Leprechaun (film series)

Leprechaun is an American horror comedy film series consisting of eight slasher films. Beginning with Leprechaun (1993), the series centers on a malevolent and murderous leprechaun named Lubdan who, when his gold is taken from him, resorts to any means necessary to reclaim it. None of the films in the series are presented in chronological order. Warwick Davis plays the title role in every film except for the 2014 film Leprechaun: Origins, and the 2018 film Leprechaun Returns, in which the character is respectively portrayed by Dylan Postl and Linden Porco. On St. Patrick's Day, all Leprechaun films are played on Syfy.

Leprechaun
The Leprechaun as depicted on the cover of the DVD box Leprechaun Pot of Gore Collection.
Created by	Mark Jones
Original work	Leprechaun (1993)
Owner	Trimark Pictures (1–5) Lionsgate (6–present) WWE Studios (7) Syfy (8)
Years	1993–present
Print publications
Comics	List of comics
Films and television
Film(s)	List of films
Miscellaneous
Distributor	Trimark Pictures (1–5) Lionsgate Films (6–present)
Official website
Leprechaun on Lionsgate

Films

Film	U.S. release date	Director(s)	Screenwriter(s)	Producer(s)
Leprechaun	January 8, 1993 (1993-01-08)	Mark Jones		Jeffrey B. Mallian
Leprechaun 2	April 8, 1994 (1994-04-08)	Rodman Flender	Turi Meyer, Al Septien	Donald P. Borchers
Leprechaun 3	June 27, 1995 (1995-06-27)	Brian Trenchard-Smith	David DuBos	Jeff Geoffray, Walter Josten, Henry Seggerman
Leprechaun 4: In Space	February 25, 1997 (1997-02-25)		Dennis A. Pratt	Jeff Geoffray, Walter Josten
Leprechaun in the Hood	March 28, 2000 (2000-03-28)	Rob Spera	Story: William Wells, Alan Reynolds, Rob Spera & Doug Hall Screenplay: Doug Hall & Jon Huffman	Bruce David Eisen, Mike Upton, Darin Spillman
Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood	December 30, 2003 (2003-12-30)	Steven Ayromlooi		Mike Upton
Leprechaun: Origins	August 22, 2014 (2014-08-22)	Zach Lipovsky	Harris Wilkinson	Cami Winikoff, Mark Amin, Michael J. Luisi
Leprechaun Returns	December 11, 2018 (2018-12-11)	Steven Kostanski	Suzanne Keilly	Adam Friedlander, Darren Cameron
Untitled Leprechaun reboot	TBA	Felipe Vargas	Mike Van Waes	Roy Lee, Miri Yoon

The first two films were theatrically released. After a disappointing gross from Leprechaun 2, Vidmark released the following sequels direct-to-video.^[1]

Lionsgate and WWE Studios (who worked together on See No Evil and The Condemned) were teaming up to reboot the film series around 2010s.^[2] Dylan Postl (who works under a leprechaun gimmick in WWE as Hornswoggle) starred in the role as Leprechaun.^[3][4] 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.^[5] The film was released under a VOD/Digital HD format on August 26, 2014 (following a limited release on August 22), with the DVD/Blu-ray released on September 30.

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.^[6] The film was released through digital and on demand on December 11, 2018.^[7]

Future

A crossover film with the Candyman film series was in development following the release and subsequent box office success of Freddy vs. Jason, 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.^[8]

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".^[9]

In March 2019, Darren Lynn Bousman, director of four films in the Saw franchise, expressed interest in a Leprechaun reboot with Davis starring. Bousman announced his intentions on Twitter, detailing a plot that would send the Leprechaun back to the Colorado Gold Rush.^[10] In 2021, Bousman reiterated his desire to direct a Leprechaun film while promoting Spiral: From The Book of Saw.^[11] 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".^[12]

In April 2022, Bloody Disgusting reported that Lionsgate was "actively seeking out pitches for the next Leprechaun movie".^[13] Nearly a year later in February 2023, the original film's director Mark Jones told Den of Geek that had discussed the idea of a new film with Davis and expressed interest in seeing the franchise adapted for television. "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."^[14] The Hollywood Reporter announced that Lionsgate are rebooting the franchise again with Felipe Vargas directing.^[15]

Cast and characters

List indicator(s)

• This table shows the characters and the actors who have portrayed them throughout the franchise.
• A dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character's presence in the film has not yet been announced.
• A ^Y indicates an appearance as a younger version of a pre-existing character.
• A ^P indicates a photographic appearance only.
• A ^V indicates a vocal appearance only.

