Genre favorite Joe Dante hasn’t directed a movie in a decade. Yet, some of his beloved ‘80s movies have found or are finding new lives in the 21st century. With the second season of the Gremlins animated series now out and word coming last month that The ‘Burbs would be getting the small screen treatment from Peacock with Keke Palmer leading, Joe Dante gave his perspective on the projects and how involved — or distant — he will be.

After Gremlins 2: The New Batch proved to be a bomb, the idea of a third ever seeing direct sunlight fizzled out. But with renewed popularity in the series, it’s no surprise chatter of a threequel popped up. But Joe Dante isn’t quite sure he would be behind the camera — or that it should even happen. “That’s up to the audience. The fact is that it’s too big...