Will Smith’s $1.6 Billion Sci-Fi Franchise Wasted Its Perfect Opportunity For Expansion

Will Smith rose to field workplace fame within the Nineteen Nineties with hits like Dangerous Boys and Independence Day, however one among his most profitable roles was in Males in Black. Smith, who performed Agent J, headlined the trilogy of movies that concluded in 2012. Nevertheless, the sequence moved on with out him, with Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson headlining 2019’s Males in Black: Worldwide.

Sony’s hopes of increasing the story past Smith’s star energy weren’t absolutely realized, with MIB: Worldwide receiving poor critiques and the sequence grossing a meager $253.9 million. The studio failed to provide a deliberate “Soar Road” crossover film, and has lately been creating a brand new “Males in Black” sequel that may see Smith reprise his function as Agent J.

This transfer represents an impossibility for the sequence to develop, which is shocking contemplating that 14 years in the past, Males in Black launched the right path for the sci-fi sequence to proceed.

Agent Okay prequel starring Josh Brolin ought to have occurred after Males in Black 3

A key relationship on the coronary heart of the primary three Males in Black movies is that between J and Agent Okay, performed by Tommy Lee Jones. nonethelessWhen it got here time to make Males in Black 3, the time journey story took form and the pavement was laid. The way in which the sequence introduces a youthful model of Jones’ character. Though there was a transfer to solid Mark Wahlberg within the function, the movie in the end solid Josh Brolin because the younger Agent Okay.

Casting one other actor to play the youthful model of Jones might have backfired, however Brolin completely nailed the efficiency. He is probably the greatest elements of Males in Black 3 as a result of he turns into interchangeable with the unique star. Brolin co-starred with Smith within the sequel, which completely captured each facet of Okay, and was largely well-received, incomes a series-record $654 million on the field workplace.

With this success, it is no surprise Sony wished to maintain making Males in Black films sooner or later. Shockingly, there was no discuss of a prequel film starring Josh Brolin as a “youthful” (middle-aged) Agent Okay. Males in Black 3 takes Okay’s story again to 1969, the place he spent almost 30 years on unexplored adventures as a member of the MIB earlier than assembly James within the unique movie.

In response to producers Walter Parks and Rory MacDonald, there are infinite prospects that may very well be explored right here with out counting on Smith’s involvement, one thing Sony was actively seeking to discover in 2015. It is simple to think about the complete Males in Black prequel trilogy starring Brolin that helped form the character and construct his world all the way in which to his first characteristic in 1997.

It is too late to do Josh Brolin’s ‘Agent Okay’ prequel now

Brolin can nonetheless comfortably play Okay, however we’re previous the purpose the place he may play the character in a prequel film. The actor was 44 years outdated in Males in Black 3 (he performed the 29-year-old Okay), however he’s now 58 years outdated. This predates Jones when he made the primary two Males in Black movies.

At this level, it will be utterly unbelievable at this level for Brolin to play Okay in a film set earlier than the unique movie. And that is a disgrace. This concept had plenty of potential, however Sony did not even actively take into account it and handed on the Males in Black sequence. Brolin deserved an opportunity to maneuver the sequence ahead after Males in Black 3.