Preview: Men in Black: International

By Grace Crowley

Twenty-two-years after the release of the original Men in Black film, a comedic sci-fi featuring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, the series has been revived with a new cast, new story, and new director. But can the next film in the series compare to the cult classic?

Known for its dark humour, surrealistic plotline and iconic song (featuring an amusing alien singing and dancing next to a young Will Smith), Men in Black was a worldwide box-office hit in its day and currently scores 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Men in Black is a film loved by many, so the decision to remake the humorous original, which was directed by Barry Sonnenfeld (The Addams Family), was divisive. This decision became even more controversial when the cast was revealed: Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson would apparently be replacing Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones (the titular Men in Black) and Sonnenfled was to be replaced by replaced by F. Gary Gray, director of films such as Straight Outta Compton and The Fate of the Furious.

Many people believe that this cast may lack the comedic flair of the original, while others criticised the decision to make the film so soon after the first. However, some have praised the decision to cast a woman in the iconic lead role of one of the “Men in Black”, while others have expressed the belief that Hemsworth may be successful in the role, due to previous comedic successes (such as the 2016 Ghostbusters remake).

Overall, the reception of the announcement is a mixed bag, and it is hard to gauge whether Men in black: International will miss the mark. With a commendable cast, including Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, and Rebecca Ferguson, the film has both the potential to be a hit, but is it possible to recreate such a timeless film as the 1997 Men in Black?