Gargoyles movie reportedly set to be directed by Kenneth Branagh

Kenneth Branagh reportedly set to direct a live-action Gargoyles movie based on the classic ’90s animated series.

I can’t say I saw this one coming — According to the Belfast Telegraph, Kenneth Branagh is set to direct a live-action Gargoyles movie based on the classic ’90s animated series.

The animated Gargoyles series followed a group of nocturnal creatures known as gargoyles who turn to stone during the day. They originally lived in medieval Scotland but were betrayed and cursed to remain frozen in stone until the castle “rises above the clouds.” After being transported to modern-day New York City, they are reawakened and serve as the city’s night-time protectors. The animated series was known for its dark tone and complex story arcs, which was surprising as it was produced by Disney. Gargoyles aired for three seasons before it was cancelled, but it quickly developed a passionate fan following who have kept the series alive for the last three decades.

There have been rumblings of a live-action Gargoyles movie since the animated series began. Jordan Peele reportedly pitched a Gargoyles movie to Disney in 2018, but nothing ever came of it. As far as Kenneth Branagh taking the helm, we’ll have to wait for more information, but the director has made plenty of movies for Disney, including Cinderella, Thor, and the Hercule Poirot franchise (which started at 20th Century Fox).

Speaking of Poirot, Kenneth Branagh will be following Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile with A Haunting in Venice. The sequel takes place in post-WWII Venice on All Hallows’ Eve and finds Hercule Poirot now retired and living in self-imposed exile in the world’s most glamorous city. Reluctantly attending a séance at a decaying, haunting palazzo, the celebrating detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets when one of the guests is murdered. In addition to Branagh, the film stars Kyle Allen, Camille Cottin, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Jude Hill, Ali Khan, Emma Laird, Kelly Reilly, Riccardo Scamarcio, and Michelle Yeoh. A Haunting in Venice will hit theaters on September 15th.

What would you hope to see in a live-action Gargoyles movie?