Leprechaun Franchise

Leprechaun (franchise)

**Leprechaun** is an American horror comedy media franchise consisting of eight films (upcoming ninth film is in development). Beginning with 1993's Leprechaun, the series centers on a malevolent and murderous leprechaun, who, when his gold is taken from him, resorts to any means necessary to reclaim it.

## Films

The first two films were theatrically released. After a disappointing gross from Leprechaun 2, Vidmark released Leprechaun 3 direct-to-video. The following sequels were all direct-to-video.

Lionsgate and WWE Studios (who worked together on See No Evil and The Condemned) were teaming up to reboot the film series around 2010s. Until May 2013, there were no updates on the film's progress. Zach Lipovsky, a visual effects supervisor and a finalist on the reality game show, On the Lot was hired to direct the reboot.

*Leprechaun Returns* takes place 25 years after the original film. Linden Porco plays the title role, while Mark Holton reprises his role of Ozzie Jones from the first film. The film was released through digital and on demand on December 11, 2018. SYFY premiered *Leprechaun Returns* along with their All-Day Leprechaun Marathon for St. Patrick's Day on March 17, 2019. *Leprechaun Returns* was released on Blu-ray and DVD on June 11, 2019.

### Future

A crossover film with the Candyman series was in development following the release and subsequent box office success of Freddy vs. Jason (2003) tentatively entitled *Candyman vs. Leprechaun*, with a script treatment written and Davis set to reprise his role. However, the project stalled after Tony Todd immediately flat out refused to participate in such a project, stating that he had too much respect for his character to see him used for such a purpose.

In explaining why he didn't reprise his role in *Leprechaun Returns*, Davis said he stopped appearing in horror films after the birth of his children: "You know what, we did six 'Leprechaun' films, and around Halloween people always watch them and love them. Horror is an interesting medium. I think it's different when you have kids; you look at horror in a slightly different way. Since I finished the *Leprechaun* films I had kids and I see the world through their eyes, and to be in a horror movie right now is probably not quite right". Davis did leave open the possibility of returning to the franchise, remarking: "I will wait until my son turns 18 and then I'll do some horror again".

In March 2019, Darren Lynn Bousman, director of four films in the *Saw* franchise, expressed interest in a new *Leprechaun* film with Davis starring. Bousman announced his intentions on Twitter, detailing a plot that would send the Leprechaun back to the Colorado Gold Rush. In 2021, Bousman reiterated his desire to direct a *Leprechaun* film while promoting Spiral: From The Book Of Saw (2021). In an interview with Bloody Disgusting, Bousman explained his plans further, stating that his potential film would not be a reboot, but "a more direct sequel to the *Leprechaun* franchise", and he "would demand that Warwick Davis come back". Bousman further declared that he would not try to change the tone of the series (à la *Leprechaun: Origins*) but would stick to the darkly comedic themes of the original six films: "I think that’s what’s so great about the *Leprechaun* films. They’re silly, they’re fun. They are violent, but it’s a pure popcorn movie. I would not try to change the tone. I would make it equally as batshit, bonkers crazy. It would be between the first film and *Back 2 tha Hood*. It would be somewhere in that tonal frame. It got really ridiculous as they went on, but that ridiculousness is what made them fun". In March 2023, it was revealed on Twitter that his reboot was scrapped due to Lionsgate not taking the project seriously.

In April 2022, Bloody Disgusting reported that Lionsgate was "actively seeking out pitches the next Leprechaun movie".

In February 2023, Mark Jones stated he is open to returning to the franchise, saying, "Warwick and I have talked on and off about it. He likes the idea of a Leprechaun in the Wild West. I think they should do a TV series where the Leprechaun travels the country looking for his gold.".

In June 2023, The Hollywood Reporter stated that a new Leprechaun film was in development with Felipe Vargas set to direct from a screenplay written by Mike Van Waes, along with Roy Lee and Miri Yoon set to produce via Vertigo Entertainment; Meredith Wieck and Jon Humphrey will oversee production for Lionsgate. Warwick Davis isn’t expected to reprise his role as the Leprechaun.

## Kill Count’s

#### *Leprechaun (1993)*

1. Mrs. O'Grady - Pushed down the stairs by Lubdan.
2. Joe - Chest crushed by Lubdan with a pogo stick.
3. Deputy Tripet - Neck snapped by Lubdan.
4. *Daniel O'Grady* - Killed off-screen by Lubdan.
	* Total - 4

#### *Leprechaun 2 (1994)*

1. William O'Day - Neck snapped by Lubdan with telekinesis. (Flashback)
2. Ian - Shredded his face in spinning blades under Lubdan's control.
3. Unnamed Waiter - Face melted off by Lubdan with a steamer.
4. *Morty Ingalls* - Pot of gold magically inserted into his stomach by Lubdan, who then rips it out of him.
5. Unnamed Security Guard - Ran over by Lubdan's go-kart.
6. **Lubdan the Leprechaun** - Stabbed by Cody with a wrought-iron rod and exploded. (Resurrected)
	* Total - 6

#### *Leprechaun 3 (1995)*

##### Before the film

1. Loretta's Mother - Died of an unknown cause.

##### Main Events

1. Gupta - Strangled by Lubdan with a telephone wire.
2. Mitch - Electrocuted by Lubdan’s robot woman.
3. Arthur - Beaten to death by Lubdan with a shillelagh.
4. Tony - Beaten to death by Lubdan with a shillelagh.
5. *Loretta Fieldson* - Breasts, face, and buttocks inflated and exploded by Lubdan.
6. Unnamed Morgue Attendant - Stabbed off-screen by Lubdan with surgery tools.
7. Fazio - Cut in half by Lubdan with a chainsaw.
8. **Lubdan the Leprechaun** - Burned to death when Tammy disintegrated his pot of gold with a flamethrower. (Resurrected)
	* Total - 8

