Epic follow-up “Clerks III” to be filmed in Philly

New Jersey native and film director Kevin Smith announced Thursday the third installment of “Clerks” will be filmed in Philadelphia.

Smith broke into the film industry with the original Clerks (1994), a black-and-white independent film about a convenience store clerk and his friend who works at a video rental store (remember those?) at a faceless strip mall in New Jersey.

The Pittsburgh Business Journal broke the story, reporting Thursday that state financial records showed Clerks III would get a $2.11 million production credit.

The Journal also reported that the Greater Philadelphia Film Office issued a crew call March 9 seeking staff to work on the film, beginning in early June.

Clerks, which featured actor Jason Mewes and Smith playing the famed roles of “Jay and Silent Bob,” inspired an animated series, as well as the spin-off “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.”

The plot of Clerks III has not been released but is expected to yet again revolve around the lives of store clerks.

Smith worked before in Philadelphia to film “Jersey Girl.” He also worked in Pittsburgh to film “Dogma” and “Zack and Miri Make a Porno.”