Leprechaun Creator Mark Jones Revisits the Franchise 30 Years Later on Hulu

Leprechaunis back in the hood for Halloween. In time for the 30th anniversary of its first installment, the entire horror franchise is now on Hulu as part of their Huluween programming. The mythological slasher series helped birthJennifer Aniston’s career, made Warwick Davis a horror icon, and took the titular creature everywhere from space to Ice-T’s neighborhood. Funny, campy, and a little nasty, the film franchise began with writer and director Mark Jones, who had the winning idea of a St. Patrick’s Day-themed horror film and brought it to fruition with aplomb.

Jones spoke with MovieWeb about directing Davis and Aniston inLeprechaun, the enduring legacy of the franchise and why he thinks eight films have been made, and how it could possibly continue.

Creating Leprechaun with Warwick Davis

“Can you ever figure out why a movie kind of resonates with people?” asked Jones rhetorically. “I wanted to bring in the comedy element, and not just do a straight forward monster and slasher movie. And I had come from an animation background, and I’d writtenScooby-Dooand I said, ‘I want to do a live actionScooby-Doo, but with an evil leprechaun.” Eventually, that transformed into his script forLeprechaun.

“The studio wanted me to go more horror, and I did have some back and forth because they made me cut out some comedy,” explained Jones. “I mentioned there’s a director’s cut out there somewhere — somebody should find it in storage at Lionsgate — and it has more comedy in it. I think what happened is that the kids found the character scary enough, but yet, he rode tricycles, he polished shoes, he was a weird horror character. And I give Warwick a lot of credit, he created a character that, from the script, he took it even a step further and brought in the kind of humor and stuff.” He added:

So I just think all the elements fell into place, and that’s that’s the magic of why something works and other things don’t. I’d like to take 100% credit, but I can’t. But I did specifically want it to be kind of a fun horror movie, accessible to kids and adults.

Speaking of Warwick Davis, theWillowstar truly defined the titularLeprechaunvillain, making him one of the most famous horror characters of all time. A lot of that is from the sarcastic, bizarre humor of the character. “He got the script, and it had the comedy in it […] but when we got together, we spent a few weeks in prep before we shot, and he would say, ‘Can we do this, can we do that.’ He was great. And I said, ‘Absolutely. Let’s do it.'” Jones elaborated:

“So he really got into the character and brought different elements in, you know, ways to do the comedy. And every time he did it, I thought it was great. You have a good actor who got the character, you let him develop it, and he did in the successive movies beyond. So he got it, and we did work and hone that character to be what it was in the first picture. Then of course, he grew into it where it was just him.”

What Do Jennifer Aniston and Ice-T Have in Common?

Other than bringing Warwick Davis acclaim and fame, Jones also brought Jennifer Aniston into the mainstream withLeprechaun. “It was her first feature. She had done some episodes of television, but we didn’t know who she was,” explained Jones. “I don’t think she’ll mind me saying it, but we got her for scale. But she was excited about doing her first feature, and co-starring in a feature, and she was a professional. I got along with her great, she had a great sense of humor. And she was into it.” He continued with candor and humor:

“And I know she went off to do bigger and better things. She tends to forget a little bit that she might have done the movie, but she’s — you know, I bumped into her here and there after Friends, and she was always sweet, has always said nice things about me. And you know, it was her first movie, and nothing to be ashamed of. I think she was surprised on how big it became. But right after the movie was released, she got Friends. So I like to take credit that I got her on Friends. So I’m waiting for my commission check, Jennifer.”

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Yet another famous face is in theLeprechaunfranchise: Ice-T. The rapper and actor appeared in the 2000 installment,Leprechaun in the Hood, which has sincebecome a cult classic. “It had a great audience that loved it,” explained Jones. “Ice-T was in it, and I saw him on a talk show, and Conan O’Brien said, ‘What made you do Leprechaun in the Hood?’ And he goes, ‘My kids watched all fourLeprechaunsand love it, so when they sent me the script my kids said, ‘Dad, you got to do it. You got to do theLeprechaun.’ I love it.”

Mark Jones’ Favorite Leprechauns and the Franchise’s Future

Of all the films in the franchise, the originalLeprechaunwill always be Jones’ baby, but he does have other favorites in the series. “I mean, the first was my creation, and I love it,” explained the filmmaker, who wrote and directed the original. “I will say though, my second favorite was the last one, number eight,Leprechaun Returns. They went right back to the farmhouse, which should have been probably number two anyway, and they brought in Mark Holton, [who plays] Ozzy, they brought him back from the first one. So those two are very dear to me.” Holding his characteristic cigar, Jones added:

I mean, I liked that they made them all, because I have financial interest in it. So I’m happy, whatever they do with it. But you know, the first one, it’s the pilot of the show […] It’s just kind of cultural, iconic movie, and I was happy getting my first movie made. I thought it was gonna go direct to video. I didn’t have any concept we’re gonna have these many sequels.

With theHalloweenfranchise rebooted in a trilogy, andThe Exorcistnow rebootedsimilarly (not to mentionThe Texas Chainsaw MassacreandScream), one has to wonder if Leprechaun will get a similar treatment, a kind of legacy sequel reboot, or ‘requel.’ Would Jones want to return to the franchise to direct?

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“You know, it’s funny,” said Jones, “once a movie’s a hit, the studio kind of wants to own it, and they don’t want to deal with the original creator so much. I have a great idea I won’t show anybody. They are going to doaLeprechaunreboot, I think the right way.” He continued:

I always say to my agent, ‘Should we contact Lionsgate? Because they may think I’m not interested, or they might think I’m dead.’ I don’t know, but I would love to with Warren […] So I would love to come back. I think they should bring me on board, and Mark Holton, we’ll figure out a way to get him back in. Jennifer, if I make a phone call, she might do it.

“But you know, it’s the studios,” continued Jones. “It’s not like they’re mean and they don’t want anything to do with it, I think they just want to own it and do their thing, and hire the latest people. They should have me and Warwick do it, and I have a great idea for bringing it in, and it’s so obvious that no one’s thought of it. I can’t say it because then the whole town will steal it. But anyway, I’d love to at this point.”

Note to Hollywood — make it happen. You can now watch everyLeprechaunfilm on Hulu.