It is hard to know whether to file this under “good news” or “slightly troubling news”. A bit of both in the end, I suppose. Men In Black III, which sees Will Smith’s Agent J travel back to 1969 to hook up with a younger Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones, then Josh Brolin) was already making many a little nervous by taking a break from shooting from before Christmas until later this month and now news reaches us that David Koepp has signed on for a few weeks work on the script, presumably in readiness for whatever scenes are not yet in the can.
Of course there are plenty of films that have succeeded artistically and commercially while taking an “on the hoof” approach to the script, but likewise there are plenty who have in the end floundered for that very reason and it is rarely a situation that bodes well. What is at least encouraging is that Sony have recognised the issue and brought on board someone of such proven ability. Koepp has Jurassic Park, Carlito’s Way, Mission: Impossible, Panic Room, Spider-man and War of the Worlds on his resumé and so Sony’s faith in him at least appears relatively well-placed.
Needless to say we don’t yet know how much of the script Koepp will work on and there is of course a wealth of difference between a tweak or polish and an overhaul, so perhaps we should hold off on reading the last rites to the threequel just yet.
We will keep bringing you all of the news that’s fit to print, especially once filming kicks off again at the end of the month.
