Men in Black was one of the biggest movie franchises of the late ’90s/early 2000s, but it’s been dormant now for over five years — an eternity in the current franchise-obsessed movie landscape. And with Sony desperate for a successful franchise, it’s not wonder the studio is finally set to bring back Men in Black next year. But what will the new MIB look like?
That picture is starting to come into focus. We already knew the new film will star Thor: Ragnarok co-stars Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson as our new MIBs, and considering that the actors’ last outing together was an absolute blast that showed the potent chemistry they share, we’re pretty psyched to see them paired up again in this new environment.
The film will be directed by F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton; The Fate of the Furious) and will be a reboot/spinoff that takes place in the same world as the previous three Men in Black films, but on a more global scale. This presumably leaves the door open for future appearances from Agents J and K, but for now it will essentially exist as its own separate franchise. Here’s the synopsis for the film, from Bloody Disgusting:
The new ‘MEN IN BLACK’ spin-off film will see Tessa Thompson’s Em try to prove herself by joining the London MIB, [where she] will be paired with Chris Hemworth’s Agent H. The pair will become involved in a murder mystery that will lead [them] on a global journey.
The script was written by Iron Man scribes Matt Holloway and Art Marcum, and Steven Spielberg is executive producing. Everyone’s favorite Irish action star Liam Neeson has also boarded the project, and he’s set to play the head of the MIB’s London branch, according to The Hollywood Reporter. No official title has been unveiled as of yet, but a poster for the film was revealed at the recent Licensing Expo in Las Vegas. The poster has the logo “MIB,” but it’s not clear if that will be the name of the actual film. The poster also includes the release date for the reboot: June 14, 2019.
The first Men in Black was a ton of fun, while its two sequels were a mixed bag. Here’s hoping that this new reboot can capture the fun of the original while also adding something new, because if there’s one thing we can’t get enough of, it’s sci-fi movie franchises that are actually entertaining.
