Kevin Smith became an indie movie legend in the '90s after entering the moviemaking world with his first movie Clerks. His style, a mix of self-referential humor, pop-culture references, and the raunchiest humor hit the spot with audiences, launching a career that not only spans movies but comic books, public speaking, and podcasts.
Because of his unique and honest style, Smith has gathered a considerable following who shared his passion for comics and geek culture. His movies are a reflection of this, existing in a shared universe like the comics from Marvel or DC, called The View Askewniverse. Below fans can find some facts about this beloved world they may not know.
Where The Name Comes From
This could be an obvious one; however, while many people know that most Kevin Smith movies shared a universe, they may not know it has an actual name. The "View Askewniverse" comes directly from Smith's production company that was created for filming his Clerks.
View Askew Productions has been involved in the majority of projects Smith has worked on. Under the production brand, he has released movies like Mallrats, Dogma, and Jay And Silent Bob Reboot.
Kevin Smith's Favorite Movie Of His Own Universe
The directorial work of Kevin Smith has been always seeped in love. For his first movie, the New Jerseyite filmmaker has told in several public speaking events how he maxed out several credit cards as an all-or-nothing stunt, betting everything he had in the project. Obviously it paid off for him.
And this has been the case for nearly all of Smith's films. But there's one, in particular, that is actually the director's favorite of the universe. Smith responded to a fan in twitter declaring his love for the sequel of his first film, Clerks II. "Clerks II is my favorite of the Askewniverse movies (with #JayAndSilentBobReboot gaining fast)," expressed the director.
There Are Not Only Films In The Universe
The View Askewniverse is composed of eight movies: Clerks (1994), Mallrats (1995), Chasing Amy (1997), Dogma (1999), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), Clerks II (2006), and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019).
But things do not end there. Smith's universe doesn't limit itself to feature films since it has jumped to other media forms as well. Elusive for casual fans, and collected by completionists, the Askewniverse is present in projects of animation, short movies, and even comics.
The Canceled Projects
Between producing podcasting and filming other movies outside the Askewniverse, Kevin Smith has put some projects in the oven and, unfortunately, let them burn. Many of these canceled projects never saw the light of day because other projects were prioritized or Smith was working on films outside the universe.
Some movies that were almost made were a sequel to Clerks called Busing that took place at a restaurant; Name, a sort-of sequel to Chasing Amy that explored pornography and whose some ideas would be used in Zack and Miri make a porno; and Dogma II, which Smith didn't pursue over concerns for his family.
Why All The Films Take Place In New Jersey
All the universe's movies take place in the towns of Leonardo, Highlands, and Red Bank, all located in Monmouth County, central New Jersey. The only exceptions are Chasing Amy, which takes place partly in New York, and Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, which are partial road trips.
Kevin Smith has expressed pride in being from New Jersey, often being involved in the city's communities. After studying filmmaking in Canada, he came back to the state to film Clerks, turning the store where the story takes place into a cultural landmark.
Bluntman And Chronic
During some of the universe movies, the Bluntman And Chronic comic is referenced. Chasing Amy, for example, features the two creators of the comic as the protagonists, who based the titular characters of the publication on the famous Jay and Silent Bob.
This comic actually exists and Kevin has written several issues, depicting Jay and Bob winning the lottery and becoming superheroes. It is full of crass humor, typical of Smith's work.
Jay & Silent Bob Appeared On The Flash
One thing that is almost invariable in all Askewniverse movies is the presence of the hilarious duo of Jay and Silent Bob, portrayed by Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith himself. But these misfits have not only appeared in Smith's work, as they even made a surprising cameo in the CW's series The Flash.
In the episode "Null and Annoyed," Smith and Mewes portray two security guards surprised by the antics of the titular superhero. Both actors have expressed numerous times their admiration for The Flash, calling themselves fans.
The Most Recurring Actors
Throughout the View Askewniverse, several actors have made repeating appearances portraying different characters, even in the same movie. Some of these actors, like Ben Affleck and Jason Lee, became very popular after appearing in Smith's movies; others, like his daughter, Harley Quinn Smith, are becoming regulars.
Probably the most employed actor in the movies is Smith's friend, Jason Mewes, famous for portraying Jay. Actors Scott Mosier and Walt Flanagan have been also part of all films in the universe.
Get The Chronology Right
Despite the release date for each film, the movies follow a specific chronology. Besides sharing the same universe, the stories are interconnected by order of events, starting with Mallrats, which actually takes place before Clerks. In the chronology, there are also the comics and animated series to take into account.
The precise order of films and other media allows fans to get the whole picture of the universe and is a great way to get into some other of Smith's projects by still relating them to the movies.
The Projects To Come
The last movie in the View Askewniverse was 2019's Jay and Silent Bob Reboot. This was the first movie in the series since 2006's Clerks II. Some fans may think Smith was done with the universe, but nothing could be farther from the truth. In actuality, Smith is working on several projects.
Specifically on two sequels: Clerks III and Twilight of the Mallrats. These movies will use a new model of distribution Smith invented that consists of touring with the movie across the country and making public appearances after their projection.