Kevin Smith to Release Clerks 3 as a Book First?
Back in December, Kevin Smith announced tentative plans to write and direct Clerks 3, a project that he had been hinting at for years but never committed to make. This led many to wonder if he was actually going to follow through with his plans to retire as a director or if he was just using it as another way to attract attention and voice his disapproval of the current state of the movie industry. Now this week he has indicated that he may take Clerks 3 outside of the movie industry altogether. During a recent panel discussion on What’s Trending, he explained that he now wants to release Clerks 3 as a book, leaving open the possibility of adapting it for the screen at a later date. What’s more, he claims that the book will be released online one chapter at a time, taking fan feedback into consideration along the way. Here’s what he had to say:
“I get to go inside the characters’ heads, tell Year One origin stories where the first chapter is Dante and Randall meeting in kindergarten, all the stuff I can’t do in a movie… That’s what I want to do, because I’m a stoner. I want to investigate the inner life of every character, and I can’t do that in 90 minutes with a film.”
You have to wonder if he’s just compromising and releasing it this way because Jeff Anderson is still refusing to return for a third Clerks film. In between his endless references to smoking weed, he also explained that he was considering doing Clerks 3 as a Broadway play as well, but he thinks he can be more creative with it this way. He also continued to proclaim himself a new media messiah by saying that he’s been interacting with his audience for 20 years now.
In all seriousness, I am a little curious to see what a Kevin Smith “novel” would look like. He has already written a handful of comics involving these characters and he has had a couple of books on the New York Times bestsellers list, but I have a hard time believing that he could write something that didn’t come across as juvenile. Still, I’d love to be proven wrong. It’s interesting that Quentin Tarantino has also recently expressed interest in writing novels… I wonder if that had any influence on Smith’s decision. Either way, would you be interested in reading Clerks 3 as a novel? Is the audience participation thing a good idea or will it just end up being a case of design by committee?
Comments (15)
No one wants to read this book.
Posted by Colin on February 20th, 2013Agreed, this is a stupid idea.
Posted by Steve on February 20th, 2013Maybe he should reboot the whole thing, and re-cast it with “name” actors this time. Honestly, I think that’s the only way he could release another Clerks and generate any real interest.
Posted by Brendan on February 20th, 2013I think that “Clerks 3″ will ultimately take the form of a coloring book, or perhaps a collection of haikus. A real book? Maybe if it’s printed on rolling papers..
Posted by PlanBFromOuterSpace on February 20th, 2013Another reason I’m tired to death of Kevin Smith…
Posted by James on February 20th, 2013Well golly gee willikers, aren’t y’all just a collection of negative nabobs of negativism!
Yessiree, I don’t know about you but I just love wasting away hours of my day bitching and moaning about trivial stuff on movie blogs!!!! I can’t possibly think of a more constructive use of my time!!!! Yep, my worthless life just isn’t complete until I’ve added my two & 1/2 cents about each and every story, rumor, or debate discussed online!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Jesus' Helper on February 20th, 2013grrr kevin smith is doing something im mad
Posted by Jonny Ashley on February 21st, 2013i agree with judas there
Posted by MrHorse on February 21st, 2013It’s kind of sad hearing a guy in his 40′s talking about smoking weed so much.
Posted by Drew on February 21st, 2013Gross.
Posted by Mrespony on February 21st, 2013If Smith is going to cry wolf so often and so publicly (how’s that hockey saga going again?), it’s only fair that people call him out on his bullshit so often and so publicly.
Posted by PlanBFromOuterSpace on February 21st, 2013Jesus’ Helper is actually Kevin Smith doing quality control.
Posted by Steve on February 21st, 2013^ all the more a hero among men.
“quality control” lol, i kinda get that. that’s why i like soderberg still
Posted by MrHorse on February 21st, 2013I was vaguely interested in the movie, no interest in a book. My 16 year old self would be shocked if he knew how disinterested I am in Kevin Smith now.
Posted by Jack on February 22nd, 2013I may be the only one here but I’m in….
Posted by John on March 3rd, 2013Leave a Reply