How Steven Spielberg’s Key Decision For GREMLINS Made It a Very Different Film and Gizmo an Icon

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• Spielberg originally envisioned Gizmo, the cuddly Mogwai, as a trickster who'd wreak havoc like the Gremlins, but decided a heroic protagonist would resonate better with audiences.
• The iconic Gizmo design, featuring large eyes and a docile demeanor, was a last-minute change that helped make the Mogwai an enduring pop culture icon and one of the most marketable characters from the film.