Kevin Smith is working on finishing the scripts for Clerks 3 and Mallrats 2. If there's one small benefit to the self-isolation most people are currently facing due to the coronavirus pandemic, it's the ability for creators to finish long-awaited works like these. There are numerous projects Smith has started over the years without being able to fully execute. There's even an entire Wikipedia page dedicated to his "unrealized projects." With potentially nowhere to go in the coming weeks and months, Smith will have little to do but put the finishing touches on these scripts.
Both Clerks and Mallrats have developed cult followings in the decades since their respective releases. The first Clerks film came out back in 1994 and served as Smith's directorial debut, as well as a landmark moment for independent filmmaking. It grossed $3.2 million, which is not much, but easily trumped the minuscule budget it was shot on. The movie spawned a sequel in 2006, Clerks 2. Mallrats is not as well-known, but holds the same level of acclaim in some circles. It came out in 1995 as Smith's second directorial work. Since then, sequels to these movies have been tossed around multiple times, with their fates becoming entangled with one another.
As the COVID-19 situation continues to develop, Smith is ready to get to work, posting about having time to finish the scripts to the respective next films in these franchises on his Facebook page. While he simply referred to the next Clerks movie as "Clerks 3," he referred to the next Mallrats movie with the title "Twilight of the Mallrats." See Smith's original Facebook post below:
The Mallrats 2 title was revealed about two and a half months ago, the first real update to a film that has been discussed for a number of years now. Not much is known about this sequel, although at one point it appeared it could become a television show. More information is known about Clerks 3, which has also been in some form of development for the better part of the last decade. For instance, the franchise will return to its original location of Quick Stop, which will be the primary setting for the movie. Additionally, the plot will take a cue from Smith's real-life heart attack, which almost killed him back in 2018.
The current coronavirus pandemic has created a new normal for much of the world, one in which many favorite movies and television shows have ceased production for safety reasons. Several high profile movies have also pushed their releases back several months or even a full year. Kevin Smith's pursuit to finish the scripts for the elusive Twilight of the Mallrats and Clerks 3 will provide a bright spot in a trying time for many people.
Source: Kevin Smith/Facebook