Everything You Need to Know About the Unmade Men in Black Movies

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Since the release of the cherished 1997 edition, the Men in Black franchise has gained immense popularity within the science fiction genre for its unique combination of thrilling action and witty humor.

The series encompasses three films from the Men in Black franchise (Men in Black, Men in Black II, and Men in Black 3) are currently available for streaming on Peacock, featuring stars like Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. Additionally, a separate sequel titled Men in Black International, released in 2019 with Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, is also part of the series.

Besides the initial four movies, throughout the years, there have been several proposed Men in Black films that failed to materialize. Here’s a rundown of the untold stories behind the unproduced Men in Black sequels.

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Is Men in Black 4 in the works?

In essence, while a movie titled “Men in Black: International” from 2019 can be technically considered the fourth Men in Black film, when we use the term “Men in Black 4” in this context, we’re referring to a potential fourth installment featuring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, following on from “Men in Black 3” released in 2012. Unfortunately, despite plans for such a movie, it appears to have stalled during development and not yet been produced.

After the hit of “Men in Black 3”, the cast including Smith, Jones, and director Barry Sonnenfeld hinted at the possibility of a fourth movie. Doug Belgrad from Columbia Pictures mentioned to the Hollywood Reporter that summer that a fourth “MIB” film was being planned. The following year, it was reported by The Wrap that screenwriter Oren Uziel (known for “22 Jump Street”, “The Cloverfield Paradox”, and “Fast X”) was working on a script for “Men in Black 4”. However, no updates were shared about Uziel’s script, and more than a decade has passed without another “Men in Black” film featuring the original pair.

The top-secret plans for a Men in Black crossover with the Jump Street series

Towards the end of 2014, Sony Pictures experienced a significant data breach at the hands of a hacking group called Guardians of Peace. This breach led to the public release of a vast amount of internal information, including emails, salaries, and even copies of films and screenplays. The U.S. government determined that the Guardians of Peace were likely backed by North Korea’s government as a response to Sony for producing the film “The Interview,” a comedy starring James Franco and Seth Rogen as American journalists who are hired to interview, then assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (portrayed by Randall Park). However, the North Korean government denied any direct involvement, and some cybersecurity experts have proposed an alternative theory suggesting that the hack was an internal job carried out by dissatisfied employees, a theory also supported by Seth Rogen.

Regardless of who was responsible for the hack, the disclosed internal documents and emails made a significant amount of previously hidden information about a major movie studio’s operations accessible to the public. This included projects that were still in development, such as a potential collaboration between the Men in Black and Jump Street franchises, which had been under consideration following the success of 21 Jump Street and 22 Jump Street. One notable discovery from the hacked emails was Sony’s plan for a crossover between these two popular series.

As a diehard fan, I’d excitedly express that leaked correspondence from Sony Pictures boss Amy Pascal hinted at an electrifying new spin-off concept for “Jump Street.” Jonah Hill, our beloved “Jump Street” star, described it as fresh, cool, and impactful. This upcoming movie would veer away from the usual Smith and Jones characters, but may include them in a brief, special appearance. Instead, the storyline would revolve around Hill’s character and Channing Tatum’s, Schmidt and Janko, who find themselves intertwined with the enigmatic Men in Black agency as undercover cops.

2016 saw a surge of enthusiasm for the project as it was officially titled “MIB 23“, with James Bobin (known for his work on “The Muppets” and “Alice Through the Looking Glass“) set to direct. However, even with this announcement, Hill expressed skepticism in an interview with The Toronto Sun, stating “I doubt that movie will get made.

Following a long hiatus without any updates, it was confirmed by producer Walter Parkes in January 2019, as Men in Black: International was gearing up for its summer release, that the Jump Street crossover project was no longer being pursued.

Last year, during promotional activities for “Fly Me to the Moon”, Tatum expressed his thoughts once more about an unreleased movie. He described Rodney Rothman’s screenplay for a potential third “Jump Street” film as “the best script I’ve ever encountered for such a project.” According to him, the film didn’t materialize due to excessive red tape, and he expressed his desire to work on it with Jonah.

At first glance, the idea doesn’t seem utterly absurd. The Jump Street movies, similar to Men in Black films, are action comedies featuring a charming duo. The project was well-supported, with actors, writers, and directors all involved. However, the reason the project failed often remains hidden behind closed doors – a realm of complex negotiations that us fans typically don’t get to witness.

Will there be a Men in Black 5?

2019’s “Men in Black: International” underperformed for the series, garnering generally poor reviews and earning just $253 million globally on a production budget of around $100 million – the lowest gross for any “MIB” film to date. After its premiere, no sequel was confirmed, and speculation swirled about the potential future of the franchise.

Back in November 2019, the entertainment site “We Got This Covered” claimed they had word from unnamed sources that Sony was considering a fifth “Men in Black” movie. If it went ahead, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones would reprise their roles, with Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman as the international leads. Although there’s still chatter about this project, as of January 2025, no formal announcement has been made regarding a new “MIB” film.

It’s been six years since “Men in Black International” and thirteen years since “Men in Black 3.” We don’t know if there will be any more movies in the “MIB” franchise, but it’s possible that a thrilling new installment is on its way. Alternatively, we may need to treasure the films we currently have. Regardless, the “MIB” series has left an indelible impact as one of the most cherished sci-fi franchises.

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2025-01-27 22:32