Though the news of a potential Men in Black revival is still in the very early stages, you’ll forgive fans of the sci-fi comedy series for getting their hopes sky-high for Will Smith to return as Agent J. That’s because the only thing we know about the in-development new Men in Black movie is that it’s being written by Chris Bremner, who co-wrote 2020’s Bad Boys for Life and 2024’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die. And who starred in those movies? Yep. You already know.
Deadline got the scoop on the news, which would mark the fifth installment in the Men in Black series. So far the franchise has included the 1997 original, adapted from the comic series of the same name and featuring an unlikely but endearing team-up between Smith and Tommy Lee Jones—buddy cops, except with aliens, wacky gadgets, and a fun conspiracy-theory angle propelling all the intrigue and action.
The sequel, released in 2002, continued the story and saw the pair saving the world yet again. A trilogy-capper that added time travel (as well as Josh Brolin as a younger version of Jones’ Agent K) came in 2012. And then there was the 2019 spin-off Men in Black: International, which starred Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson and somehow still came up wanting.
So perhaps the moment is right for Men in Black to return yet again, especially if Smith is along for the ride. According to the trade, “Plot details are unknown, but insiders tell Deadline that the idea is once Bremner has finished the script, original series star Will Smith would be one of the first to receive it in hopes he would reprise the role of Agent J. It is unknown how the character would be featured—whether it’s a starring role or more of a supporting/passing-of-the-torch type role we have seen in films like Creed—but the plan is to have the character back in the first draft.”
However, “Sources stress that Smith is not attached to the project and will not commit to anything until he has read a script.”
It sounds like Agent J isn’t going to just say “yes” for nostalgia reasons or to score a big paycheck, so that’s reassuring at least. But considering how fun the latter-day Bad Boys movies have been, we’ll be watching the skies for Men in Black‘s comeback. Somebody get Frank the Pug on the line next!
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Read the full article here
