'Men in Black 4' in production; writer hired

HOLLYWOOD, May 4 (UPI) -- Sony is developing "Men in Black 4," though it is unclear if franchise star Will Smith will be involved in the comedy sequel, The Hollywood Reporter said.

Sony hired screenwriter Oren Uziel to pen a draft for the fourth offering from the franchise, capitalizing on the success of "Men in Black 3," the entertainment industry publication reported Friday.

"MiB3" grossed $624 million, the most of the three "Men in Black" films.

It was not reported if actors Smith, Josh Brolin or Emma Thompson, or director Barry Sonnenfeld and executive producer Steven Spielberg will be involved.

Uziel will tackle the script after reworking a draft for a sequel to "21 Jump Street," The Hollywood Reporter said.

The initial draft was written by actor Jonah Hill and Michael Bacall. The sequel will see the undercover cops in a college setting rather than the high school setting of the first film.