Director Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes attend the Premiere of their film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Los Angeles, California, 15/08/2001

Mewes, who pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and a hypodermic needle in 2001, has appeared in many of Smith's films and the director admits the much-anticipated CLERKS sequel was inspired by his friend's sobriety.

Smith explains, "He was knee-deep in OxyContin and heroin, and I had told him if he ever cleaned up, I would put him in another movie.

"When he was six months clean, he asked me if we would be doing another Jay And Silent Bob movie... I told him it was CLERKS II."

Smith has now given Mewes another promise - to revisit Jay And Silent Bob if Mewes can stay sober for five years.

He adds, "We can JAY AND SILENT BOB GO TO SPACE or some s**t."