Men in Black 3 officially set for release on Memorial Day weekend 2012

According to a Sony press release, MEN IN BLACK 3 is now officially set for a Memorial Day weekend release, not in 2011 as originally reported, but in 2012. Here is the relevant portion of the official line:

Columbia Pictures announced today that Men in Black III will be released in 3D on May 25, 2012. Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald are returning to produce and Barry Sonnenfeld, who directed the first two installments of the blockbuster franchise, will direct the film from a screenplay written by Etan Cohen, based on the comic book by Lowell Cunningham. Steven Spielberg is set to executive produce.

Deals are set for Will Smith, Sonnenfeld and the producing team to return to the blockbuster franchise with the intent to begin production by this fall and the studio is in advanced negotiations with Tommy Lee Jones to reprise his role as Agent Kay. Josh Brolin is also in talks to star as a young Agent Kay.

Commenting on the announcement, Jeff Blake, Chairman of Sony Pictures Worldwide Marketing and Distribution said, “Sony’s summer of 2012 will get off to a red hot start with an incredible new 3D adventure for the Men in Black. We couldn’t be more excited that the original filmmaking team responsible for the first two worldwide hits is reuniting for this third installment. We love where the story is taking Agents Jay and Kay and know this new chapter will deliver a fresh fun twist for fans of the franchise while also introducing the Men in Black to a whole new generation of moviegoers.”

Deadline adds a couple of more details: Josh Brolin is apparently all but secure to play the role of Young Agent Kay. Young Agent Kay? Deadline’s Mike Fleming says, “The film will use a time travel element that moves the action from contemporary back to 1969.”

The addition of Josh Brolin to the mix makes this sequel a lot more interesting to me (which honestly was at zero before). Let’s hope director Barry Sonnenfeld gets a great and fun script to work with.