#### *Leprechaun 4: In Space (1996)*

1. Private Lucky - Dismembered by Lubdan with a lightsaber.
2. Private Kowalski - Died when Lubdan came out of his genitals.
3. Private Mooch - Dissolved by flesh-eating bacteria.
4. Private Danny - Crushed by Lubdan with a crate.
5. Private Dolores Costello - Pushed off of a catwalk by Lubdan.
6. Harold - Head flattened by Lubdan with a saucer plate.
7. Spider - Blended by Lubdan.
8. Scorpion - Blended by Lubdan.
9. Metal Head Hooker - Electrocuted after sticking his bayonet in an outlet.
10. *Dr. Mittenhand* - Shot and disintegrated by Tina with an automatic weapon after she froze him.
	* Total - 10

#### *Leprechaun: In the Hood (2000)*

1. Slug - Stabbed in the throat by Lubdan with a hair pick.
2. Unnamed Bartender - Electrocuted by Lubdan with a microphone stand.
3. Jackie Dee - Killed by Lubdan’s monster woman.
4. Chow Yung Pi - Strangled and dismembered by Lubdan.
5. Fontaine Rivera - Killed by Lubdan.
6. Unnamed Bodyguard - Chest blown up by Lubdan.
7. Reverend Hanson - Impaled by Lubdan with his arm.
8. *Stray Bullet* - Controlled into shooting himself in the throat by Lubdan.
9. Unknown Women - Killed by Lubdan off-screen.
10. Unknown Women - Killed by Lubdan off-screen.
11. Unknown Women - Killed by Lubdan off-screen.
12. Unknown Women - Killed by Lubdan off-screen.
13. Unknown Women - Killed by Lubdan off-screen.
14. *Butch* - Shot in the chest by Mack Daddy.
15. *Mack Daddy O'Nasses* - Chest blown up by Lubdan.
	* Total - 15

#### *Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood (2003)*

##### Before the film

1. Emily's Mother - Died of an unknown cause.
2. Emily’s Father - Died of an unknown cause.

##### Main Events

1. Unnamed Knight - Swarmed and mauled to pieces by leprechauns. (Flashback)
2. Unnamed King - Died of old age. (Flashback)
3. Father Jacobs - Died of a heart attack.
4. Unnamed Stoner - Impaled by Leprechaun with a bong.
5. Doria - Neck snapped by Leprechaun.
6. *Lisa Duncan* - Stomach ripped out by Leprechaun.
7. Chanel - Jaw ripped off by Leprechaun.
8. Officer Thompson - Stomach impaled by Leprechaun with a flashlight.
9. Officer Whitaker - Leg ripped off by Leprechaun.
10. Watson - Heart ripped out by Leprechaun.
11. Unnamed Gang Member - Killed by Leprechaun. Debatable, as there wasn’t a clear killing blow.
12. Unnamed Gang Member - Killed by Leprechaun. Debatable, as there wasn’t a clear killing blow.
13. Cedric - Throat slashed by Leprechaun.
14. Esmerelda - Killed by Leprechaun with his magic off-screen.
15. **Basil the Leprechaun** - Drowned in cement.
	* Total - 15

#### *Leprechaun: Origins (2014)*

1. Francois - Mauled by the Lubdan.
2. Catherine - Mauled by Lubdan off-screen.
3. Ian Joyce - Impaled on farm tools off-screen by Lubdan.
4. David - Stomach slashed by Lubdan.
5. Jeni - Head bisected by Sophie with an axe. (Accident)
6. Ben - Spine ripped out by Lubdan.
7. *Hamish McConville* - Mauled by Lubdan.
8. **Lubdan the Leprechaun** - Decapitated by Sophie with a machete.
	* Total - 8

#### *Leprechaun Returns (2018)*

1. *Tory Reding* - Died of lung cancer in 2017.
2. *Ozzie Jones* - Died when Lubdan came out of his intestines. Revived as a zombie ghost
3. Unnamed Mailman - Head stuck in a mailbox and ran over by Lubdan.
4. Andy - Cut vertically in half by Lubdan with a falling solar panel.
5. Meredith - Stabbed in the mouth by Lubdan with a sprinkler.
6. Matthew - Decapitated by Lubdan with a drone.
7. Rose - Tripped by Lubdan and fell onto a golden spade trophy, which impaled through her skull.
	* Total - 7

## Reception

### Home Media

The series has been released on DVD both separate and in collections. entire film series was released on Blu-ray for the first time in a box set titled *Leprechaun: The Complete Movie Collection* on September 30, 2014.

### Other Media

#### Comic Books

Prior to the release of the original Leprechaun, Trimark Pictures released an eight-page comic book prequel to the film. The story presented in the book is contradictory to the events of the film in several regards, such as depicting Daniel O'Grady as a lowly farmer and inhabitant of Ireland (instead of America) who obtains the Leprechaun's gold not by capturing the creature (as was stated in the film) but by following a rainbow.

A publishing company ‘Bluewater Productions’ released a *Leprechaun* comic book series, which began in May 2009. Written by Zach Hunchar and illustrated by Kris Carter the first arc of the series follows the Leprechaun (who is revealed to be named "Lubdan" and is also the king and last of his species) as he battles rival race the Clurichaun and travels the world in search of his gold, which was stolen and auctioned off online, with the reluctant help of the geeky Ethan Thomas and his friends. With only four issues released, the series was seemingly cancelled, as no new issues have been announced. Micheal Kingston was slated to write the second arc of the series.

Plans for a four-issue comic book crossover between the *Leprechaun* and Warlock series, which would have been written by Nick Lyons and released in late 2009, were made, but did not come to pass.