Quick Links
Kevin Smith’s 1990s slacker comedy cult classic,Mallrats, has long been in need of a modern-day sequel, but willMallrats 2ever actually happen? Released in 1995 to little critical or commercial fanfare,Mallratsconcerns a pair of aimless slackers (played by Jeremy London and Jason Lee) who spend an eventful day at the local mall after one of them breaks off their long-term relationship. Released in the wake of director Kevin Smith’s groundbreaking indie hit,Clerks,Mallratscaptured the cultural zeitgeist of the mid-’90s, but failed to score at the box office like its predecessor.
Bookended by much bigger hits inKevin Smith’s lengthy filmography,Mallratsis nevertheless a cult classic, and Smith has been keen on keeping the legend alive. Sequel hopes have been high in the nearly 30 years since the movie debuted, and Smith has been hard at work on variousMallratsprojects even as other films and shows continue to take precedent. It’s confirmed that plans are in place to bring the 1990s time capsule back for the modern era, but the question remains whether or notMallrats 2will ever actually get out of the development phase and enter production.
10 Best Quotes From Mallrats
Kevin Smith’s second movie wasn’t as critically acclaimed as his debut feature Clerks, but Mallrats has a bunch of memorable quotes.
Mallrats 2 Latest News
Kevin Smith Explains Why Mallrats 2 Hasn’t Happened Yet
Though his films aren’t always critical darlings, Smith’s die-hard fanbase would certainly step up to support a sequel.
As the years continue to slide by without solid confirmation of a sequel, the latest news findsKevin Smith explainingMallrats 2’s delays. The indie film legend has been championing a sequel for years, andhas even submitted completed scripts to Universal, which is where the project always seems to stall. As Smith explained, “Any time I turn in a script, the good folks at Universal are like, ‘This is neither fast nor furious.’ So, we never go anywhere.”
Smith went on to explain thatUniversal’s control over theMallratsIP is potentially holding up the project, and the New Jersey native would be willing to independently finance the sequel if Universal would only let the script go. Smith went on to say “We’re not asking Universal to finance it, but it’s just like, hey, can we have it so we can go out because I can get that movie financed in a heartbeat, Mallrats 2.” Though his films aren’t always critical darlings, Smith’s die-hard fanbase would certainly step up to support a sequel.
After all that, Smith concluded by saying:
So, hopefully it can go forward and if it doesn’t, I get it. I’m not spoiled where it’s like, “I get to make everything I want!” If I can’t make aMallratssequel, I will live and make something else, but it looks like we’re going back at it to see if it’s possible this time, and hopefully Universal is just like, “Yeah, go ahead and take it.”
Mallrats 2 Is Not Confirmed
The Sequel Has Been In Development For Years
Mallrats 2is not confirmed, though there’s always a chance that it could take the next stepat any moment. Kevin Smith has offered a slew of script updates over the years, and it’s clear that the ideas have been flowing since the original film was released. Unfortunately, the project has been stuck in development, and without a chance of getting financed, the movie can’t move forward. Smith explained in September 2024 thatUniversal has no interest inMallrats 2, but their control of the IP makes independent financing impossibleuntil they release their hold on the 1990s classic.
Mallrats 2 Cast Details
Kevin Smith’s Script Calls For The Entire Original Cast
Despite the fact thatMallrats 2is not an official project yet,Kevin Smith’s many script updates have offered a clear picture of what the cast could look like. In 2020, Smith revealed hisMallrats 2script brings back the whole cast, though that feat has become unattainable in the years since. While the majority of the cast is still active in the business, the unfortunate passing of Shannen Doherty in July 2024 has cast a dark cloud over the comedy sequel. Likewise, comic book legend Stan Lee’s death at the age of 95 in 2018 makes another cameo impossible.
On the other hand,Mallratsisa Jay and Silent Bob movie, meaning the two slacker superheroes will almost certainly make another memorable appearance. Furthermore,Ben Affleck has expressed interest in having a larger rolethis time around andactors like Bruce Campbell and Michael Rooker were both attached toMallrats 2at some pointin its development. However, no one is officially part of the cast yet.
Mallrats 2 Story Details
The Mall Has Changed A Lot In 30 Years
Smith has made a few sequels (Clerks IIIspecifically) that explore the idea of his slacker character finally growing up, andMallrats 2could serve the same purpose.
Kevin Smith hasn’t dropped too many specifics about his plans forMallrats 2, but he has given hints. Back during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic,Smith mentioned that the sequel would explore the pandemic’s effects on mallsand this thread still makes a lot of sense, even if the pandemic is taken out of the equation.Mallratsis a time capsule to the 1990s, andthe mall-centric culture of the day is no longer relevant in the modern age of online shopping. This has caused malls all around the world to collapse, and the sequel could explore that urban decay.
More specifically, the sequel could catch up with Brodie and TS as they slide into middle age in a world that is rapidly changing around them. Smith has made a few sequels (Clerks IIIspecifically) that explore the idea of his slacker character finally growing up, andMallrats 2could serve the same purpose. PerhapsTS and Brodie’s relationship is strained because the former wants to mature while the latter is still stuck in the 1990sslacker mindset.
Mallrats 2
Cast
Mallrats 2 is a possible upcoming sequel to the original Mallrats release that was written and directed by Kevin Smith.
