A couple of “Men In Black III” character one-sheet teaser posters have dropped, and they certainly get your attention, while also possibly causing a seizure if you scroll up and down the page too fast (that’s a serious warning).
Speaking of serious, we have concerns about whether or not this film is going to be any good. Doc Brown ran into Will Smith’s trailer during the beginning of principal photography to announce that early 2012 test screenings were disastrous due to a major time travel plot error made by screenwriter Etan Cohen, leading to Jeff Nathanson and David Koepp being brought into re-write the script — these are just three among a handful of people who have taken their pen to this one.
The first act of the movie (set in the present) was shot in the fall of 2010, then a break was taken—while the script was being worked out—and principal photography continued in March 2011, for a planned May 25th, 2012 release date (in 3D, of course). The budget was getting up to $200 million, which usually really means $300 million (which we secretly think means $700 million).
As Nicole LaPorte pointed out in her great 2010 book about DreamWorks, “The Men Who Would Be King,” studios will often set up deals with big talent (Will Smith) that they know will generate a few profits, out of an effort to keep up good relations with the actor or director in question (the example she uses in the book is Cruise and Spielberg’s backend deals on “Minority Report”).
With “Men in Black II” having grossed $440 million worldwide, the third entry in the series will have to do quite well to make a profit. Here’s hoping Smith and Tommy Lee Jones won’t have to wipe the memories of moviegoers after this thing comes out next summer. [via Collider]
