Perhaps inspired by the mostly successful requels in the Halloween and Scream franchises, Lionsgate is relaunching one of its offbeat horror franchises with a new Leprechaun film. Felipe Vargas will direct the new film working off a script from live-action Lilo & Stitch scribe Mike Van Waes. Roy Lee, who oversaw production on It and Barbarian, and Lionsgate’s Miri Yoon will be producing.
Beginning with 1993’s Leprechaun, Lionsgate rolled out 8 films in the franchise, including classics such as Leprechaun 4: In Space and Leprechaun in the Hood. Willow and Star Wars franchise star Warwick Davis played the titular imp in the first 6 films before sitting out 2014’s Leprechaun Origins and Leprechaun Returns. According to THR, Davis will not be attached to the new project.
“Thirty years after its debut, this franchise still casts a spell, and we’re thrilled to be bringing it back with a new vision,” said president of production for Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group, Erin Westman. “Roy and Miri are two of our most trusted producers, especially with this genre, and we’re excited by Felipe’s vision for the film as a director. In his hands, this movie should be very scary and a ton of fun.“
With Vargas set to begin work on Rosario, his film debut, don’t expect work on the Leprechaun reimagining to begin until late 2023 or early 2024.
Source: THR
