Fans have been waiting years for sequels to two of Amblin's most beloved 80s movies. Way back in April of 2014, original Goonies director Richard Donner claimed that The Goonies 2 was definitely happening with the entire cast set to return. Since that time, we've seen little to no development on the project. And producer Seth Grahame-Smith has been promising a Gremlins reboot for almost as long. It would be easy for fans to assume neither of these projects is actually ever going to happen. But Chris Columbus, promoting his new sci-fi action comedy Pixels, assures us neither movie is dead. And both are still in 'heavy development'.

With both movies promised for so long, hardcore fans have tuned out most recent updates, writing it off as filmmakers who simply wish to keep their titles in the public consciousness. Both The Goonies 2 and Gremlins have gone in and out of development. Just look at Gremlins. It was declared to be on indefinite hold just six months ago. Then in April, Warner Bros. announced that the sequel/remake was back on track with Goosebumps writer Carl Ellsworth. As an original writer on both of these films, Chris Columbus refuses to give up on them. He knows the studios will move forward without him if he lets them. And he doesn't want that to happen to fans. He had this to say to Screen Crush.

"The stuff that I'm involved with - the Gremlins and Goonies reboots, for instance - they would do that without me. So, I'm staying involved just so I can be protective and actually protect what people love about those movies so it doesn't go off track."

Chris Columbus promises he will not give up on these movies, no matter what happens. And he wants fans to hold out hope. They will arrive at some point, but wants you all to know, "it's a slow process and I don't think it will happen too quickly." The director made his name known in 1984 with the script for the original Gremlins, a horror comedy that helped usher in the PG-13 era. And he quickly moved onto The Goonies, which has grown a feverish cult fan base ever since it's release. He is not returning to pen the sequels himself, but he will have a hand in how the properties are handled moving into the future.

No plot details have ever been released for the Gremlins reboot, which will be more inline with the first two movies. It won't try to rewrite the film's timeline, or mess with any of the elements that have come before it. It's not taking the Terminator Genisys route, where time travel allows for a complete reworking of the original story. And it won't be in-line with the currently shooting Ghostbusters, which has completely wiped the history and characters of the franchise from existence. Instead, Gremlins will take place in "the same universe, the same rules, same Gremlins." Though, it should be noted that original director Joe Dante, who also directed the sequel, will not be involved with the new film. And none of the original cast are confirmed to return.

The same can't be said for The Goonies 2. While it was believed that the entire cast and director Richard Donner were set to return, that tide has turned ever so slightly. The main reason it hasn't moved forward is because no one can crack the script. And what was once supposed to be a sequel may actually turn into a complete reboot. That's the word Chris Columbus now uses in describing the kid-friendly adventure. Once, it was believed to be a movie about the original Goonies chasing after their kids, who have embarked on a new treasure hunt. But in the past year, producer Frank Marshall has boldly stated, "It's not going to be a sequel."

While many fans remain skeptical about either The Goonies 2 or Gremlins happening, Chris Columbus doesn't want anyone to stop believing. Jurassic World actually happened 22 years after the original, and it has gone onto become the biggest movie of 2015 and is on track to be one of the top three movies of all time. As it is an Amblin movie too, you can look forward to more active development on their past titles being rejuvenated. When will they actually happen is anyone's guess at this point. What do you think? Do you want to see these movies become a reality? Or are they better left a memory to be relived on your futuristic streaming service?