HBO Max renews their upcoming Gremlins animated show for season 2 before season 1 has even arrived. Released in 1984, Gremlins brought together the talents of writer Chris Columbus, director Joe Dante and producer Steven Spielberg to create a subversively comedic monster movie that went on to become considered an ‘80s classic.

After becoming a smash hit with $212 million at the box office, Gremlins was followed up six years later by a sequel also directed by Dante that sadly disappointed with only $41 million in box office grosses. Gremlins 2: The New Batch may not have matched the original film in terms of financial success, but it later gained a reputation as a masterful satire that slyly lampooned the entire concept of sequels even as it unleashed escalated mayhem. Perhaps in part because the second film flopped at the box office, Gremlins never gained momentum as a franchise and stood for years as one of the most notably unexploited properties from an era that is constantly being targeted for nostalgic reboots and revivals by studios hungry for content.

Related: Gremlins 3 Delay Explained: Why It's Taking So Long (& Every New Update)

But that great Gremlins content drought is now set to end as streaming service HBO Max is going ahead with an animated show called Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai. As that title suggests, the show is a prequel that explores the history of Gizmo. So enthusiastic is HBO Max about the prospects for this animated Gremlins venture to hit with audiences, WarnerMedia announces they are renewing the show for season 2 before season 1 has even arrived.

Gremlins Secrets of the Mogwai HBO Max series

Indeed season 1 of Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai does not yet even have a premiere date on HBO Max, though it is expected to arrive at some point in 2021. The voice cast for the show has already been revealed of course, including A.J. Locascio as the voice of Gizmo (replacing original Gizmo voice performer Howie Mandel) alongside Ming-Na Wen, B.D. Wong, James Hong, Matthew Rhys, Izaac Wang and Gabrielle Greene. Original Gremlins director Dante is lending his talent to the project as a consultant.

It will indeed be interesting to see exactly what secrets of the Mogwai are revealed by the new Gremlins show when it finally does arrive on HBO Max. One thing that already seems certain is that the new animated venture will not try to match the original Gremlins movie in terms of dark content, as the show is being touted under WarnerMedia’s Kids & Family banner, which obviously is a place for relatively family-friendly entertainment. The 1984 Gremlins movie of course created controversy with some of its more gruesome elements, helping lead to the creation of the PG-13 rating. Fans who enjoyed the original movie’s darker and more subversive approach to the material may not be thrilled to hear that the new show is being sold as family content, but in fact it remains to be seen exactly how Gremlins the TV show stacks up in terms of tone.

More: Gremlins 3: How To Make A Proper Sequel 20 Years Later

Source: WarnerMedia