The horror comedy ‘Leprechaun’ movie series is set for a Hollywood reboot.
The new series will be directed by Felipe Vargas and based on a script by Mike Van Waes and will aim to revamp the turn of the century cult classic.
This provides a great opportunity to have a look at the best and worst portrayals of the Irish folklore legend in film and TV.
Leprechaun (1993-)
What better way to start than to go with the series itself?
A gorey take on the Irish legends, 'Leprechaun' showed the mischievous and murderous side to the myth. The film starred Warwick Davies as the leprechaun and featured an on-screen debut by Jennifer Aniston, future star of Friends and We're the Millers.
The series went on to have seven sequels, with the latest installment being in 2018, Leprechaun Returns.
Some of the series was received so poorly that it was released straight to video. However, the latest installment was released in cinemas in an attempt to drum up interest in the series.
Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959)
Next, we have a Disney classic that features one of the most questionable Irish accents in cinema history. It was also one of the first films to feature future Bond actor Sean Connery.
The King of the Leprechauns, Brian Connors, was played by Jimmy O'Dea, a comedian and actor from Dublin, and also featured other Irish mythological creatures, such as the Banshee and the púca.
The film received a 7.1 rating out of 10 and has gone down as one of the most stereotypical Irish films of the 20th century, with poitín, a fiddle jig and, of course, leprechauns featuring.
The Luck of the Irish (1948)
One of the first mentions of the leprechaun in the mainstream media, this film followed New York reporter, Stephen Fitzgerald (Tyrone Power), who was followed back to the USA from Ireland by a Leprechaun (Cecil Kellaway).
The story centers around the decision Fitzgerald has to make about his history and his future.
Kellaway was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Supporting Actor category for his performance as the leprechaun.
South Park (2007)
It seems that there is little in modern society that has not featured in the long-running TV series South Park.
A leprechaun featured in the 'Imaginationland' arc of season 11 of the show, with one of the main characters, Eric Cartman, trapping the creature in a cave as he was trying to warn of an impending terrorist attack.
Despite the brief appearance, it still showcases the stereotypical leprechaun look of ginger hair, green clothes and a gold pipe.
Finian's Rainbow (1968)
Tommy Steele features as a leprechaun alongside film royalty in Fred Astaire.
In this title, Og the Leprechaun (Tommy Steele) attempts to get back his crock of gold that Finian (Fred Astaire) has stolen, before he turns human.
The Simpsons (Various appearances)
There have been numerous sightings of leprechauns in The Simpsons, from Halloween episodes to fights between an Irish leprechaun and his 'orange' Northern Irish cousin.
He is usually depicted as mischievous, violent and, again, rather stereotypical of the lore around the myth.
In the cartoon, the leprechaun also marries a character called 'Gypsy', who is shown as a member of the traveller community.
