Hollywood is a weird place where "four" doesn't always come after "three." If you’re looking for Men in Black 4, you might think you found it back in 2019 with the Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson flick. Honestly, though? Most fans don't really count International as the fourth entry. It was a spinoff. A side quest. A movie that tried to borrow the Thor: Ragnarok chemistry but ended up feeling more like a generic spy thriller with a few CGI aliens thrown in for flavor.
The truth is, a direct sequel to the original trilogy—the one with Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones—was stuck in development hell for years. It’s a saga of leaked emails, failed crossovers, and a studio that eventually decided it was easier to just start over than to pay Will Smith's massive salary again.
The Crossover That Almost Changed Everything
Back in 2014, the Sony hack revealed one of the wildest ideas in modern cinema history. They wanted to mash up the MIB universe with the 21 Jump Street franchise. It sounds like a joke, right? It wasn't. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum were actually circling a project titled MIB 23.
The plan was for Jenko and Schmidt to join the agency. It would have been a meta-commentary on how sequels get bigger and dumber. For a minute there, it looked like this was going to be the official Men in Black 4. But the logistics were a nightmare. Balancing the tones of a R-rated comedy and a PG-13 family franchise is basically impossible without someone getting mad. Eventually, the project just evaporated, leaving us with the disappointing reboot instead.
Why Will Smith Didn't Suit Up
You've probably wondered why Agent J never came back. After all, Men in Black 3 was actually pretty good. It made $624 million. It gave us that emotional gut-punch ending where we see how J and K first met. It felt like a perfect conclusion.
But money usually talks louder than "emotional completeness." Sony did want a fourth film. The problem was mostly down to the contracts. By 2012, Will Smith was one of the most expensive humans on Earth. To get him, Tommy Lee Jones, and executive producer Steven Spielberg back together meant the movie would need to make a billion dollars just to break even.
Producer Laurie MacDonald famously said they felt the story was "complete" after the third one. That’s "producer-speak" for it costs too much and we don't have a script yet.
The State of the Franchise in 2026
Things are finally starting to move again. As of early 2026, Sony has officially put a new project into development. They aren't calling it Men in Black 4—it's looking more like Men in Black 5 or a "legacy sequel" similar to what they did with Bad Boys.
The studio has tapped Chris Bremner to write the script. If that name sounds familiar, it's because he's the guy who saved the Bad Boys franchise. He knows how to write for Will Smith. He knows how to balance that 90s nostalgia with modern action. Reports from December 2025 suggest the script is being written specifically to entice Smith back into the black suit.
There's no word on Tommy Lee Jones yet. Let's be real: the man is in his late 70s. If he shows up, it’ll likely be a cameo or a "passing of the torch" moment.
What a Real Sequel Needs to Get Right
If they actually pull off a revival, they can't repeat the mistakes of International. That movie was too clean. The original 1997 film was gritty. It had New York City grime. The aliens felt gross and tactile, not like shiny Pixar characters.
- Bring back the practical effects: We need more puppets and less green screen.
- Keep the stakes personal: The best MIB stories aren't about saving the galaxy; they're about the relationship between the partners.
- The "New York" energy: The agency is supposed to be headquartered in a place where weirdness is normal.
What You Should Do Now
Don't hold your breath for a trailer any time soon. These things take forever. If you’re craving that MIB vibe, your best bet is to revisit the original 1997 film. It holds up surprisingly well, mostly because the chemistry between Smith and Jones is lightning in a bottle.
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Keep an eye on Sony’s production slate for 2027. If the Bremner script gets the green light this year, we’re looking at a possible summer release two years from now. Until then, just keep your eyes on the skies—and maybe keep a pair of Ray-Bans handy in case someone pulls out a silver pen.
Stay updated on official casting news through trade publications like Deadline or The Hollywood Reporter. Avoid the "fan trailers" on YouTube; they're all AI-generated fakes designed to trick you for clicks. If Will Smith officially signs on, you'll hear about it from a real source first.