One has to give it to filmmaker Kevin Smith, the man keeps himself busy these days. Announcing new film projects left and right, Smith decided to finally set the record straight on what his plans are for the next couple years. In the process, however, he hints at a possible sequel to his sophomore feature Mallrats.
The line-up comes from Smith himself, via Slashfilm, who tweeted his work plans on Thursday. In the text, Smith wrote the following: "We shoot CLERKS III in May. HIT SOMEBODY shoots September to Christmas. Then in Feb 2016, we do MOOSE JAWS. But after that? I smell a rat..."
Before his ominous end, none of this news was shocking. For fans of Smith's work, however, it's nice to have confirmation, finally, that Clerks III is Smith's next feature once he finishes up this year's Yoga Hosers. The latter is the second chapter in his True North Trilogy which started with last year's Tusk then continues with the aforementioned upcoming Moose Jaws.
The sequel hit a "roadblock" this July, the filmmaker said, when The Weinstein Company decided not to greenlight the film. It appears something has been worked out, though. He did promise it would get made.
It's also great to hear Smith's will, indeed, make his long-gestured Hit Somebody. A mini-series last one heard, the hockey story remained a passion project for Smith for years, and at one point was to be the man's last movie.
Naturally, though, it's the potential Mallrats 2 news that has people talking, though. While this writer always found Mallrats to be one of Smith's more mediocre achievements, it did earn a cult following during its home video release after it bombed at the box office. Many think it's not only one of his best works but his best feature to date, and naturally they're excited to hear the filmmaker ready to go back to that well once again. This is all speculation still, however, and it doesn't confirm anything. It does make things more interesting, though, as many thought Clerks III was the last hurrah for old Smith.
What's also noteworthy about this line-up is how it makes no mention of Holidays, a horror anthology Smith was attached to just last month as a segment director. It also doesn't bring up Anti-Claus, his one-proposed Christmas horror film, or Helena Handbag. One has to guess those last two are either no longer happening or were pushed much farther done Smith's table.
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