In a new interview, director Kevin Smith provides an update on the long-awaited sequel to his 1995 cult classic Mallrats and discusses his latest film, 'The 4:30 Movie'.
- Oct 3, 2024
AceShowbiz - Director Kevin Smith has shared an update on the progress of "Twilight of the Mallrats" ("Mallrats 2"), the sequel to his beloved 1995 film. In a recent interview, Smith revealed that he had initially considered abandoning the project after the death of actress Shannen Doherty, who played Rene Mosier in the original film.
"My first feeling after Shannen passed was like, 'Well, that's it,'" Smith told with The Hollywood Reporter. However, Smith has since had a change of heart and now believes that the sequel can serve as a tribute to Doherty's memory.
"Over the last month, there's been these weird glimmers of conversations and hope," Smith explained.
Smith has an unexpected casting idea for Doherty's role: Sarah Michelle Gellar, who originally auditioned for the part in the first film. "Her being Shannen's bestie and having already tried out for Mallrats 30 years ago next year, I would ask Sarah to step in for Shannen if there's a possibility that we get to make Twilight of the Mallrats," Smith said. Gellar has since expressed her interest in the role on social media.
Smith also shared his final text exchange with Doherty, in which she expressed her eagerness to help make the sequel happen. "She said, 'Why don't you and Jason [Lee] and me go meet at Universal?' And I said, 'We totally can.'"
Smith believes that Universal, which holds the rights to the Mallrats franchise, could potentially give him the green light to make the film. "If Universal was ever like, 'Go ahead,' the question, at that point, becomes, 'What do you do?'" he said.
Meanwhile, Smith's latest film, The 4:30 Movie, is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story about a 16-year-old boy named Brian David, played by Austin Zajur. Smith admitted that he initially wanted his daughter, Harley Quinn Smith, to play the lead role, but she turned it down. "She was just like, 'You don't think I've got enough nepo baby s**t to deal with online? You now want me to play you? F**k that,' " Smith recalled.
Smith has received comparisons between "The 4:30 Movie" and Steven Spielberg's The Fabelmans, but he attributes the inspiration for the film to his purchase and preservation of his childhood moviehouse, Atlantic Cinemas in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey. "Honestly, [Austin Zajur] was more Kevin Smith than Kevin Smith. He was the perfect, perfect choice," Smith said.
The film also features a guest appearance from Smith's friend, Rosario Dawson, who previously starred in his film Clerks II. Smith revealed that Universal initially balked at the idea of a Mallrats sequel, but he hopes that their stance may change in the future.
"Every time I've tried to make a Mallrats sequel with Universal, I'd go in and speak with new executives," Smith said. "Basically, at the end of my pitch, the expression is always like, 'Yeah, but that movie's neither fast nor furious.'"
Smith has also faced challenges in securing a PG-13 rating for "The 4:30 Movie", despite his belief that it is appropriate for children. "I made peace with it on the day," Smith said. "I went in kind of cocky because I've flipped my rating many times over the course of my career."
Smith ultimately lost the appeal to the MPA by one vote, but he understands their reasoning. "We took it all the way to the end and I think we lost by one vote. And even then, I wasn't like, 'Goddamn it, let's go back,'" Smith said. "I was like, 'I see it their way.' "