F. Gary Gray (“The Fate of the Furious”; “Straight Outta Compton”), is in talks to direct Sony’s planned fourth installment of the “Men In Black” series, individuals with knowledge of the film confirmed to TheWrap.
The new film will not see Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith return to play Agents J and K, instead following a new pair of agents who work for the secretive New York agency that defends Earth from hostile aliens and helps friendly ones blend into human society without being discovered. The film is being compared to “Jurassic World” in that it will take the series in a newer, bigger direction while giving a nod to the previous films and characters in the series.
“Men In Black” was one of the biggest hit films of the 90’s, elevating Will Smith from a TV star on “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” to one of Hollywood’s most bankable actors. Combined, the three “MiB” films have grossed over $1.7 billion worldwide. Gray himself has also directed big box office hits recently, with “Straight Outta Compton” earning critical acclaim and $201 million in 2015 and “Fate of the Furious” becoming the third highest grossing film of 2017 with $1.23 billion worldwide.
Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald are producing, with Steven Spielberg as executive producer. Art Marcum and Matt Holloway penned the script, with David Beaubaire overseeing for Sony. The film has been scheduled for release on June 14, 2019.
Gray is represented by United Talent Agency, Principato-Young Entertainment, and Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano.