you’re able to count on seeingBen AffleckinClerks III. Over the years, Affleck has often appeared inKevin Smithmovies, dating back to theClerksdirector’s second filmMallrats. He had a cameo in 2006’sClerks IIalong with roles in other Smith films includingDogma,Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, andJersey Girl. More recently, Affleck had a special appearance in Smith’s 2019 movieJay and Silent Bob Reboot.
Needless to say, Affleck has long been a mainstay in Smith movies. Given his history, it was not surprising to see Affleck briefly appear in theClerks IIItrailer. In the trailer, Affleck can be seen as one of a handful of actors showing up to audition for a role in the movie Randal Graves (Jeff Anderson) is shooting at the Quick Stop. On Friday, Smith took to social media to post an image of himself with the actor to celebrate Affleck’s appearance in the movie.
“If folks were stoked to see Ben Affleck in the trailer for the newClerks, just imagine how happy I was to have Batman himself in the flick!” Smith exclaimed. “I know he’s a super star celebrity known worldwide for acting, directing, and being Ben Affleck - but among his many accomplishments, Ben is also one of my co-architects of the ViewAskewniverse. He’s been boots on the ground in my fake New Jersey sinceMallratsin 1995. AndChasing Amywas written specifically for him, based on his personality - so bits of Ben are baked into the creative DNA any time I return to View Askew to play with my life-sized action figures.”
Revealing Affleck’s role, Smith adds, “For those Askewniverse addicts who’ve asked, Ben’s not playingBluntman and Chronicco-creator Holden McNeil, or Fashionable Male Shannon Hamilton, or renegade angel Bartleby fromDogma, or Ben Affleck, or any of the callback characters he’s ever portrayed in one of my flicks. Ben’s playing someone new this time around (with a sentimental sobriquet stolen from our old message board at ViewAskew dot com). But when he rolled up on set to shoot the auditions montage (briefly glimpsed in the trailer), he was just good ol’ Ben - the funny-ass friend who’s been in over half of the 15 movies I’ve been lucky enough to direct since 1993.”
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Ben Affleck Is One of Many Cameos in Clerks III
Kevin Smith says that Ben Affleck is one of many surprise cameos to be featured inClerks III. We can presume that many fan favorite from the previousClerksmovies, along with Smith’s other films, are liable to appear. Brian O’Halloran and Jeff Anderson lead the cast as Dante and Randal alongside Smith and Jay Mewes as Silent Bob and Jay. Other stars featured include Trevor Fehrman, Marilyn Ghigilotti, Scott Schiaffo, and Rosario Dawson.
In the film, Randal Graves has a near-fatal heart attack, and based on the advice of Dante, he decides to make his own movie at Quick Stop Groceries. The movie gets meta as Randal recreates shots that were actually shown in the originalClerksmovie, taking Smith’s career full circle.
Clerks IIIwill play in theaters on Sept. 13 and Sept. 15, courtesy of Fathom Events. Smith is also taking the show on the road for what he calls “The Convenience Tour,” and you can check out the dates by heading to theofficial website.
