Kevin Smith: Tusk was the bridge to Clerks III

Kevin Smith calls Tusk the “absolute bridge” to Clerks III.

Tusk, which stars Justin Long and Michael Parks, was released earlier this month. And while the film has made only around $1.4 million, according to The Wrap, it appears Tusk may have kick-started another project.

“Tusk was the absolute bridge to Clerks III. Because of Tusk, I got my financing for Clerks III,” Kevin, who wrote and directed Tusk, said in his podcast Hollywood Babble-On via Entertainment Weekly.

The black-and-white comedy Clerks, starring Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Brian O’Halloran and Kevin, was released in 1994. The film was followed by an animated series, a comic series and a live-action feature film sequel, Clerks II, which was released in 2006.

Writer and director Kevin briefly mentioned the possibility of a third live-action instalment to the movie franchise shortly after the second film was released. In March of 2013 the writer announced on Facebook he had begun to draft the script. Now it appears the film may finally find its way to theatres.

“A year and change ago, I was trying f**king desperately to get Clerks III made for the 20th anniversary, and that desperation, I must have reeked of it,” the 44-year-old said in his podcast via Entertainment Weekly.

“But it was Tusk. It was people going ‘Holy f**k, what else do you have'’ And I was like, ‘Clerks III.‘ And they were like, ‘Done.’ So, everybody that’s like, ‘He failed, he failed,’ I’m like ‘Thank you, I failed into doing Clerks III.”