The 'Gremlins' reboot will not be a shot-for-shot reproduction of the original.

The 1984 horror comedy - which features magical creatures with an appetite for destruction - was a huge hit with fans, but writer Chris Columbus has promised the much-anticipated new movie will offer something markedly different.

The writer - who was also approached for the 1990 sequel, 'Gremlins 2: The New Batch' - shared: ''I know what the take is, I can't talk about it, but I was approached to do the sequel to 'Gremlins' way back when ...

''That was before the power of the franchise, the franchise ruled all. I was like, 'Nah, the first movie exists, it's great the way it is. Why spoil it with a sequel, or a bunch of sequels?'

''Well, time has passed, and I've seen what happens when sequels can actually work, and improve - certainly not improve on the original, but have a different direction. So I was open to the idea, and I think we have a really good take.''

The writer said the new movie will be a completely fresh story, although it will feature ''the same universe, the same rules [and] same Gremlins''.

He told MTV: ''It's not a remake of the first movie at all. Because the first movie's very dear to my heart.''