Back in Black! MIB 3 Ramping Up

Sony assembling pieces for next installment of Will Smith's alien-hunting franchise

Agent J and Agent K could soon be back on the beat.

Sony Pictures is beginning to assemble the pieces for Men in Black 3, per the Hollywood Reporter, having already lined up director Barry Sonnenfeld and screenwriter Etan Cohen (Tropic Thunder) to dream up a close-encounter scenario reuniting franchise stars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones.

The original Men in Black (1997) was a critical and commercial hit, grossing $589 million worldwide and spawning a 2002 sequel that tallied $441 million.

If everything stays on target, Men in Black 3 will start shooting in 2010.