The famous 1984 horror-comedy Gremlins, which spawned a spurt of films about small monsters, is getting a modern makeover with an animated series. In development for WarnerMedia's upcoming streaming service, the series is expected to be a period film that will follow Mr Wing (the Chinese grandfather played in the films by Keye Luke) as a young man who goes on adventures with the friendly mogwai Gizmo.

The writer-director of Bryan Cranston-starrer Cold Comes the Night, Tze Chun, has been roped in to write and execute produce the animated series, which will be produced by Warner Bros Television and Amblin Television.

Gremlins was directed by Joe Dante, written by Chris Columbus (of Home Alone fame), and executive produced by Steven Spielberg. It was one of two films (the other being Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) that was famous for being the harbinger of the PG-13 rating by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

WarnerMedia is the latest to join the streaming space following Disney, which is expected to launch its own service next year.