Legendary Leprechaun Tale Gets Terrifyingly Modern Makeover

Lionsgate is currently developing a new Leprechaun movie with It producer Roy Lee. The original horror-comedy, which debuted in 1993, starred Warwick Davis as a homicidal leprechaun on a mission to retrieve his stolen gold. Davis reprised the role for five sequels before it was taken over by WWE star Dylan Postl and later Linden Porco. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lionsgate plans to reimagine the franchise with Lee producing under his Vertigo Entertainment banner, alongside Miri Yoon of Don’t Worry Darling. The film will be directed by Felipe Vargas, who directed the 2020 horror short Milk Teeth, with a script written by Lilo & Stitch writer Mike Van Waes. Lionsgate’s president of production, Erin Westerman, expressed her excitement for the project and praised the creative team tasked with "bringing it back with a new vision."

Why The New Leprechaun Needs To Bring Back Warwick Davis

After three decades since its initial release, this franchise still holds a captivating charm, and we are thrilled to present it with a fresh perspective. Our esteemed producers, Roy and Miri, are well-versed in this genre and we have complete faith in them. Furthermore, we are excited about Felipe's direction for the film. With his expertise, we anticipate that this movie will be a delightful blend of fright and entertainment.

The Leprechaun franchise has always thrived on its ability to not take itself too seriously. Initially inspired by a Lucky Charms cereal commercial, the original writer and director Mark Jones transformed a creature from Irish folklore into a slasher villain, which was already a perfect fit for adding comedic elements. However, it was ultimately up to Davis to take Jones’ original plans for a straightforward horror film and infuse it with camp humor, resulting in the iconic film we know and love today.

Despite mixed reviews from critics, Warwick Davis' portrayal of the mischievous Lubdan Buttowski in the Leprechaun franchise garnered a dedicated fanbase. However, the introduction of Dylan Postl as the titular character in the 2014 reboot, Leprechaun: Origins, was met with harsh criticism from both critics and fans alike. Despite efforts to win back fans with 2018's Leprechaun Returns, Davis declined to reprise his role, and Mark Holton was cast instead. While Davis is not currently expected to be involved in the upcoming Leprechaun movie by director Eduardo Rodriguez, there is still hope among fans that he may return to the horror genre, as he previously stated he would consider it once his son turned 18. With his son now 20, if Vargas can persuade Davis to return, it could only enhance the new Leprechaun film.

Source: THR