Could Mallrats be next Kevin Smith movie to get a sequel? As it stands, we are days away from the theatrical release of clerks III, the new film that reunites the cast of the filmmaker’s very first film. It marks the latest installment of the cinematic universe, called the “View Askewniverse”, which launched with the first clerks in 1994.
Many longtime fans of Smith also have a great appreciation for Mallrats, the filmmaker’s second feature to hit theaters in 1995. The film brought back Smith and Jason Mewes as Silent Bob and Jay, and also marked the second of the duo’s many films. The film also stars Shannen Doherty, Jeremy London, Jason Lee and Claire Forlani, which also stars Ben Affleck, Ethan Suplee and Michael Rooker.
The film never got a direct sequel, although some of its characters have appeared elsewhere in the View Askewniverse. Smith has teased a Mallrats the sequel happened at several points, and in 2020, according to Smith, the project seemed to be gaining traction. Speak with Weekly entertainmentSmith said he planned to get the sequel made by dubbing the movie Twilight of the Mallratswith all the main characters from the original cast returning.
“It looks like we’re going there in 2021 now, which is very exciting for us,” Smith said at the time, revealing some ideas he had for the plot. “Set 25 years after the original, it features the entire cast, [and] also a new cast of characters. It’s about Brodie and his daughter and the death of the mall. The Brodie we met in Mallrats is only proven in life. The world came to his way of thinking. So based on that, Brodie never really needed to grow up and now, at this point in time, we’re at the point where he might really need to grow up.”
Will Twilight of the Mallrats ever happen?
Despite Smith’s optimism, Twilight of the Mallrats has yet to be given the green light and officially put into production. In a new interview with THRSmith provides an update on the sequel, stating that he still hopes to get it made. At this point, he thinks the potential success of clerks III can result in Twilight of the Mallrats to get the funding needed. From the THR interview:
“We hope with God that clerks III is the Kaopectate or the Pepto Bismol, if you will, that makes the Mallrats guts, and suddenly that shit starts flowing. I know the good people at Lionsgate and our producers, Liz [Destro] and Jordan [Monsanto], have had talks to try and make that happen. It’s a Universal project, so Universal owns Mallrats even if they often forget. When I bring it up I’m like, ‘I want to make’ Mallrats,’ and they always say, ‘Go ahead.’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, but you own it.’ And they say, ‘We do?’ Because the movie isn’t fast-paced or furious, it’s not really a movie they pay much attention to, but clerks III might make it a little easier… I’m still hopeful, but I don’t think you’ve seen the last of Brodie Bruce.”
clerks III will hit theaters September 13-18, 2022 via Fathom Events.