Emma Thompson Attached to ‘Men in Black III’

Production on the third installment of the “Men in Black” franchise is moving along, with British actress Emma Thompson currently in talks for a big part in it, it has emerged.

As several movie-oriented e-zines put it, “MIB” couldn’t have remained a boys’ club for ever, so the decision to bring a woman on board in a chunkier part seems quite reasonable.

Thompson is not yet confirmed for the part, but The Hollywood Reporter’s Heat Vision has learned that she’s thisclose to getting it and that negotiations are going in the right direction.

“Emma Thompson is in negotiations to join Will Smith in ‘Men in Black III.’ Barry Sonnenfeld is directing the project, which reunites Smith’s Agent Jay with Tommy Lee Jones’ Agent Kay,” Heat Vision reports.

Thompson comes to join an already stellar cast, aside from “veterans” Smith and Tommy Lee Jones.

“Most of the action, however, takes place in the 1969 with Josh Brolin playing a young Jones. Jemaine Clement is playing the villain in the script, which is being kept under wraps,” says the same report.

“Thompson will play take-charge MIB operative Agent Oh, who is monitoring a prison breakout. Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald are producing. David Koepp wrote the most recent draft,” Heat Vision informs.

Production is set to start this month in New York City, with a release date set tentatively for 2012, meaning no less than 10 years after the disastrous second film came out.

Even though at the time word of the threequel came out many said that Will Smith was literally tossing his reputation as a solid actor out the window, “MIB III” stands good chances of becoming a winner, at least with the fans.

As we also informed you earlier this year, the third film will be shot completely in 3D which means that, even if it fails to please the critics, at least it will not disappoint fans looking for some decent action scenes.