Characters	Leprechaun	Leprechaun 2	Leprechaun 3	Leprechaun 4: In Space	Leprechaun in the Hood	Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood	Leprechaun: Origins	Leprechaun Returns
	1993	1994	1995	1997	2000	2003	2014	2018
The Leprechaun	Warwick Davis						Dylan Postl	Linden Porco
Ozzie Jones	Mark Holton							Mark Holton
Tory Redding	Jennifer Aniston							Jennifer Aniston^P Heather McDonald^V
J.D. Redding	John Sanderford
Dan O'Grady	Shay Duffin
Mrs. O'Grady	Pamela Mant
Ian Joyce		Adam Biesk
Black Leprechaun		Tony Cox				mentioned
Cody Ingalls		Charlie Heath
Bridget Callum		Shevonne Durkin
William O'Day		James Lancaster
Scott McCoy			John Gatins
Tammy Larsen			Lee Armstrong
Princess Zarina				Rebekah Carlton
Staff Sergeant 'Books' Malloy				Brent Jasmer
Dr. Tina Reeves				Jessica Collins
Private 'Sticks'				Miguel A. Nunez Jr.
Private Delores Costello				Debbe Dunning
Dr. Mittenhand The Mittenspider				Guy Siner
'Mack Daddy O'Nassas'					Ice-T
'Postmaster P.' Smith					Anthony Montgomery
Emily Woodrow						Tangi Miller
Rory Jackson						Laz Alonso
Sophie Roberts							Stephanie Bennett
Katie								Pepi Sonuga
Lila Jenkins								Taylor Spreitler

Plot summaries

In the original Leprechaun (1993), Daniel O'Grady (Shay Duffin) captures the Leprechaun (Warwick Davis) while in Ireland, takes his gold and smuggles it back to his home in North Dakota, unaware the Leprechaun has followed him. Confronting O'Grady and demanding his gold the Leprechaun is injured by O'Grady and sealed in a crate with a four-leaf clover, though before O'Grady can kill the creature he suffers a stroke. Ten years later the Leprechaun is accidentally released by Tory Redding (a then-unknown Jennifer Aniston) and her new friends, and goes on a killing spree in search of his gold, which Alex Murphy (Robert Gorman) and Ozzie (Mark Holton) had discovered. After the Leprechaun reclaims the bulk of his gold he is defeated when Alex shoots a four-leaf clover down his throat with a slingshot and Alex's older brother Nathan (Ken Olandt) blows up the well the Leprechaun falls into.^[16]

In Leprechaun 2 (1994) the Leprechaun seeks out a new bride in modern-day Los Angeles, one thousand years after an earlier attempt to claim a bride was foiled. Claiming a fussy teenage girl named Bridget (Shevonne Durkin), the descendant of his original choice of a wife, the Leprechaun holds her captive in his lair and terrorizes her boyfriend Cody (Charlie Heath), who had taken one of his gold coins. In the end Cody saves Bridget and defeats the Leprechaun by impaling him with a spike made of wrought iron, one of the few substances that can harm a Leprechaun.^[17]

Leprechaun 3 (1995) begins with the Leprechaun, having been changed into a statue by a magical medallion, being sold to a Las Vegas pawn shop. Assuming his original form when the clerk removes the medallion, the Leprechaun kills him and goes on a rampage through Las Vegas in search of one of his wish granting coins, which is passed from hand to hand. The Leprechaun is ultimately defeated by college student Scott McCoy (John Gatins) and Scott's new girlfriend Tammy Larsen (Lee Armstrong), who blast his gold with a flamethrower, causing it to vanish and the Leprechaun to burst into flames.^[18]

