Are you ready for another Will Smith music video extolling the virtues of being an undercover agent working to protect the planet from forces outside the solar system? It looks like Sony pictures is moving ahead with a third installment of the popular Men in Black franchise with Barry Sonnenfeld returning to direct the new movie. The Hollywood Reporter has pegged Etan Cohen, of Tropic Thunder fame, to write the picture, but as of this writing, no deals have been finalized.
The addition of Cohen, who is said to be deep into his draft, signifies the studio’s intention to continue the franchise’s top-tier status. The CAA-repped writer is a hot commodity, penning the sequel to “Madagascar†and the Will Ferrell-toplined Sherlock Holmes project, thje latter also for Sony, as well as “Thunder.â€
So where is Will Smith in all of this? The MIB is MIA as there has been no commitment from the box office star. Without Smith, the project might find itself DOA, PDQ.