Leprechaun

The Leprechaun Pot of Gore Collection DVD box set, containing the first five films, that was released on September 11, 2001 ^[1]

Leprechaun is an American comedy horror franchise consisting of six films and a comic book series. Beginning with 1993's Leprechaun the series centers around a malevolent and murderous leprechaun, who, when his gold is taken from him, resorts to any means necessary to reclaim it.

Films

Overview

In the original Leprechaun (1993), Daniel O'Grady (Shay Duffin) captures the Leprechaun (Warwick Davis) while in Ireland, takes his gold and smuggles it back to the United States, unaware the Leprechaun has followed him. Confronting O'Grady and demanding his gold the Leprechaun is injured by O'Grady and sealed in a crate with a four-leaf clover, though before O'Grady can kill the creature he suffers a stroke. Ten years later the Leprechaun is accidentally released by Tory Redding (Jennifer Aniston) and her friends and goes on a killing spree in search of his gold, which Alex Murphy (Robert Gorman) and Ozzie (Mark Holton) had discovered. After the Leprechaun reclaims the bulk of his gold he is defeated when Alex shoots a four-leaf clover down his throat with a slingshot and Alex's brother Nathan (Ken Olandt) blows up the well the Leprechaun falls into.^[2] In Leprechaun 2 (1994) the Leprechaun, one-thousand years after his attempt to claim a bride is foiled, seeks out a new bride in modern day Los Angeles. Claiming Bridget (Shevonne Durkin), the descendent of his original choice of a wife, the Leprechaun holds her captive in his lair and terrorizes her bofriend Cody Ingalls (Charlie Heath), who had taken one of his gold coins. In the end Cody saves Bridget and defeats the Leprechaun by impaling him with a spike made of wrought iron, one of the few substances that can harm a Leprechaun.^[3]

Leprechaun 3 (1995) begins with the Leprechaun, having been changed into a statue by a magical medallion, being sold to a Las Vegas pawn shop. Assuming his original form when the clerk removes the medallion the Leprechaun kills the man and goes on a rampage through Las Vegas in search of one of his wish granting coins, which is passed from hand to hand. The Leprechaun is ultimately defeated by Scott McCoy (John Gatins) and Tammy Larsen (Lee Armstrong), who blast his gold with a flamethrower, causing it to vanish and the Leprechaun to burst into flames.^[4] Taking place in the future, Leprechaun 4: In Space (1997) has the Leprechaun abduct and begin courting alien princess Zarina (Rebekah Carlton), seducing her with promises of wealth. After being blown up by a group of soldiers who rescue Zarina, the Leprechaun is reborn on the soldier's ship via exploding out of the groin of one of the grunts. He then goes off in search of his stolen bride and gold, killing all those who get in his way. After being turned into a giant via an enlargement ray, the Leprechaun is ejected into space by Doctor Tina Reeves (Jessica Collins), Sergeant Books Malloy (Brent Jasmer) and Sticks (Miguel A. Núñez, Jr.) ^[5]

Set in Compton, California, Leprechaun: In the Hood (2000) has the Leprechaun being turned to stone once more, this time by pimp Mack Daddy O'Nassas (Ice-T), who uses the Leprechaun's mind-controlling magic flute to become a successful music producer. Years later, the Leprechaun is unknowingly changed back to flesh and blood by a trio of wannabe rappers led by Postmaster P. (Anthony Montgomery) who rob Mack Daddy, taking the Leprechaun's gold and the flute from him with the intent of using the objects to become successful. Hunted by both Mack Daddy and the Leprechaun, Postmaster P., after his friends and Mack Daddy are killed, is brainwashed into becoming a servant of the Leprechaun.^[6] Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood (2003) begins with the Leprechaun stalking Father Jacob (Willie C. Carpenter) trying to get his gold back, only to be dragged into the ground by demonic hands when the priest uses four-leaf clover laced holy water against him before dying from a heart attack. One year later the Leprechaun's gold is discovered by Emily (Tangi Miller) and her friends, who use the gold to fulfill they're wildest fantasies, unintentionally releasing the Leprechaun, who goes after Emily and the others to get his gold back, killing everyone who gets in his way. On the rooftop of the abandoned community centre Father Jacob had been building using the Leprechaun's gold Emily and her boyfriend Rory Jackson (Laz Alonso) defeat the Leprechaun by knocking him and his gold off the roof and into a pool of wet cement below, where the Leprechaun sinks and becomes trapped.^[7]

Crew

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Literature

Prior to the release of the original Leprechaun Trimark Pictures released an eight-page comic book prequel to the film. The story presented in the book is contradictory to the events of the film in several regards, such as depicting Daniel O'Grady as a lowly farmer and inhabitant of Ireland (instead of America) who obtains the Leprechaun's gold not by capturing the creature (as was stated in the film) but by following a rainbow.^[8]

In 2008 publishing company Bluewater Productions announced that it will release a Leprechaun comic book series, which began in May 2009. Written by Zach Hunchar and illustatred by Kris Carter the first arc of the series follows the Leprechaun (who is revealed to be named Lubdan and is also the king and last of his species) as he battles rival race the Clurichaun and travels the world in search of his gold, which was stolen and auctioned off online, with the reluctant help of the geeky Ethan Thomas and his friends. Micheal Kingston is slated to write the second arc of the series.^[9][10]

Bluewater Productions also plans to release a four-issue comic book crossover between the Leprechaun and Warlock series, written by Nick Lyons, in late 2009.^[11]

References