Taking place in the future, Leprechaun 4: In Space (1997) has the Leprechaun abduct and begin courting snobbish alien princess Zarina (Rebekah Carlton), seducing her with promises of wealth. After being blown up by a group of marines who rescue Zarina, the Leprechaun is reborn on the marines' ship via exploding out of the groin of one of an unfortunate man, Kowalski. He then goes off in search of his stolen bride and gold, killing all those who get in his way. After being turned into a giant via an enlargement ray, the Leprechaun is ejected into space by the survivors of the massacre, Tina Reeves (Jessica Collins), Books Malloy (Brent Jasmer) and Sticks (Miguel A. Núñez, Jr.).^[19]

Set in Compton, California, Leprechaun in the Hood (2000) has the Leprechaun being turned to stone once more, this time by pimp Mack Daddy O'Nassas (Ice-T), who uses the Leprechaun's mind-controlling magic flute to become a successful music producer. Years later, the Leprechaun is unknowingly changed back to flesh and blood by a trio of wannabe rappers led by Postmaster P. (Anthony Montgomery) who rob Mack Daddy, taking the Leprechaun's gold and the flute from him with the intent of using the objects to become successful. Hunted by both Mack Daddy and the Leprechaun, Postmaster P., after his friends and Mack Daddy are killed, is brainwashed into becoming a servant of the Leprechaun.^[20]

Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood (2003) begins with the Leprechaun stalking Father Jacob (Willie C. Carpenter) trying to get his gold back, only to be dragged into the ground by demonic hands when the priest uses four-leaf clover laced holy water against him before dying from a heart attack. One year later the Leprechaun's gold is discovered by eighteen-year-old Emily Woodrow (Tangi Miller) and her friends, who use the gold to fulfill their wildest fantasies, unintentionally releasing the Leprechaun, who goes after Emily and the others to get his gold back, killing everyone who gets in his way. On the rooftop of the abandoned community centre Father Jacob had been building using the Leprechaun's gold Emily and her boyfriend Rory Jackson (Laz Alonso) defeat the Leprechaun by knocking him and his gold off the roof and into a pool of wet cement below, where the Leprechaun sinks and becomes trapped.^[21]

Leprechaun: Origins (2014), a reboot of the series, centers entirely on four American college students touring in Ireland. They come across the monolith from the opening scene, partially intending to study the history symbols but unaware that it is where all hell broke loose for the young couple. Hamish McConville (Garry Chalk), a friendly Irish man they meet at a bar when they stop, tells them the story of history about the village they are seeing - a mining centre that was used for cavern-obtained gold until it ran out, causing the population to decrease. An initially unseen force starts raiding the cabin they are left at by their transport provider, and they eventually realise that they are being sacrificed by Hamish and his son Sean (Teach Grant) to The Leprechaun (Dylan Postl) to atone for the decrease and eventual loss of the gold supply. The deadly and homicidal Leprechaun hunts the college students throughout their perilous struggles to survive its onslaught, which ends with it being killed by Sophie (Stephanie Bennett), the surviving student, and Hamish being killed by the creature in retribution for double-crossing them as the village's final sacrifice.

Leprechaun Returns (2018) centers on the first leprechaun (played here by Linden Porco) who escapes from the well into which he was barricaded 25 years prior by Tory Redding (Jennifer Aniston), her father and her friends who accompanied her at the O'Grady house, where he originally found them and terrorized them to get his gold back. In the present day, he returns to terrorize Laila Jenkins (Taylor Spreitler) and her sorority sisters as well as two men staying with them. With this storyline, all previous films but the first have been retconned, making it a direct sequel that takes over from Leprechaun 2 (1994) until Leprechaun: Origins (2014). Laila, a university student, is bought to her sorority home by Ozzie Jones, which sees actor Mark Holton reprising his role, and Tory is revealed to be Laila's mother who has died of cancer, having lived much of her life fearing the creature's return. After dropping Laila off at the house - the same house from 1993, now branded with the AU sorority symbol - he drops his phone while unloading her luggage, and upon returning to retrieve it, he is spat on from down the well by a splash of green water, some of which he swallows, and during his getaway he begins experiencing stomach pains, leading to the creature rebirthing himself and escaping. He kills Ozzie by tearing out of his torso before appearing at the house, killing two of Laila's sorority sisters and the two men. He is eventually electrocuted and ignited, causing the house to explode, but after Laila and Katie (Pepi Sonuga) escape and are driven back to the university campus, he is revealed to have reanimated and is last shown flagging down a truck for a drive to Bismarck, the capital of North Dakota.

