TROPIC THUNDER Scribe Taking on MEN IN BLACK 3

With a $589 million worldwide take for the first film and a $441 million worldwide pull-in for the second, I am shocked beyond belief (and a little appreciative) that Sony never force-fed a third MEN IN BLACK film.  Granted, there were Saturday morning cartoons, video games, and amusement park rides to rake in some cash off the brand, but a third film, with or without Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones’ involvements, could have easily been thrown together years ago.

Well, those “years ago” have turned in to today, as Risky Biz Blog is reporting that TROPIC THUNDER screenwriter Etan Cohen is hard at work on a third film in the MEN IN BLACK franchise.  Sony officially announced the project back in April, but, since then, not much has moved on the project until now.

Though no deal has been set in stone, Risky Biz is also stating Barry Sonnenfeld, who helmed the first two films, is attached to the new film, though in what capacity they do not state.  When all is said and done, Sonnenfeld may just end up an executive producer, which, for all intents and purposes, is just an approval-giver for the new film.

This brings us to the big question surrounding this project.  Will Smith’s involvement in the MEN IN BLACK series is part and parcel for the success the first two films had.  Will he be back?  With a screenwriter such as Cohen, who has become a hot Hollywood commodity in the last, few years, on board, it does seem Sony isn’t looking to make this a fly-by-night operation.  To that, look for them to dish out all kinds of green to get Smith’s name back into the credit list.  Tommy Lee Jones, not so much, for a number of reasons.  His character could easily be written out, his involvement isn’t all that necessary for the success of the film, and, in recent years, it has appears Jones has gone on to more high-end projects, leaving the MEN IN BLACK and BATMAN FOREVER projects to the ’90s.

What do you think?  Is a MEN IN BLACK 3 right up your sci-fi geek alley?  Is there any chance Sony will able to lure Smith back to the project?  What do you think of Etan Cohen, whose screenplays include IDIOCRACY, TROPIC THUNDER, and MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA, working on the script for this film?  Let us know by commenting below.