Jackson wanted Men In Black role

Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith try to keep order

Pop star Michael Jackson wanted a cameo role in the sequel to Men In Black because he thought it was a weepy rather than a comedy, the film's director has revealed.

Jackson rang director Barry Sonnenfeld and admitted he had cried at the end of the film.

He had turned down a part in the original movie starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones.

All that mattered to him was that he wore that black suit

Barry Sonnenfeld on Jackson

Sonnenfeld said: "I very much wanted Michael Jackson to be in the first Men In Black.

"There was a scene in it when we showed all these aliens and George Lucas, Sylvester Stallone, Danny De Vito and Steven Spielberg were all there and I really wanted Michael to be in it.

"But for some reason he didn't want to be considered as an alien in Men In Black I.

"But 15 months into shooting Men In Black II I got a message saying Michael Jackson really wanted to be in it.

"I had a lovely conversation with Michael in which he told me he had seen the first Men In Black in Paris and had stayed when all the other people left the theatre and sat there and wept.

"I had to explain to him that it was a comedy."

Jackson cried after watching the film in Paris

Sonnenfeld and the stars of Men In Black II - Smith, Lee Jones and Lara Flynn Boyle - were in the West End of London on Tuesday for a special screening of the film.

Sonnenfeld added: "Jackson said he would love to be in Men In Black II wearing the black suit, all that mattered to him was that he wore that black suit.

"It was very funny and it was entirely Michael's idea."

Men in Black II continues to do well at the box office in the US, taking $24.4m (£15.5m) to remain the number one movie for the second weekend.

The sci-fi spoof sees the government agents team up again to tackle an alien which disguises itself in the body of an underwear model, played by Flynn Boyle.