Editing Gremlins (section)

=== Casting ===
[[File:Zach Galligan at the Chiller Theatre Expo in NJ, October 26, 2013.jpg|upright|thumb|[[Zach Galligan]] was a relatively unknown actor when cast as the lead character Billy.]]
[[Phoebe Cates]] was cast as Kate, Billy's girlfriend, despite concerns that she was known for playing more risqué parts, such as Linda Barrett in ''[[Fast Times at Ridgemont High]]'' (1982). Spielberg urged the casting of the relatively unknown [[Zach Galligan]] as Billy because he saw chemistry between Galligan and Cates during auditions. Galligan later compared himself to Billy, saying he was a "geeky kid", and that being in the film "was really kind of a dream" given "what I get to do, what my character gets to do, blow up movie theatres", adding that he "got to work with great people".<ref name="Galligan">{{cite AV media |people=[[Zach Galligan|Galligan, Zach]], [[Joe Dante|Dante, Joe]] |date=2002 |title=Steven Spielberg presents ''Gremlins'' Special edition audio commentary |medium=DVD |publisher=Warner Home Video}}</ref>  Spielberg commented when Galligan was testing with Cates that "he's in love with her already" and that was how Galligan won the part.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Watkins|first1=Jack|title=How we made Gremlins|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/dec/04/how-we-made-gremlins-steven-spielberg-joe-dante-zach-galligan|access-date=4 December 2017|work=The Guardian|date=4 December 2017|archive-date=December 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204232250/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/dec/04/how-we-made-gremlins-steven-spielberg-joe-dante-zach-galligan|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Tom Hanks]],<ref name="theringer.com">{{Cite web |last=Siegel |first=Alan |date=2024-06-06 |title=Creature Feature: The Oral History of 'Gremlins' |url=https://www.theringer.com/movies/2024/6/6/24171434/gremlins-movie-oral-history-gizmo |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=The Ringer |language=en}}</ref> [[Kevin Bacon]], [[Ralph Macchio]], [[Emilio Estevez]], [[Rob Lowe]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kilday |first=Gregg |date=1984-06-07 |title=Zach Galligan: Gizmo's Best Friend |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1984/06/08/zach-galligan-gizmos-best-friend/f1209b9a-99ad-4453-b6d8-262fa7d69cea/ |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> and [[Judd Nelson]] also auditioned.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/commentary-gremlins-joe-dante-2f4cc8995462/ | title=40 Things We Learned from Joe Dante's 'Gremlins' Commentary | last=Hunter |first=Rob |date=December 8, 2016 |website=[[Film School Rejects]]}}</ref>

In contrast to Galligan, many of the supporting actors and actresses were better known. Veteran actor [[Glynn Turman]] portrayed the high school science teacher whose study of a newborn ''mogwai'' leads to his death after it forms a cocoon and emerges as a vicious gremlin. [[Dick Miller]], who was a regular in Dante's films, was another experienced actor on the set, playing a [[World War II]] veteran who first refers to the creatures as gremlins. Rand was played by [[Hoyt Axton]], who was always the filmmakers' preferred choice for the role even though it was widely contested by other actors.<ref name="DVD" /> Axton's experience included acting as the father in ''[[The Black Stallion (film)|The Black Stallion]]'' (1979), and he was also a country music singer-songwriter. After an introductory scene to ''Gremlins'' was cut, Axton's voice earned him the added role of the narrator to establish some context. Mr. Wing was played by [[Keye Luke]], a renowned film actor, whose film career spanned half a century. Although in reality he was around 80 at the time of filming, and his character was very elderly, Luke's youthful appearance had to be covered by make-up.<ref name="DVD" />

[[Corey Feldman]], who up to that time had primarily been in commercials, played Pete Fountaine, establishing his early credentials as a child actor; he previously met with Spielberg when he auditioned for ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]''. [[Polly Holliday]], an actress best known for her role in ''[[Alice (American TV series)|Alice]]'', played Mrs. Deagle. Dante considered the casting fortunate, as she was well-known, and he considered her to be talented. Two other well-known actors, ''Fast Times''{{'}} [[Judge Reinhold]] and character actor [[Edward Andrews]], received roles that were significantly reduced after the film was edited; they played Billy's superiors at the bank.<ref name="DVD" /><ref name="theringer.com"/> Tom Hanks also read for Gerald.<ref name="theringer.com"/>