Lionsgate is set to bring back the iconic Leprechaun horror series with a brand-new movie, marking the franchise’s return after an earlier reboot attempt was shelved.
The upcoming film will be penned by writers Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan, known for their work on the Saw franchise (Saw IV, V, VI, and 3D), as well as The Collector and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Production will be led by Oren Koules and his son Miles Koules under Koulest Productions, with Dan Heffner and Ketura Kestin serving as executive producers.
Oren Koules, a longtime collaborator with Lionsgate who produced all ten Saw films, expressed his enthusiasm: “After producing all the Saw films, and twenty-three wonderful years at Lionsgate, I’m thrilled to be working again with the Lionsgate team, Patrick and Marcus, and my son, Miles, on a terrifying new way into the rich world of Leprechaun.”
This project marks Lionsgate’s second attempt to revive the franchise. An earlier reboot was announced in 2024, with director Felipe Vargas and writer Mike Van Waes, but it never materialized.
The Leprechaun series began in 1993 as a horror-comedy about a malevolent creature guarding his pot of gold. The original film was written and directed by Mark Jones, starring Warwick Davis as the Leprechaun and featuring Jennifer Aniston in one of her earliest roles. Over the years, the franchise expanded to eight films, blending slasher horror with dark comedy and unusual settings. Lionsgate took over the series after acquiring Trimark Pictures in 2000, later releasing the 2014 reboot Leprechaun: Origins and the 2018 sequel Leprechaun Returns.
The franchise has cultivated a dedicated fanbase, with Syfy regularly airing Leprechaun marathons every St. Patrick’s Day. With experienced horror writers Melton and Dunstan crafting the script, Lionsgate aims to give this cult classic a fresh start and introduce it to a new generation of horror fans.
- Email: neill@outloudculture.com
- Socials: @frazer.live
- @neill.outloud
