beach. Well, she played one on TV, anyway. Yup. When Shailene was just a wee tween she portrayed Marissa Cooper's (Mischa Barton) little sis on the Fox teen drama, "The O.C." In later seasons, the role would be taken over by actress Willa Holland (who can now be seen on "Arrow"), but Woodley was the original Kaitlin Cooper in 2003 and 2004. Watch the adorable Shailene before she became an A-lister and Golden Globe nominee in this TV throwback moment: Two years later, Shailene played the title role in the WB TV movie, "Felicity: An American Girl Adventure." Check out this behind-the-scenes look at the film for more young Shai. (Tip: skip to 1:50 for her interview): This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Matthew McConaughey Open to More 'True Detective' Posted:  The absolute gold standard for television this year has been HBO's "True Detective," a formally ambitious, philosophically challenging crime series in which pair of detectives (played by Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson) stare into the bottomless black void of human behavior (and, in true Nietzschian form, the void stares back). The first season was brilliant but also close-ended; this is an anthology show like "American Horror Story." After one season, the entire show is rebooted and started anew. Which makes McConaughey's recent comments somewhat puzzling. Since he says he'd come back. According to Deadline, McConaughey explains: "If HBO had wanted an option on me for a Season 2 or 3, I wouldn't have done it." But now that everything is said and done (and the accolades have poured in)? "I liked 'True Detective,' the whole series and the experience of making it, so much that I'd be open to doing another one now." Oh well, you don't say? The show's creator, novelist Nic Pizzolatto, has said that for season two, it will be set in California and will feature three leads, all of them new characters. But maybe Matt could come back for a Season 3 or Season 4? While the season was fairly closed off, the series' central mystery still has plenty of room to explore. Time is a flat circle, after all. Image Coutesy of Getty This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| '22 Jump Street' Unscripted: Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill Get Bromantic (VIDEO) Posted: Sometimes, when two people meet, the chemistry is instant. Such is the case for stars Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill, who've become, well, let's say "intimate" thanks to some key scenes in "21 Jump Street" and its upcoming sequel "22 Jump Street." And nowhere is this bromantic chemistry more evident than when the pair sat down for an episode of Moviefone's Unscripted.  Tatum and Hill's conversation is the right kind of crazy, with topics that include hypothetical sequels, inner-thigh squeezing, and creepy hotel paintings. We could spend a few more words explaining what's in the video, but we think it's far more enjoyable to actually watch it. Witness more bromantic antics when "22 Jump Street" hits theaters next week (June 13).  More Unscripted:This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Disney's Live-Action 'Beauty and the Beast' Has a Director: Bill Condon Posted:  With "Maleficent" having already amassed almost $200 million worldwide, it's no surprise that Disney would look to capitalize on its trend of revamping classic fairy tales in similar, live action fashion. (Keep in mind that they have "Cinderella" coming out next spring, starring Cate Blanchett, "The Jungle Book" is penciled in for October 2015, although we're honestly not sure how it's going to make that date, and an "Alice in Wonderland" sequel, again with Johnny Depp, earmarked for 2016.) The latest on this front is the fact that Disney has hired Bill Condon to direct a live action "Beauty and the Beast." It's a tale as old as time, really.According to Hitfix, Condon won't just be drawing from Disney's 1991 breakthrough (the first animated feature ever to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar), but also from the Broadway musical that ran for a staggering 13 years (from 1994 to 2007). According to their sources, this will be a "straight-forward, live action, large-budget movie musical." This isn't that much of a surprise, given how beloved the music is from the original film and musical, and Condon's background adapting lavish musicals (he scripted the Oscar-winning "Chicago" and wrote and directed the Oscar-winning "Dreamgirls"). Variety reports that the screenplay will be written by Evan Spiliotopoulos, who wrote this summer's "Hercules" and has worked with Disney for years, mostly on direct-to-video animated sequels like "Tarzan 2" and "The Lion King 1 ½," will pen the screenplay for the new movie (according to Variety). We really can't wait to see who they cast in this, and feel like this could be the biggest and the best of this bumper crop of animated-to-live action transitions, especially because none of them have dared to be an all-out musical yet. (And, quite frankly, songs were sorely missing from "Maleficent" and, we imagine, the upcoming "Cinderella.") It will also nicely flow into the synergistic Disney ether, considering a large portion of the New Fantasyland project at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World is centered around "Beauty and the Beast." Who wants to start the petition for Channing Tatum to play Gaston? Like Gaston, Tatum uses antlers in all of his decorating! Photo courtesy Disney This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Tom Cruise Movie Mistakes: 9 Blunders From the Actor's Biggest Movies (PHOTOS) Posted:  Tom Cruise has been everything from a top-secret spy to the least likely samurai.Over the three decades Cruise has been gracing the big screen, there have been plenty of "oops" moments that you've likely missed. From "War of the Worlds" to "The Last Samurai," here are 9 mistakes from your favorite Tom Cruise movies. As always, photos are courtesy of MovieMistakes.com Article photo courtesy of Everett This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted:  The mogwais are nearing middle age.That's right, Steven Spielberg's magnificent horror comedy "Gremlins," about a bunch of cuddly creatures that turn into scaly monsters and overtake a small, Rockwellian town, is turning 30 this summer. And to celebrate, Warner Bros has a bunch of exciting things planned. The first of which has already happened: you can now own the movie digitally, for the first time ever (please, take the time to luxuriate in a wonderful clip from the movie, located below). Later this year, too, we will be getting a deluxe, 30th anniversary Blu-ray, complete with two brand-new featurettes featuring Steven Spielberg, alongside other creative principles (like director Joe Dante) and many members of the cast and crew. We were lucky enough to chat with Zach Galligan, who played Billy Peltzer, the initial owner of Gizmo, the mogwai that inadvertently breeds the gremlin menace. Galligan has become something of a cult icon himself, appearing in notable genre works like the first two "Waxwork" movies, "Warlock: The Armageddon," co-starring a witchy Julian Sands, and last year's slasher throwback "Hatchet 3." During the course of our lengthy conversation, Galligan talked about his initial introduction to "Gremlins," playing video games on the set with a young Corey Feldman, the response to the brilliant sequel "Gremlins 2: The New Batch," the movie's enduring legacy, and what his recommendation would be to whoever reboots the movie (because, as we all know, it's coming -- whether we like it or not). In a way, the phenomenon surrounding "Gremlins" is like the titular creatures: unstoppable, overwhelming, and oddly enjoyable. Even after all these years. Let's go all the way back -- can you talk about how you initially got involved with "Gremlins"? Okay... Wow... Well, it really wasn't anything to speak of because it just came to me as a basic audition. There are a lot of great stories associated with "Gremlins," but one of the disappointing things is that the getting of the part wasn't all that difficult, which is always kind of strange. Because you try so hard to get parts but some of them just seem to almost come to you. So what happened was they said, "Spielberg is doing this movie called 'Gremlins' and you're not allowed to see any of the script, we're just going to give you a tiny little piece of it and if you want to read for the casting director, Susan Arnold, you can." And I said, "Yeah, absolutely." So the scene they gave us was us walking around and talking about Christmas and why she doesn't like Christmas. So there's no mention of Gremlins or mogwai or chaos. It's just two kids in the snow. But it's called "Gremlins" and it's Spielberg so you knew something was up. You just didn't know what because you didn't get to see the script. So I read for the producer and the casting director; Joe Dante wasn't there because he was ill from flying. He wasn't a good flyer back then. So they called me in. And the first time I met Joe Dante was when I met Phoebe Cates at the mix-and-match session. They paired me with her. And the way the story goes, and I guess we'll find out whether or not this is true in the 30th anniversary Blu-ray, because Mr. Spielberg will be able to give his side of the story, I suppose, on the featurette. The way the legend goes... is that we stood shoulder-to-shoulder and we did this audition where we were pretending to walk next to each other and looking around and glancing at each other. And when it was over, there was a lull, and I didn't really know what to do, because they hadn't called cut and were waiting to see what would happen between the two of us. So I lay my head on Phoebe's shoulder for a second and sighed like she was the most gorgeous thing in the world. Like, Ahhh, doing this scene with this girl is so amazing. And apparently Spielberg saw the tape, because we were putting it on VHS tape and mailing it back to him for review, and apparently when he saw me put my head on Phoebe's shoulder, he said, "Oh, look he's already in love