10 Horror Movie Sequels That Totally Insulted Great Characters
3. Mr Wing - Gremlins 2: The New Batch
As Gizmo’s soft-spoke original owner, Mr. Wing could have been little more than a questionable stereotype in the Gremlins franchise if it weren’t for some witty screenwriting by Chris Columbus and a great turn from actor Keye Luke. Instead the minor character is given enough throwaway quips and deadpan moments to make him a likeable if foreboding presence, a diminutive harbinger of the film’s more fantastical “dark fairy tale” moments.
By the close of the first film he essentially acts as a human framing device, arriving to relieve this small American town of the mogwai now that our gormless protagonists have learned their moral lesson.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a case where we can blame the director or even the production, as Luke’s health was compromised by the time filming began on Joe Dante’s belated sequel. As a result, his character’s screen time was limited, resulting in an ignominious end for the venerable Mr. Wing. He’s killed off early in proceedings, and whilst it was the best the film was able to manage, it’s nonetheless unfortunate that Luke was unable to be a bigger part of the acclaimed sequel.