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Date Posted: 22:42:30 05/13/01 Sun
Author: Him Who Is He
Author Host/IP: spider-wb052.proxy.aol.com / 205.188.192.172
Subject: LIFE AFTER JAY AND SILENT BOB

Fletch Won

Release Date: Unknown; there's no definite production date for this film, so it's difficult to determine a release date. Director Kevin Smith has posted a guess of fall, 2001, but until a production date is established, that's probably a guess at best.

Title Note: A few years ago, Kevin Smith was talking to Universal about writing and directing a Fletch 3. However, this project is more of an adaptation of Fletch Won (and happens to be the 3rd movie) than a true Fletch 3. Consider this the start of a possible new series of Fletch movies.

Distributor: Miramax Films

Production Companies: View Askew Productions, RoadDog Inc.

Cast: None announced yet (though Jason Lee is most likely; see notes below).

Cast in Talks: While talking to The Hollywood Reporter, Kevin Smith mentioned Jason Lee and Ben Affleck as two possibilities as the new, younger Fletch. Over at News Askew, Lee quickly wrote in to express his interest in the role. It's also possible that Chevy Chase could have a small role as the older Fletch, bridging the gap from the first two films (like a flashback). Nothing's confirmed yet. (8/7/00) Kevin Smith has posted a reply at his site about the recent Jason Lee news (see below). Kevin states there that Jason Lee was not confirmed definitively as the new Fletch, and that Ben Affleck is still in the running. Going back to Wizard World, here's what he said, after talking at length about Chevy Chase, "We're going to use a much younger Fletch, ie, Jason Lee." (to which there was tremendous applause). Regardless, Smith says now that he's not confirmed, so, he's not confirmed. (11/6/00) Jason Lee is still not confirmed to star, but Kevin Smith did say something at his recent Vulgarthon quite interesting on the subject. Paraphrasing, he said that if Lee doesn't star, he won't direct. So, does that mean he wouldn't even direct if his other good buddy, Ben Affleck, got the part?

Director: Kevin Smith (Dogma, Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy; before this will be Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back)

Screenwriter: Kevin Smith (writes all of his films)

Based upon: This will be the third film based upon a book in Gregory McDonald's Fletch series, following the Chevy Chase films, Fletch and Fletch Lives. Note that this will actually be a prequel to those films; and as such will feature a new actor as Fletch.

Premise: This is the tale of one of the first cases of reporter Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher (Lee). Taken off a case when his subject ends up dead, Fletch continues his investigation regardless, which puts him in conflict with just about everyone, including the police, his boss, other reporters, etc. Along the way, he also hones the art of disguise that will later become his trademark...

Filming: There's no production date for this project yet, but it's understood to be next up for director Kevin Smith after Untitled Final Kevin Smith View Askewniverse Project. The earliest filming could probably start would be early 2001 (and that's optimistic).

Genres: Comedy, Crime

Official Production Company Site: ViewAskew.com (Kevin Smith and company regularly post at the bulletin board there; this is an integral site for fans)

Fan Site to End All Fan Sites: NewsAskew.com (These guys regularly excel at compiling and presenting all pertinent Askew news quickly and fully. Often providing even more information than View Askew's own site; this should be your first stop.)

Official Site:

Status: In Development

Input about Upcomingmovies.com, or any movie covered here, is encouraged. Just e-mail Greg Dean Schmitz at greg@upcomingmovies.com. Please note that all release dates are subject to change.
Greg's Preview Thoughts: Even as director Kevin Smith prepares to direct the final in his View Askewniverse series, the news came out this last week (6/29/00) that Miramax had snagged the rights to 11 of the Fletch books for Kevin Smith to write and direct (at his request). Kevin Smith has long been a proponent of the novels by Gregory MacDonald, giving them credit for helping to write dialogue as he does, though it's something for which he's often taken flack. God bless someone who's willing to come out and say he loves something regardless of whether it sounds "cool" at a particular time. Right on.

There's no firm news about who might be starring, but View Askew alumni Jason Lee and Ben Affleck are the two frontrunners currently. There's also the possibility that Chevy Chase would have a small role as the older Fletch to help bridge the gap between the 1980's films, and this new Miramax series.

For anything related to director Kevin Smith and/or View Askew, there are already two excellent websites that I can't fail to mention and praise in any preview page devoted to one of their films. If every project, director, or production company had sites that kept such daily, meticulous track of all goings-on, my job would be vastly different. They're the first place to go, and should be checked regularly. Frankly, they will cover the minutiae of this project in detail that I will probably not be able to handle.

So, what is my prognosis of Kevin Smith moving on to Fletch Won next? First off, I think he chose wisely, picking a novel that allows him to easily introduce a new Fletch in a Year One sort of way (that's a Batman reference). Going back to the roots is nothing new; it's been done with many a fictional character, from Zorro to Young Sherlock Holmes (one of my favorites, BTW). Most people probably directly associate the name Fletch with Chevy Chase, since it's likely that many more have heard of the films than have read the books. Smith sounds committed to keeping faithful to the novel(s), however, and as the publicity continues, his dedication could help spark reinterest in the books, so by the time this movie hits screens, they could be reprinted (they're currently out-of-print) and discovered.

Though the news of this film is happening now, actual filming will have to wait until Kevin Smith is done with his last Askewniverse project. That means this movie could start filming in 2001, or it might be later than that, maybe 2002; but as it currently stands, this should be his next film. That leaves about a year from the time I write this (7/3/00) to the likely start of filming (though a spring, 2001 is possible). That's plenty of time for anticipation to build, for rumors to build, and for news to come forth. Stay tuned.

(8/6/00) Yesterday at Wizard World, Kevin Smith confirmed that Jason Lee has landed the role as the world's new Fletch. (8/7/00) In reply to the reaction of that news, Kevin Smith had posted a reply at his site. Kevin clarifies there that Jason Lee was not confirmed definitively as the new Fletch, and that Ben Affleck is still in the running. Going back to Wizard World, here's what he said there, after talking at length about Chevy Chase, "We're going to use a much younger Fletch, ie, Jason Lee." (to which there was tremendous applause). Regardless, Smith says now that he's not confirmed, so, he's not confirmed.

(11/6/00) Kevin Smith told the crowd at Vulgarthon recently that if Jason Lee doesn't get the role, he won't be directing. Hmmm.

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