Kevin Smith talks ‘MallBrats’ Exton filming, move from Granite Run Mall on ‘Preston & Steve’

Kevin Smith has revealed more details about his coming MallBrats shoot at Exton Square Mall, telling WMMR's Preston & Steve this morning that the movie is the "Lawrence of Arabia of mall films."

Which, of course, means that he's going to need a lot of extras.

"I could fill that mall, and it wouldn't be enough extras," Smith said. "We can use everybody."

As Smith pointed out, MallBrats will take place during a Comic Con-like event, with terrorists taking over the location midway through the film. As a result, lots of extras will be needed.

"It's Die Hard in a mall," he said.

So far, details about casting extras are being worked out. However, Smith indicated that he'd be making announcements via his Twitter and Instagram accounts as filming time, which is expected to run January through mid-February, gets closer.

"Fair warning," Smith cautioned. "Being in a Kevin Smith movie is no good for anyone's career."

Additionally, it seems that Preston and Steve themselves are going to be written into the movie, with Smith promising that the duo could be "the Preston and Steve in our Askiewniverse," referring to the universe in which Smith's movies take place.

Smith also broached the subject of the now-abandoned plan to film MallBrats and Delaware County's Granite Run Mall. Ultimately, it seems, the issue came down to that of money.

"They ask for a location fee of half-a-million dollars," Smith said. "That would have been a big chunk of our budget."

Currently, that budget is hovering around $10 million, Smith told Preston & Steve. 1995's Mallrats had a $6.1 million budget, and paid a location fee of $20,000 to shoot at the Minnesota mall where it was filmed.

Due to those budget concerns, MallBrats will now be filming at the former JCPenney wing of the Exton Square Mall. Smith expects that set construction will begin sometime in December.

The real big news, though: Smith might be sticking around Pennsylvania to shoot his next feature, Moosejaws — a Canadian-themed horror film. Currently, his crew is scouting locations.

"You guys got nothing but woods up there, man," he said.

Listen to the full interview with Smith here.

[WMMR]