During the filming of Men in Black, a humorous incident involving Will Smith caused a significant delay on set. Director Barry Sonnenfeld shared this anecdote during an appearance on the podcast Let’s Talk Off Camera With Kelly Ripa.
The incident occurred while Smith and co-star Tommy Lee Jones were filming a scene inside a special effects pod, designed to simulate their characters’ high-tech vehicle.
Sonnenfeld recalled that as he prepared to roll the camera, he heard Smith apologizing profusely. “Oh Jesus, so sorry. Tommy, so sorry. Baz, get the ladder,” Smith exclaimed.
Jones responded calmly, assuring him that it was no problem.
Sonnenfeld soon learned that Smith had accidentally released gas in the sealed pod. “Will Smith is a farter,” he remarked, explaining that being trapped in a small, airtight space with such an odor was not ideal. The situation escalated to the point where the entire stage had to be evacuated for about three hours.
Despite the disruption, Sonnenfeld had nothing but praise for Smith, calling him a “lovely guy” who simply happens to fart. He noted that some people do and some don’t.
Sonnenfeld and Smith have collaborated on all three Men in Black films, as well as the 1999 movie Wild Wild West. The director emphasized how much he appreciates working with Smith, who helps alleviate the stress of directing big-budget projects.
While there has not been a sequel since Men in Black 3 in 2012, Sonnenfeld did not dismiss the idea of reuniting with Smith for another film. He mentioned that any future project would likely need to be set in outer space. For now, he remains focused on current projects while keeping an eye on potential sequels.
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