The LA Times is claiming that actor Brolin readying for his next role as a man in black. But this new film may not take place in the here and now. In fact, this new MIB film may be a K origins story, as origins stories seem to be all the rage today.

His exact part is a matter of discussion, but in recent days there's been chatter in Hollywood development circles of a few possibilities: He could play a new single-monikered government agent, with Tommy Lee Jones' Agent K passing the baton to Brolin's character. Or he could play Agent K as a young man. Or something else entirely.

The film is set to start production next year based on the screenplay from Etan Cohen, with Barry Sonnenfeld in the director's chair yet again. We're certainly intrigued, but only if this means we'll get another terrible Will Smith movie-themed rap song to poke fun at.

Don't worry; MiB3 isn't necessarily going to replacement route just yet; according to The Hollywood Reporter's Risky Business blog, Smith is interested in signing up for a third go-around (Back in September, Jones was also reported to have been considering the idea). The movie will be written by Tropic Thunder co-writer Etan Cohen, according to the Risky Business blog, and Barry Sonnenfeld, who directed the first two movies in the series, is said to be close to signing on to return for the third installment, which may begin filming as early as Spring 2010.

‘Men in Black 3,' by way of ‘Tropic Thunder' [THR Risky Business]

Collider is reporting that the at the Sony ShoWest Presentation, the President of Sony Worldwide Distribution, Rory Bruer, announced that not only would they be bringing back Ghostbusters, and Spider-Man, but Men In Black as well.

While talking about the project, Bruer tossed out the date 2011, but who can be certain? All three of those films should be serious undertakings for the studio.

But here's the big question: Can you get Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith to do it again? Well we know Tommy is down, but what about Big Willie? And would you watch it without them - heck, would you watch it at all? After the two movies, the cartoons and putting Frank the dog in a suit, haven't we run the gamut of alien humor? Is there really more out there after the last movie debuted the ballchinian?

This movie will have to be handled with great care and if it wants it to live up to the greatness of the original. Oh, and if they put Zac Efron in it, I'm out.

Parkes told Parade Magazine that MIB3 is only a matter of time:

The challenge is getting the script right and finding a time when our busy stars are available." .... "Everyone, including Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, wants to do another."

That sounds like something an actor and writer would say to a producer just to change the subject. "Sure I'd do another Men In Black have your people call my people." Then again, Smith did make Hancock.

MIB3 has been chatted about since 2005, but maybe it needed this much time to pass in order for it to make a third coming. But I beg of you — should you decide to bring it back for a third time, make it more like the first with the inter-space politics and seemingly intricate system of extraterrestrial management created by the government. Not just an excuse to see Laura Flynn Boyle in leather.