It’s been 13 years since writer-director-actor Kevin Smith last played around in his View Askewniverse. With Jay & Silent Bob Reboot, the filmmaker is returning to the New Jersey-set chronicles that he first established in 1994’s Clerks and continued through Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, and Clerks II – in a Strike Back meta-sequel that plays on Hollywood’s obsession with reboots and reboot-quels. Not only are the titular stoner duo returning, but the film will bring back characters from the entire inter-connected universe – including Jason Lee as Mallrats’ comic book-loving Brodie Bruce. Take a look at him on set with Smith in a new behind the scenes shot, as seen in the upcoming issue of Empire. Say, would you like a chocolate covered pretzel?
While Smith’s films have always had a big heart beneath all the smut, this one comes freighted with extra poignancy – not only arriving just over a year since Smith nearly shuffled this mortal coil courtesy of a massive heart attack, but bringing in themes of fatherhood by introducing Jay’s lovechild Milly, played by Smith’s own daughter Harley Quinn Smith. “It did turn into the post-heart attack movie,” says the filmmaker, who expects tears among the laughter. “It did turn into something a little bit profound, while being fucking ridiculous and stupid. We maintain the joke pretty great, but it has to be about something more. I’m relatively sure after 25 years I know which button to push to make you laugh, but I want you to fucking feel. Honestly, I want you to choke up.”
Read more about how Smith brought the band back together for Jay & Silent Bob Reboot in our set report, which can be found in the Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker issue of Empire, on newsstands from Thursday 3 October. Jay & Silent Bob Reboot arrives in UK cinemas from 29 November.