with her, I don't need to see anything else." Apparently, everyone on the tape that was after us didn't even get seen. Because once Spielberg saw that she and I had this dynamic, he figured we didn't really need to act, we just needed to show up. Did you have any interaction with Spielberg, or was he off in a glass castle somewhere? No, we did. He's reasonably hands-on, but he didn't have that much to do with "Gremlins" because he was doing "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" at that time. So he was off in Sri Lanka and all of these other places. There was a lull in "Indiana Jones" during the end of production, for about two or three weeks, so for the last few weeks of the shoot, he was there a lot. So he would be on the set and be behind the camera and consult with Joe. Sometimes he would make suggestions that we would implement. Sometimes Joe would like them and sometimes he... didn't. So yeah, he was around. Was there a sense, on set, that you guys were making something special? Or was it just another job for you? Well, it certainly wasn't another job for me. It was something that I felt was going to be a huge break, or at least I thought would be a huge break. Now what's funny is about a month ago, we got a bunch of us together for the 30th anniversary and we talked about things having to do with the movie and I was absolutely horrified to find that I was the only one who thought it was going to be a big hit. Everyone else thought it was going to be this cute, off-center movie but people wouldn't get it. The special effects guy had very little confidence in his work. He was 28 and said, "they'll never buy Gizmo, he doesn't look real. I'm terrible." He was very self-deprecating and unsure of himself but he was, of course, proved incredibly wrong. A lot of people just thought it wasn't going to do well at all, that the tone was going to be all off and people wouldn't get it. So here I was, at 19, going, "It's Spielberg! It's going to be amazing! What do you expect?" Then it came out and it exploded. Even though it came in second to "Ghostbusters," it's one of the few movies I've ever seen where the second weekend gross was higher without adding theaters. Usually you go, "Oh, it only dropped 20%, that's great!" But we went up 14% just on word of mouth. The shooting was notoriously difficult. Can you remember the most frustrated you ever were? Well, I've got to say the special effects guys were way more frustrated than I was. I was 19, in California for the first time. I was working with Phoebe Cates. I was living the life of Riley. So when the Gizmo broke, [special effects designer] Chris Walas would come over and go, "Oh dear, oh my" and he'd be muttering under his breath. And we'd be waiting to hear what the prognosis was. He'd say, "Well, that'll be an 8 hour break." We'd say, "Oh my gosh -- 8 hours?" So normally I'd be pretty bored but Spielberg let me use his office, which was right down the street. So I'd go, "8 hours? Cool!" And I'd run down the street to Spielberg's office and he had all of these arcade games, like "Defender" and "Millipede" and "Food Fight." So I'd go and play those games and Corey (Feldman), who was 11, when he was around, he'd trail behind me. So he and I started this incredible "Food Fight" rivalry, which he got very frustrated by, because I was 19 and he was 11 and I could basically outplay him. And he would get unbelievably frustrated. They would have to keep running to Spielberg's office to get me and Corey back to set. So Spielberg finally said, "Let's just move the machine to set, maybe 10 or 15 feet away from the camera. So when they need to go shoot, they can go shoot, but when they're done they can go play." So they moved the "Food Fight" machine to set and the hijinks continued. So for me it wasn't frustrating at all. I was just like, "Yay, more play!" I wanted to talk about "Gremlins 2: The New Batch." It's one of my favorite movies but was not terribly well received when it first came out. What was your experience on that? I think the sequel is a great movie. I think that it's been vindicated over the past 25 years. When the New York Times published their review of the "Gremlins 2" Blu-ray, Joe Dante sent me an email that only said this: "Vindicated at last." Here's what happened with "Gremlins 2": I think it had much less to do with the movie than it did with Warner Bros' decision, and I know Warner Bros is listening but, Warner Bros' decision to open it against "Dick Tracy." Originally we were going to open in early May, against "Bird on a Wire," which was a Mel Gibson/Goldie Hawn movie. Which was okay, a perfectly innocuous movie. But what happened was that "Gremlins 2" tested so incredibly positively that Warner Bros executives got excited, maybe overly excited, and said, "Let's move it up and see if we can take out 'Dick Tracy,' which was scheduled to be a big summer blockbuster, because we've never gotten scores like this in our life." Like they were getting 96, 97 out of 100. They were just incredibly excited. So had they opened it