The cast of Clerks III is anticipating the sequel's release just as much as the fans, but as the movie will essentially cap off the story that first began at the Quick Stop in 1994, the movie's arrival is bittersweet. When writer-director Kevin Smith released that first film, it pretty quickly found success, putting the New Jersey filmmaker on the map. The film's success also allowed for Smith to explore more of his View Askewniverse with Jay and Silent Bob, though the longtime fans will always be fond of the movie that started it all.
Given what Smith has teased from Clerks III so far, it's clear that he's filling the film with as many nods and references to the first Clerks as possible. One big link to Clerks is the return of Marilyn Ghigliotti as Veronica, Dante's then-girlfriend who was introduced by using a fire extinguisher to spray away an angry mob riled up by a Chewlie's gum representative (Scott Schiaffo). With the story set back at the Quick Stop, Veronica coming back onto the scene to reunite with Dante will be a big moment for fans of the original film.
Taking to Instagram just after the 28th anniversary of Clerks, Ghigliotti paid tribute to the franchise she's long been so proud to be a part of. She also teases the third movie that's coming this year, promising fans will "love" the story that Smith and the cast and crew have in store for them. Ghigliotti also finds it to be "bittersweet" to acknowledge Clerks III, as it means coming to the end of this story, even if it's with a satisfying conclusion.
"I almost totally missed that we are officially now 28 years since Kevin Smith created something that resonated with so many people and changed many lives," Ghigliotti writes in the caption. "This year the last of the family story will be told and IMO you'll love the story. It'll be bittersweet to put an end to this story. Thank you to the fans for the support and love to the Clerks family."
Clerks III Brings the Story Full Circle
Smith released a previous sequel, Clerks II, in 2006. Several main cast members were brought back, such as Smith and Jason Mewes as Silent Bob and Jay alongside Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Anderson as Dante Hicks and Randal Graves, respectively. Because the story also took the characters out of the Quick Stop and had them working in a fast food restaurant, it felt more like a spinoff than a direct sequel in some ways.
Clerks III brings us back to the Quick Stop with more references and characters from the original than Clerks II. The story picks up with Randal deciding to make a movie about life as a Quick Stop clerks after he suffers a near-fatal heart attack. It's inspired by reality, throwing back to when Smith really shot Clerks at the Quick Stop as an actual employee of the store, to referencing the real-life heart attack Smith suffered.
Clerks III does not have an official release date but is expected to be released sometime in 2022.