The countdown for the first Clerks III trailer continues with the release of new key art taking fans back to the shuttered windows of Quick Stop Groceries. Previously, director Kevin Smith released a new poster for Clerks III focusing on a padlock that had been jammed with chewing gum. That refers to the opening of the original film in which Dante (Brian O'Halloran) realizes he can't open the store's windows.
The second poster for Clerks III also references that scene. Because Dante must leave the shutters closed, he is forced to create a sign using shoe police and a white blanket that assures shoppers that Quick Stop is open. That sign is back on display in the new Clerks III poster, which you can take a look at below.
On Facebook, Smith also shared a lengthy message about the upcoming release of Clerks III. Teasing the release of the trailer in another five days, Smith also shared the story behind the Quick Stop having its windows shuttered in the original film. As Smith explains, it was a decision made out of necessity as the filmmaker had to explain why the shutters were closed during business hours while also concealing that they were shooting at night for scenes that were set in the daytime.
"The reason Dante gives for the steel shutters of Quick Stop Groceries being closed throughout Clerks is because someone jammed gum in the locks. But the real reason the steel shutters were closed was because we shot most of Clerks in the dead of night or the wee, small hours of the morning, when the store was closed. That sign gag that only existed to hide the strings on our little puppet show! I hand-markered (not shoe polished) the sheet myself in 1993, so Dante forever has my handwriting - which you can see in this, our second pre-release poster from the fun folks in the Lionsgate marketing department! And on Wednesday July 6th, we’ll take you beyond the steel shutters to show you the Clerks III trailer!"
Clerks III Has Gotten Two New Posters (So Far) Ahead of Its First Trailer
Written and directed by Kevin Smith, Clerks III caps off the trilogy by bringing back several franchise stars like Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Scott Schiaffo, Rosario Dawson, Trevor Fehrman, and, of course, Smith and Jason Mewes. The story picks up after Randal suffers a near-fatal heart attack which inspires him to make a movie about his life as a clerk at Quick Stop Groceries.
Clerks III does not yet have an official release date, but more information will be released on July 6, 2022, when the trailer arrives. Smith will also be announcing a slew of tour dates for the film to allow fans the opportunity to catch the movie with the cast. Before then, another new poster will be released on the 4th of July to celebrate Independence Day. Smith says the poster will showcase the return of "the Gen X icons who've been selling Central Jersey coffee and weed for nearly 30 years now."