on May 3rd, we would have had seven or eight weeks before "Dick Tracy" came out and my guess is that people would have loved it, it would have gotten great reviews, and it would have steamrolled the competition and there would have been a "Gremlins 3" and a "4." But Warner Bros decided to go up against "Dick Tracy" and what they underestimated was the fact that Madonna was the biggest star in the world in the summer of 1990 and everything she touched was unbelievably magnetic. And the fact that Warren Beatty was dating her at the time and he and her were making the rounds, made it the must-see movie. So when we went head-to-head, "Dick Tracy" killed us. Because when they tried to get us on the talk shows, it was all Warren Beatty and Madonna. So when it came out, the response was very muted and the competition was 10 times harder than it would have been, had it come out on May 3. So I think the release strategy kind of backfired a little bit and I think that hurt the franchise. I think if they had just released it in the "Iron Man" slot, the story we'd be talking about with "Gremlins 2" would be vastly different. There is always talk of a remake or a sequel or reboot. Do you have thoughts on that? What I can tell you is that they are in the process of rebooting it. I know that the process is going reasonably well. I know that they are writing something, right now, as we speak. I would obviously never have any idea or presume to have any idea about my cooperation with a reboot until they approach me or sent me some kind of script. You would have to figure one of three possibilities would be apparent: 1. I would have no involvement in it; 2. I have a small, cameo-type involvement in it; or 3. and hopefully the Warner Bros people are listening to this, would let me play the new Billy Peltzer's teacher, or play the dad, or play the cop. Just move up and play another part. What would your advice be to whatever filmmaker comes along to remake "Gremlins"? Ideally you'd want to do it all with practical effects. But, you know, putting myself in the studio executive's shoes, that's not financially feasible. What would be a really smart move on the part of the filmmakers would be to split the difference. So when you have the new Billy Peltzer interacting with Gizmo in some of the more intimate scenes, you would have an animatronic Gizmo. But when you had whole flotillas and hordes of Gremlins, you could go for the CGI. I didn't really think this until I went to San Diego Comic Con and dealt with the rabidness of the fans there, but you really risk angering some of your viewers if you ignore the older fan base that liked the original films and just concentrate on marketing it to the 19-and-unders. I don't think that needs to happen. I think you can throw bones to those older fan bases -- you could use practical effects or use some of the older actors. I think "TRON Legacy" did that really well, by re-doing "TRON" but still having Jeff Bridges in it. You want to tip your cap and show some respect to the originals while still doing the rebooting. JJ Abrams understands that. That's why the "Star Wars" movie has Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher and Chewbacca. So many people would say, "Well, who cares if Peter Mayhew is in the new 'Star Wars'?" But about 70% of "Star Wars" fans care. They have a personal connection to Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca and they want him in there. They don't want some tall guy, they want him. It doesn't really make sense, because you probably couldn't tell if it was Peter Mayhew or not. But it doesn't matter. They want it. Are you still taken aback by the level of passion fans have to this movie? I am pretty surprised by the staying power. But it kind of, now, in retrospect, makes sense, because parents are passing it down to the next generation. Most of the time parents I encounter say, "You know I pulled it out for the first time and just showed Nathaniel." And there's some grinning 9-year-old kid with a Gizmo doll in their hand. The movie is kind of timeless. There are very few things that link it to the '80s; a little bit of the technology, perhaps my 80s hairstyle, whatever that perm is they gave me. I remember sitting in the chair thinking "What are you doing?" I couldn't really say anything about it because I was a 19-year-old and thought, Well, she knows what she's doing. My hair is pretty much like it is in the second one. I didn't understand why they wanted to make me look like Kirk Cameron before Kirk Cameron ever existed. What is surprising to me is that, in the last 8-10 years, it has morphed into an "It's a Wonderful Life" slash "Die Hard" slash "A Christmas Story" Christmas movie. It now gets ranked as one of the top 5 or top 10 all-time great Christmas movies. Here I was thinking I was making this big summer blockbuster and, thirty years later, I'm like, "Oh crap, I was in 'The Wizard of Oz.'" "Gremlins" is available for digital purchase now. Find out where to download. 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