Kevin Smith is a divisive personality. On one hand, he's easily one of the most passionate people in the film industry. On the other hand, the director can be almost belligerent, and has been involved in a number of controversial incidents throughout the years. Regardless of people's opinions on how the director handles his affairs, Smith has always been an advocate for his art.
That being said, his work isn't 100% worthy of praise: Clerks is still an incredible comedy, while so many others failed to age with the times. It's the go-to example for the successes of independent filmmaking: Smith reportedly maxed out three credit cards during filming, was only able to film the store at night and was forced to work the register during the day. The hard work paid off, and the movie is absolutely hilarious even to this day. Clerks II, despite being made more than a decade later, somehow managed to find the same spirit. Both films are fantastic, and some would argue that they are the best examples of the 'working man' comedy out there.
It's almost been another ten years since Clerks II, and it turns out Kevin Smith has something in store for the 20th anniversary of the first film. As it stands, Smith has acquired the financing needed to finally make Clerks III.
On Smith's 'Hollywood Babble-On' podcast, the director stated that his newest film, Tusk, was "the absolute bridge to Clerks III. Because of Tusk, I got my financing for Clerks III."
Tusk, Smith's latest film, is not doing well at the box office. The film is floundering horribly, and failed to even make $1 million during its opening weekend. Smith isn't deterred at all, citing talks with financial executives.
Note: Kevin Smith curses quite a bit. The following quote contains obscenities.
"A year and change ago, I was trying to fucking desperately get Clerks III made for the 20th anniversary, and that desperation - I must have reeked of it because I couldn't fucking find money and shit," Smith said. "But it was Tusk, people going, 'Holy fuck, what else do you have?' and I was like Clerks III and they're like 'Done.' So, everybody that's like, 'He failed, he failed,' I'm like 'Thank you, I failed into doing Clerks III."
Smith has been anything but quiet about making Clerks III. Following the release of the second film, Smith talked about making a third on the DVD commentary track, and thought about making the film during his 40's or 50's. In July 2013, star Jason Mewes told IGN that Smith had Clerks III finished and packaged, and was waiting on word back from financiers. Since then, Smith produced Tusk, and it seems that the horror-comedy was his ticket to Clerks III.
With confirmation that Smith has finished the script for Clerks III and now has the money necessary to begin shooting, it's only a matter of time before audiences are finally reunited with Dante and Randall after nearly a decade.
