“Dogma,” the quirky Kevin Smith religious comedy where we learned that “God is a Skee-Ball fanatic,” looks to have a second coming.
And if Smith, 54, get his way, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon will be back in the fold, too.
“Some people will be like, ‘Don’t (blanking) touch it. You’ll ruin it,’ ” said Smith this weekend at the Vulture Festival in Los Angeles, according to Deadline. “And I’m here to tell you: I will. I’m (blanking) tickled. I found a way in.”
A cult fave and a hit at the box office, “Dogma,” released in 1999, also starred Alan Rickman, Chris Rock, Linda Fiorentino, Salma Hayek and Jason Lee. Smith said Affleck and Damon will return for the “Dogma” sequel as Smith was instrumental in getting their breakthrough, “Good Will Hunting,” made in 1997.
Kevin Smith (left) and Jesse David Fox speak Nov. 17 at Kevin Smith’s Dogma Confessional during New York Magazine’s Vulture Festival in Los Angeles.
More: Bruce Springsteen takes command of the moment at Stand Up for Heroes veterans benefit
The pair didn’t thank Smith when they accepted their Academy Awards.
“I have been able to hold that over both their heads for 25 (blanking) years, which is why they keep showing up in all the movies,” said Smith. “Expect a cameo from them — more than a (blanking) cameo. The only way we get a ‘Dogma’ sequel made is if they’re there. So count on those guys being there.”
Smith clarified his remarks Nov. 17 in a late night post on X.
“To be fair, I said I started writing a sequel in my head on Thursday night,” Smith said. “So a ‘Dogma’ sequel script is eventually happening … but that doesn’t mean a movie is getting made necessarily. And while I plan to include Bartleby and Loki, I’ve not spoken to Ben or Matt about it yet.”
Smith previously said the original “Dogma” will be returning to movie theaters and will be available for home viewing on the “That Hashtag Show.”
More: NJ musician writes ‘Diner,’ and serves up his top 5 diners in the Garden State
Smith’s coming of age comedy, “The 4:30 Movie,” was released last month. The filmmaker entered the New Jersey Hall of Fame on Nov. 16 via a pre-taped presentation. Jason Mewes did the induction.
Smith, a Highlands native, became misty-eyed during his speech, thanking Jersey greats like Bruce Springsteen and Uncle Floyd for lending an “authenticity” to the Jersey image.
“For 16 years I’ve been waiting, I’ve been thirsty — as the kids say — like sick, cringingly thirsty to be a member of the New Jersey Hall of Fame because being a member of New Jersey, being from the Garden State, has meant more to me than just a badge of honor,” Smith said.
“Being from New Jersey is a currency, culturally, that I’ve spent the world over. You’re afforded a certain degree of authenticity as somebody coming from New Jersey. People will believe the first 10 things you say because of all the work done by the people who have gone before you as artists.”
You can watch the 2024 ceremony, hosted by Danny DeVito and including an appearance by Cher, on YouTube. The 2024 inductees, with descriptions from the Hall, are below:
New Jersey Hall of Fame Class of 2024
Arts & Letters: Gay Talese, Ocean City, author-journalist.
Education & Science: Elizabeth Coleman White*, Whitesbog, botanist who developed the nation’s first cultivated blueberry; Dr. John Forbes Nash, Jr. **/*, Princeton, genius mathematician who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for Economics; Avi Wigderson, Princeton, computer scientist, mathematician and Turing Award winner, known for his groundbreaking insights in computer science.
Enterprise: George Cooney, Bogota, chairman emeritus of EUE/Screen Gems Ltd., a visionary who built industry-leading entertainment service businesses for over 50 years catering to Madison Avenue and Hollywood; Peter Cancro, Point Pleasant Beach, founder of Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Inc., entrepreneur, businessman and philanthropist; Donald Katz, Newark, founder of Audible, Inc., award-winning journalist and author.
Performing Arts & Entertainment: Lesley Gore */**, Tenafly, singer-songwriter known for top-chart hits including “You Don’t Own Me” and “It’s My Party,” she received an Academy Award nomination for “Out Here On My Own” from the movie “Fame” and three Grammy Award nominations; Warren Littlefield, Montclair, NBC Entertainment president who oversaw the groundbreaking “Must See TV” lineup, including “Seinfeld”; Paul Rudd**, Passaic, actor who has been nominated for a Golden Globe, two SAG Awards, and won a Critics’ Choice Award; Kevin Smith, Highlands, director, producer, writer and actor who helmed the Jersey-based comedy “Clerks”; Meryl Streep**, Basking Ridge and Bernardsville, actress who has won three Academy Awards, eight Golden Globes, is a Kennedy Center Honoree, and received a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Public Service: Rev. Edwin D. Leahy, Newark, Benedictine monk and Catholic priest, headmaster of St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark; Geraldine Thompson, Red Bank, social reform pioneer and founder of VNA Health Group who earned the nickname “First Lady of New Jersey” due to her philanthropic and social service activities.
Sports: Dick Button, Englewood, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist in figure skating, five consecutive gold medals from the World Championships, and an Emmy Award-winning former TV commentator; Tim Howard, North Brunswick, former goalkeeper for the United States Men’s National Team, regarded as one of the greatest American players of all time; Ron Johnson*, Summit, All-American running back and captain at the University of Michigan, twice earned All-Pro honors with the New York Giants, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and served as chairman of the National Football Foundation; Phil Simms, Franklin Lakes, former New York Giants quarterback, Super Bowl MVP, and sports analyst.
Educator of the Year: Andrew DeNicola*, Edison, renowned Grammy Music Educator Award Finalist and American Bandmaster with a celebrated 50-year career, best known as Director of Bands at John P. Stevens High School.
Unsung Heroes: Bob Guarasci, Paterson, Founder and CEO of New Jersey Community Development Corporation in Paterson; Reva Foster, Willingboro, Director of Willingboro Township Senior Center.
*Being honored posthumously
**Previous inductee, but being formally inducted this year.
Visit njhalloffame.org for more information.
Subscribe to app.com for the latest on New Jersey celebs.
Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: New Jersey Hall of Famer Kevin Smith talks ‘Dogma’ sequel
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(641x253:643x255)/ryan-reynolds-new-york-111124-5a7ba65596a04afcb4b7aa49982f14dd.jpg "See Photos of Ryan Reynolds, Simone Biles, Jonathan Owens, Lucy Liu and More")
