A threequel to Clerks was facing production crisis back in 2018 when the director Kevin Smith was not able to bring the complete cast together. It was later revealed that approximately two months before production would start, actor Jeff Anderson was the one who dropped out from the movie. The actor played Randal Graves in the first two Clerks movies and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
With Anderson quitting on the franchise, the movie was stuck in production hell for what it seemed like an eternity. Kevin Smith kept himself busy with movies like Tusk and Yoga Hosers and TV shows like Supergirl and The Goldbergs. However, the director finally decided to revisit the View Askewniverse later this year with Jay and Silent Bob Reboot. But that not all, Kevin has also promised that Clerks 3 is happening.
The filmmaker was at San Diego Comic-Con this year to promote his latest movie, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, when a fan predictably asked about Clerks 3. Kevin explained that though the script he originally wrote was something he was proud of, it wouldn’t be the one they’re going to adapt.
“When I wrote Clerks III, I wrote it during a weirder darker point in my life, and it’s kind of like the King Lear of our movies”, he said, “I love it, it’s one of my favorite scripts, but it’s dark. It’s bleak, and it’s not what Dante and Randal deserve. We’re never going to make that version of Clerks III, but I’m going to write a different Clerks III and we’re going to make that f****** film, I promise. And in a world where we got to bring Ben [Affleck] back, I’ll be able to bring Jeff [Anderson] back.”
Clerks helped Kevin Smith kick off a career in a big way. The 1994 black and white became an Indie hit after screening at Sundance. The sequel, Clerks II which was released in 1996 and also proved to be a success.
The fact that Kevin was able to reunite with Ben Affleck for Jay and Silent Bob Reboot has made fans hopefully about the threequel. However, whether or not the third installment will actually get off the ground remains to be seen. In the meantime, all we can do is to keep the View Askewniverse train going by watching Jay and Silent Bob Reboot- soon to hit theatres.
