Here is a speculative casting list of the meta Clerks movie taking place within Kevin Smith’s much-anticipated sequel Clerks 3. It has been revealed that the story of Kevin Smith's Clerks 3 will take inspiration from Smith’s real-life health scare. After having a heart attack, Dante Hicks (Brian O'Halloran) decides to make a movie based on his time working at the Quick-Stop. Although Smith’s heart attack happened in 2018, 24 years after making the original film, he did work at the same convenience store in which Clerks was shot, so Dante’s story mirrors Smith’s in several ways. With the meta nature of this movie-within-a-movie, it is unlikely that the Clerks cast will be playing themselves in the film, at least initially. Although no casting information has been released in relation to this meta Clerks movie set within Clerks 3, it is possible to make some educated guesses on who's playing who by examining Smith’s body of work.
Kevin Smith has now been making films for nearly 30 years, directing 15 films and numerous television shows in that time. Perhaps the most standout of Smith’s works are those that comprise the View Askewniverse, a film saga that began with Smith’s very first movie, Clerks. Since then, there have been seven films added to the series (Clerks 3 being the eighth), as well as comic books, short films, and animated features.
Smith has routinely worked with the same handful of actors throughout his career, even in projects outside of the Askewniverse, consistently casting his friends and family wherever possible. Although many of those actors already have a place in Smith’s cinematic universe, making them less than ideal casting choices for Dante’s meta film, there are still a few of Smith’s go-to actors who would fit well into the Clerks roles.
Dante Hicks (Brandon Routh)
As the film’s lead and the mirror image of its director, Dante’s is perhaps the most difficult Clerks 3 character to cast. Routh is substantially older than Brian O’Halloran was when the real Clerks was shot (Routh being 42 compared to the then 25-year-old O’Halloran), but he is certainly capable of passing as a younger version of himself. He has worked with Smith previously in Zack and Miri Make A Porno, playing the straight man against a ridiculous Justin Long. Although Dante definitely has his quirks, he is effectively Clerks’ straight man, so Routh seems like a good fit for the character. Routh also frequently portrays comic book characters in film and television, from Superman Returns to DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, and with Smith’s propensity to reference these kinds of projects, including Routh in a way that allows Smith to mention Routh's comic book-inspired career -- something that wasn’t as plausible in Zack and Miri Make a Porno -- would be all too exciting an opportunity.
Randal Graves (Adam Brody)
Brody has been included in several of Smith’s films, including Yoga Hosers and Cop Out. He even appeared as “Clerk” in Smith’s most recent film, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, which almost seems to cement his casting. Brody’s character in both Yoga Hosers and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot exhibits a similar sense of chaotic slacking as Randall, and though he is also substantially older than Jeff Anderson was in 1994 (Brody also being 42 compared to the then 24-year-old Anderson), he also tends to portray younger characters. Brody’s demeanor and presence in Smith’s films to date make him an excellent casting prospect.
Jay and Silent Bob (Justin Long and Haley Joel Osment)
Although they are not the protagonists of the original film, the casting choices for Jay and Silent Bob are perhaps the most important. They are more or less Clerks’ comedic relief, and they have carried the Askewniverse on their shoulders since its inception. No doubt, finding someone who can elevate these already larger-than-life characters (Jay exceptionally so) is paramount to the film’s success. Long has appeared in several of Smith’s projects, including portraying an over-the-top adult film star in Zack and Miri Make A Porno and a walrus man in Smith’s absurdist horror film Tusk. Long has proven himself to be a more than capable comedic performer, making him perhaps the best-equipped actor to rival the outlandish performances of Jason Mewes. Osment appeared alongside Long in Tusk as his friend and business partner, and with their respective builds and established relationship, they seem like the ideal casting choices for Jay and Silent Bob.
Veronica Loughran (Lilly Rose-Depp)
Veronica Loughran had among the smaller roles in the film, but her character still managed to be an integral part of some of Clerks’ most memorable scenes. Lily Rose-Depp (daughter of Johnny Depp) appears in both Tusk and Yoga Hosers as Colleen Collette, a clerk at a Canadian convenience store. While she is well established in Smith’s films, her character has not yet found her way into the Askewniverse, so she has the advantage of both name and character recognition without the risk of causing continuity errors. Although Marilyn Ghigliotti (the actress that originally portrayed Veronica) was 33 during the filming of Clerks and Rose-Depp is currently only 22, Ghigliotti is nearly ten years older than the rest of the principal cast, so Rose-Depp’s age is arguably more appropriate for the role. Her appearances in both Yoga Hosers and the walrus man movie Tusk also prompted appearances from her father, so her casting may even lead to another installment in the story of Guy Lapointe.
Caitlin Bree (Harley Quinn Smith)
Harley Quinn Smith (daughter of Kevin Smith) has appeared in most of her father’s movies, from starring in Yoga Hosers to appearing as an infant Silent Bob in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. So it is safe to assume that she will be included in Clerks 3 in some capacity. Lisa Spoonauer, the actress that originally portrayed Caitlin, unfortunately passed away in 2017, so this role is likely very important to Smith and the Clerks cast. Harley Quinn is the correct age for the role (Smith being 22, the same age as Spoonauer during filming), and her personal attachment to both the Askewniverse and the people within it make her an ideal casting choice. The opportunity for Kevin Smith to cast his daughter in the movie (meta remake) that started his career and built friendships that have lasted almost 30 years while at the same time paying homage to a fallen friend is so sincerely heartwarming that it is hard to believe he will pass it up.