It looks like the “Men in Black” franchise will be making its way back to the big screen without its biggest star, Will Smith. Writers Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald recently spoke to The Hollywood Reporter and confirmed that there are active talks taking place in an attempt to “reinvent” the franchise.
“You produced Men in Black. Has there been talk of reviving that franchise with the new Sony regime?
PARKES: We’re in the middle of it. It’s very active.
Is Will Smith going to be part of it?
PARKES: Most likely no.
MACDONALD: It will be reinvented as a trilogy.”
It will be interesting to see what direction the series will take with the new installments. Back when the Sony leak was all the rage, it was revealed that the idea of a Men in Black/21 Jump Street crossover film was actually something that was being considered. Either way, Will Smith’s name is pretty much synonymous with the franchise’s legacy so if they’re going to start fresh, they’re going to need a recognizable name.
