Even though fans have been clamoring for a true Gremlins sequel for years, what they’ll actually get is an animated prequel series, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai. The HBO Max series is set in 1920s Shanghai and follows a young Sam Wing, who eventually grows up to be the Mr. Wing of the 1984 film, and his first encounters with the Mogwai we know as Gizmo. Variety reports the voice cast now includes The Mandalorian‘s Ming-Na Wen, Jurassic Park actor BD Wong, Big Trouble in Little China‘s James Hong, and Matthew Rhys of The Report.
The 10-episode series doesn’t sound very Gremlins-like, honestly. Sam and Gizmo are joined by street thief Elle on “a perilous journey through the Chinese countryside, encountering, and sometimes battling, colorful monsters and spirits from Chinese folklore. On their quest to return Gizmo to his family and uncover a legendary treasure, they are pursued by a power-hungry industrialist and his growing army of evil Gremlins.”
Say what?
Anyway, Izaac Wang will voice Sam Wing, with Wen as Sam’s mother, Fong Wing, “a doctor of Chinese medicine who is resourceful, slyly funny and fiercely protective of her family.” Wong is Sam’s father, Hon Wing, “a calm rock that has never believed his father-in-law’s tales of magic and adventure.” Hong is Grandpa, who “claims to have traveled the world on grand adventures and he alone knows the true power (and secrets) of the Mogwai and the importance of protecting them.” Rhys is the show’s villain, “Riley Greene, a power-hungry English industrialist and treasure hunter who wields black magic that is determined to stop at nothing in his pursuit of Gizmo and the mythical treasure of the Mogwai.” A.J. LoCascio voices Gizmo, with Gabrielle Green as the 12-year-old Elle.
Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai doesn’t have a release date yet, but will air on HBO Max when completed.