Honey I Shrunk The Kids Reboot: Josh Gad Reveals Surprising Update with Rick Moranis

Published on June 27th, 2023 | Updated on June 27th, 2023 | By FanFest

Josh Gad, known for his role in one of Disney’s biggest animation franchises, appears to be facing some challenges when it comes to his projects with the studio. After the cancellation of his Disney+ series Muppets Live Another Day before production began, Gad now reveals that his movie Shrunk is also facing uncertainties. Sharing a mock-up poster for the film, which is a sequel to the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids movies and features Rick Moranis, Gad acknowledges the numerous false starts and urges fans to express their excitement to Disney.

The original film, released in 1989 and directed by Joe Johnston (known for Captain America: The First Avenger), followed the story of Wayne Szalinski, played by Rick Moranis (Ghostbusters), a struggling scientist who invents a machine capable of shrinking matter while preserving its structure. The plot takes an unexpected turn when Wayne’s children, along with their neighbors’ kids, accidentally get shrunk and must navigate the treacherous backyard jungle to return to normal size and find their way back home.

Gad took to Twitter to address the status of the film, stating, “Many of you ask me what’s happening with this film. The truth is, we were very close to starting, then COVID struck. We were close to starting again, but my schedule became packed with conflicts. We were close once more, but budget constraints posed a challenge. If you want it, let Disney know.”

A lot of u ask me what’s going on with this film. Truth is, we were inches from starting and then COVID hit, inches from starting again & then my schedule exploded with conflicts, inches from starting again & budget got the best of us. If you want it, let your local @disney know. pic.twitter.com/H5l24DQyoU

— Josh Gad (@joshgad) June 26, 2023

The original film enjoyed tremendous success at the box office, spawning two sequels, a TV series, and even a Disney Parks attraction that included a short video featuring Moranis. Moranis, who starred in all three films, had significantly reduced his acting career following his wife’s passing, choosing to prioritize raising his children. However, in recent times, with his children now grown, he has expressed openness to returning to acting if the right opportunity arises.

Moranis had committed to Shrunk, a project that Gad will write, produce, and star in. Johnston is expected to return as the director.

As of now, there is no official synopsis or release date for Shrunk. Given recent box office disappointments and potential budget concerns for non-Marvel, non-Star Wars, and non-major IP Disney movies, the film’s financial considerations could be a significant factor. The fact that Shrunk was originally envisioned as a theatrical release may work in its favor, considering Disney has removed streaming sequels like Willow, Turner & Hooch, and The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers from its platforms.