So remember that crossover Sony planned between Men in Black and 21 Jump Street? Apparently, neither does Sony. It would be easy to say that might be for the better. However, in its place, it looks like Sony is gearing up to instead launch a Men in Black spin-off.
On its face, a spin-off of Men in Black could be a good thing. The pitch for the movie is to make it a more global story. Instead of being centered around agents J and K, the movie would have new leads. It would likely be a globe-trotting adventure that introduces audiences to the wider world of the franchise. After all, an organization like that has to operate in more than just New York.
A spin-off could expand the horizons of the series. But more than that, it could bring things back to form. Men in Black was obviously an instant classic. However, its sequels were… less than well received. MiB 2 was critically panned, and MiB 3 got a lukewarm reception, at best. It’s safe to say Sony might just wish they had a memory eraser.
It sounds significantly better than a crossover with 21 Jump Street, of all things. Especially assuming the crossover was going to take place in the same universe as the two existing movies in that franchise. The connection just seems odd. That being said, MiB has always specialized in tales of the strange, so perhaps that’s what makes the pairing an appealing idea to Sony. Yet by that logic, MiB could crossover with virtually anything, and yield the same result. And if the end credits of 22 Jump Street are any indication, so can that franchise.
Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones aren’t expected to return for whatever comes next in the Men in Black franchise. But with or without them, Sony is moving forward with a Men in Black spin-ff, helmed by Phil Lorde and Chris Miller. It’s due to release in 2019.