It has been over 20 years since Kevin Smith made his directorial debut with Clerks back in 1994. And now, after many years of teasing and dropping hints of the third film, Kevin Smith has finally revealed a release date for the much anticipated sequel to 2006’s Clerks II. With the returning duo of Jay and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes) joining the cast of Rosario Dawson and Jeff Anderson, Clerks III will finally be the film that fans have been waiting for.
The original film Clerks, was Smith’s debut and has gone on to become a cult favourite. Shot entirely in black and white due to budgeting restraints, saving money and time on having to correct colour in post-production due to lighting issues. The film follows a couple of store clerks who worked in a convenience store, the store where Kevin Smith actually worked in at the time. The store only allowed them to film when the store was shut so Smith had to film throughout the night, grab a few hours sleep and then resume working during the day.
But Clerks III almost didn’t even happen, Smith tried so hard to get the film financed in time for the 20th anniversary but no company was picking it up. Most noticeably was the Weinstein Company declining the $6million asking price from Smith, it was only when his latest feature was panned that companies were interested in other projects of Smith’s. Tusk, a horror film about a podcaster who goes missing in the backwoods of Manitoba starring Justin Long received unfavourable reviews across the board. But luckily, this meant that the Clerks series will finally have the sequel to bring the trilogy to an end.
Smith has confirmed that filming will begin in Philadelphia in May 2015 with a release date of August 2016, coming exactly ten years since Clerks II was released back in 2006. As for the plot, it is still very much under wraps with no clue as to what it will focus on, or even exactly who will feature. Jeff Anderson, who played Randal in the first two films, mentions on Kevin Smith’s podcast that the script to Clerks III will be a different kind of film to the first two. Smith also goes on to claim that the third and final instalment, at 137 pages, will play like The Empire Strikes Back of the Clerks trilogy.
Clerks III will be released in August 2016 and a 20th anniversary vinyl edition of the original film’s soundtrack will be available soon.
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