Reception

Critical and public response

Film	Rotten Tomatoes	Metacritic
Leprechaun	31% (16 reviews)^[22]	17% (17 reviews)^[23]
Leprechaun 2	6% (16 reviews)^[24]
Leprechaun 3	0% (5 reviews)^[25]
Leprechaun 4: In Space	17% (6 reviews)^[26]
Leprechaun in the Hood	33% (9 reviews)^[27]
Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood	20% (10 reviews)^[28]
Leprechaun: Origins	0% (8 reviews)^[29]
Leprechaun Returns	45% (11 reviews)^[30]

Home media

The series has been released on DVD both separate and in collections. The 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.^[31][32]

A publishing company Bluewater Productions released a Leprechaun comic book series, which began in May 2009. Written by Zachary Hunchar and illustrated by Kris Carter the first arc of the series follows the Leprechaun (who is revealed to be named "Iubdan" 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.^[33][34]

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.^[35]

References

1. Fitzpatrick, Eileen (April 29, 1995). "Shelf Talk". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. #17. p. 76.
2. "Lionsgate pacts with WWE on film deal". Variety. 15 March 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
3. Hornswoggle to make film debut in 'Leprechaun: Origins' by Zack Linder, March 29, 2012
4. @DylanPostl (March 30, 2012). "The #swogglesecret that I've been hinting at all week is that in March 2013 I will be starring in Leprechaun:Origins by WWE Studios!!!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
5. Hall, Jacob (28 May 2013). "'Leprechaun' Reboot Has a Steven Spielberg-Approved Director". ScreenCrush.
6. Moore, Trent (2018-03-17). . Syfy. Archived from the original on 2018-03-20. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
7. Ames, Jeff (2018-11-16). "Leprechaun Returns Trailer Goes Looking for a Pot of Gold". Comingsoon.net. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
8. Josh Millican (January 21, 2019). "Why Tony Todd Stopped 'Candyman vs. Leprechaun' Movie From Happening". Dread Central.
9. "Why Warwick Davis Isn't Starring in 'Leprechaun Returns,' in Warwick Davis's Own Words". 3 December 2018.
10. "'Saw 2' Director Wants a True 'Leprechaun' Reboot with Warwick Davis". 19 March 2019.
11. @TheWolfman (May 10, 2021). "Can someone please, PLEASE give @darren_bousman the #Leprechaun franchise already?!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
12. ""I Would Demand Warwick Davis Come Back": Darren Bousman on the 'Leprechaun' Movie He Hopes to Make [Exclusive]". 14 May 2021.
13. "Lionsgate Plotting the Return of the 'Leprechaun' Franchise". 18 April 2022.
14. "Leprechaun: How Jennifer Aniston, Halloween, and Wayne's World Led to a Box Office Hit". 20 February 2023.
15. "New 'Leprechaun' Movie in the Works at Lionsgate (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. June 9, 2023.
16. Mark Jones (Director) (1993). Leprechaun (DVD). United States: Trimark Pictures.
17. Rodman Flender (Director) (1994). Leprechaun 2 (DVD). United States: Trimark Pictures.
18. Brian Trenchard-Smith (Director) (1995). Leprechaun 3 (DVD). United States: Trimark Pictures.
19. Brian Trenchard-Smith (Director) (1997). Leprechaun 4: In Space (DVD). United States: Trimark Pictures.
20. Rob Spera (Director) (2000). Leprechaun: In the Hood (DVD). United States: Trimark Pictures.
21. Steven Ayromlooi (Director) (2003). Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood (DVD). United States: Lions Gate Entertainment.
22. "Leprechaun". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
23. "Leprechaun". Metacritic. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
24. "Leprechaun 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
25. "Leprechaun 3". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
26. "Leprechaun 4: In Space". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
27. "Leprechaun in the Hood". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
28. "Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
29. "Leprechaun: Origins". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
30. "Leprechaun Returns (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
31. . Connie's Warwick Davis Fanpage and Leprechaun Center. Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
32. "Leprechaun Comics". Comic Vine.
33. . Bluewater Productions. Archived from the original on 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
34. . Bluewater Productions. Archived from the original on 2009-02-04. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
35. . Fangoria. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2009-03-17.