Will Smith in Men in Black
Now that Columbia Pictures has green-lit 'Men in Black 3' -- the first new installment in the sci-fi comedy franchise since 2002 -- the question is whether Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones will be lured into a reprise of their roles as Agents J and K.

What is known is Barry Sonnenfeld, who helmed the first two 'MIB' flicks back in 1997 and 2002, is attached to the director's chair for a third time. It's a comfortable seat, given the combined global grosses of the 'MIB' brand have already topped $1 billion.

Variety and the Hollywood Reporter also announced today that 'Madagascar' and 'Tropic Thunder' scribe Etan Cohen -- already sleuthing through a 'Sherlock Holmes' screenplay project for Sasha Baron Cohen and Will Farrell -- is rushing to complete a draft of an 'MIB 3' script.
Will Smith in Men in Black
Now that Columbia Pictures has green-lit 'Men in Black 3' -- the first new installment in the sci-fi comedy franchise since 2002 -- the question is whether Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones will be lured into a reprise of their roles as Agents J and K.

What is known is Barry Sonnenfeld, who helmed the first two 'MIB' flicks back in 1997 and 2002, is attached to the director's chair for a third time. It's a comfortable seat, given the combined global grosses of the 'MIB' brand have already topped $1 billion.

Variety and the Hollywood Reporter also announced today that 'Madagascar' and 'Tropic Thunder' scribe Etan Cohen -- already sleuthing through a 'Sherlock Holmes' screenplay project for Sasha Baron Cohen and Will Farrell -- is rushing to complete a draft of an 'MIB 3' script.

Conventional wisdom suggests that Columbia wouldn't press on with 'MIB 3' if Smith was absolutely uninterested in another go-around in dark sunglasses. That said, he hasn't committed to the project, either, and could be waiting to see what funny-fantastical storyline Cohen unearths. Jones' participation in 'MIB 3' also remains unclear, though he could waiting to see what big Will decides to do.

Expect the cameras to roll near the top of 2010 should Smith sign on. Yes, he'll probably rap, too.