It looks likeWill Smith’sAgent J(ay) may have accidentally looked into the Neuralyzer without his protective Ray-Bans because the actor is not expected to be involved with Sony’sMen in Blackreboot. Though many of you out there may currently be griping that Hollywood is out of new ideas, etc, etc, the good news with this reboot is that it seems like the studio is at least going back to the franchise’s most basic beginnings. In other words, there shouldn’t be any continuity problems to worry about, or egos, or demands for a bigger paycheck.
News of the reboot comes courtesy ofTHR, who caught up with veteran producersWalter ParkesandLaurie MacDonaldduring TIFF 2015. Not only did they reveal that Sony has aMen in Blackreboot in the works, but that it would be a trilogy. The duo previously shepherded each film in the existing trilogy, as well as the animated series adaptation, so you may rest assured that they know what they’re talking about. Here’s the relevant section of the interview:
You producedMen in Black. Has there been talk of reviving that franchise with the new Sony regime?
PARKESWe’re in the middle of it. It’s very active.
Is Will Smith going to be part of it?
PARKESMost likely no.
MACDONALDIt will be reinvented as a trilogy.
At this point it’s unclear whether this new trilogy will include therumored crossover event with Sony’s21 Jump Streetfranchise, or if the three new films will stand apart from the spin-off feature. Can we expect to seeChanning TatumandJonah Hillengage in some extraterrestrial hijinks as part of their next action comedy? No idea, but that’d certainly be a fun extension of their existing movie universe, and one that will allow audiences to segue into a newMen in Blacktrilogy. The state of studio films is all about universe-building these days, so just because21 Jump StreetandMen in Blackdon’t need to exist within the same world doesn’t mean Sony won’t try to make that happen.
