Kevin Smith has revealed that two superhero legends are going to be taking over as the new Bluntman and Chronic in his upcoming movie Jay and Silent Bob Reboot. The filmmaker behind Clerks and Mallrats revealed the trailer for his latest effort ahead of his planned panel at San Diego Comic-Con this weekend. In the trailer, it's revealed that none other than Val Kilmer, who played Batman in Batman Forever, as well as Supergirl actress Melissa Benoist, are taking on the roles.
In an Instagram post a few days ahead of SDCC, Kevin Smith revealed a poster for the fictional, gritty Bluntman and Chronic movie reboot that will be at the center of Jay and Silent Bob's new adventure. In a twist, it was revealed that Chronic is going to be gender-swapped. Smith teased fans initially, while not revealing who was going to be under the masks, in something of a guessing game.
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Ahead of the trailer reveal, Smith decided to confirm that many of his fans guess correctly in assuming it was Benoist who would be putting on the new Chronic suit. Smith has directed several episodes of The CW's Supergirl and, as such, has developed a friendship with the actress. Smith had this to say in a separate post.
"The majority of you guessed correctly: Melissa Benoist, one of my favorite actresses in the world, indeed takes on the mantle of Chronic in our rebooted Bluntman and Chronic movie within Jay and Silent Bob Reboot! (And we gave her some pants *before* the good folks at Supergirl!) I have loved working with Me-Me since I "directed" her in my first ep, Supergirl Lives. Number One on the call sheet sets the tone for the rest of production - and if that Number One is a tool, the set is a miserable place to be. But Melissa is the most exemplary and gracious Number One I ever met. She's incredibly kind to EVERYONE in the cast and crew and she never complains about the long-ass hours, even when she's hanging from ropes high above the ground. Then she opens up her mouth to act and you realize she's that rare complete package in this business: true talent and true warmth. Some actors and actresses have a "process" that can be disruptive or alienating. Melissa doesn't have to imposition anyone to be good at her job: she's a natural. So naturally, two years ago, I asked her to be in Jay and Silent Bob Reboot. Melissa was the first person I asked to be in the flick"¦ and though it took a minute to get to the set, when we rolled cameras, she was Charm City! I saw her in the trailer in costume before we started shooting and the Last Daughter of Krypton gushed "When you asked me to be in the movie, you didn't tell me I get to wear a cool costume too!" God, I love this kid - she's the absolute light of the world"¦"
It wasn't revealed until the trailer dropped that Val Kilmer, who played the Caped Crusader once and only once, is the man under the Bluntman mask. Smith did reveal ahead of SDCC that his movie would include not one, but three actors who have portrayed Batman over the years. Kilmer is one, Ben Affleck, who reignited his friendship with Smith after years of being estranged, is another. As for the third? That remains a mystery, at least for now.
Here is the official synopsis for Jay and Silent Bob Reboot
"The stoner icons who first hit the screen 25 years ago in CLERKS are back! When Jay and Silent Bob discover that Hollywood is rebooting an old movie based on them, the clueless duo embark on another cross-country mission to stop it all over again! "
Jay and Silent Bob Reboot is set to arrive in theaters in October. Kevin Smith will be hitting the road with Jason Mewes for special screenings all across the country. So what do you think? Are you excited about who is playing the new Bluntman and Chronic? Do you miss Jason Biggs and James Van Der Beek? Sound off in the comments!
