Honey, I Shrunk The Kids is a cult 1980s movie that's set for a remake, but is the new reboot, Shrunk, still happening and when will it arrive?

Honey, I Shrunk The Kids is reportedly getting a reboot courtesy of Disney+, but the latest Honey I Shrunk The Kids reboot news doesn't seem that bright. Stuart Gordon and Brian Yuzna came up with the original story for Honey, I Shrunk The Kids, which Gordon was set to direct before dropping out and being replaced by Joe Johnston. The story revolves around a group of kids who are accidentally shrunk down by a machine invented by their scientist father Wayne Szalinski (Rick Moranis). They then have to navigate their backyard - which is suddenly a lot more dangerous now they're only a quarter of an inch tall.

Upon its 1989 release, Honey, I Shrunk The Kids was a surprise hit, spawning two sequels and a live-action TV show. However, the last piece of Honey I Shrunk The Kids was the short-lived TV show, which saw its final episode air in 2000. This is why it came as such a shock when it was announced in February 2018 that Disney+ would be expanding its programming to include new remakes of classics — and Honey I Shrunk The Kids was on the list. While there hasn't been a ton of Honey I Shrunk The Kids reboot news, some casting updates and the general story have been released.

The Latest Honey I Shrunk The Kids Reboot News & Delays Explained

One of the biggest pieces of Honey I Shrunk The Kids reboot news was the fact that Josh Gad had been cast as the now-grown-up Nick Szalinski, however, Gad's latest update about Shrunk, the title of the reboot, isn't all that great. The actor took to Twitter in June 2023 to announce that the film wasn't currently in production, and if audiences really wanted the film to happen they needed to let Disney know. Based on Gad's tweet, which has revealed much more about the status of Shrunk than Disney ever has, the reboot has undergone a fair few issues behind-the-scenes.

Gad first cited the COVID-19 pandemic for causing a delay in proper Honey I Shrunk The Kids reboot news, which is understandable considering the film was first confirmed in 2018 and the unforeseen pandemic hit in 2020. After the pandemic had gotten under control enough that filming could commence, Gad's own schedule had blown up and caused a number of conflicts for the studio. "Inches from starting again," as Gad puts it, and then it seemed that Shrunk was befallen with budgeting concerns. All in all, the likelihood of Shrunk is looking smaller and smaller, but there's always the possibility that Disney could pull themselves up and get it made.

The Honey I Shrunk The Kids Reboot Production Status

The Honey I Shrunk The Kids reboot release date is yet unconfirmed. Given Gad's disappointing update, it doesn't seem like a Shrunk release date will hit the airwaves soon. Disney has kept updates about the film relatively close to the chest, so it's unknown where the script is in terms of development. However, Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, and Stuart Gordon are credited as screenwriters. Joe Johnston is confirmed to return as director, and Gad's updates claiming that studios were "inches away" from beginning the filming process suggest that principal photography is the final piece of the pie.

If production were to begin in 2024, a 2025 Honey I Shrunk The Kids reboot release date would be the soonest audiences could hope for. While many of these new Disney remakes are headed straight to Disney+, the studio seemed to have big plans for the family-friendly adventure film, with Shrunk set to receive a theatrical release. This, coupled with Rick Moranis' return as Wayne Szalinski seemed like the best Honey I Shrunk The Kids reboot news that audiences could ask for. However, Gad's latest update really took the wind out of its sails.

The Honey I Shrunk The Kids Reboot Cast

As of now, there are only two confirmed actors in the Honey I Shrunk The Kids reboot cast, and one of those is Rick Moranis who will be reprising the titular role of Wayne Szalinski. Rick Moranis' last live-action role was 1997's Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves, with the actor then taking an extended break to raise his children. He previously turned down offers to return for Ghostbusters: Afterlife, but in February 2020 it was confirmed that he'd return for Shrunk. Finally, Josh Gad (Frozen) will be taking on the role of an adult Nick Szalinski, Wayne's son who was played by Robert Oliveri in the original film.

The Honey I Shrunk The Kids Reboot Story

Though Honey I Shrunk The Kids reboot news is relatively scarce, one thing that has been confirmed is the Honey I Shrunk The Kids reboot story. Shrunk will be a legacy sequel, a la Ghostbusters: Afterlife or Scream 2022, and will focus on Wayne Szalinski's grown son Nick, who has followed in his father's footsteps and become a scientist, a plot thread that was set up in the TV show and took place between the first two films. This becomes quite literal when he ends up shrinking his own children too and has to find a way to reverse his mistake.

It's unknown if any of the storylines from the Honey I Shrunk The Kids TV show will make their way into Shrunk canon, such as Nick's first foray into science when he creates a machine to resurrect his dead bunny or when he creates an age-acceleration chemical to appear on a TV show. The final movie, Honey We Shrunk Ourselves, didn't feature Nick or Amy but did mention that the two were off to college and living their own adult lives. It'll be interesting to see the new additions to the Szalinski family in Shrunk through Wayne's son, if the Honey I Shrunk The Kids reboot were to happen