Despite the comedic gold and box office success of the first two Jump Street films, 23 Jump Street never materialized, leaving fans wondering why the hilarious franchise stalled. 21 Jump Street successfully rebooted the 1980s TV show into a modern comedy hit, followed by 22 Jump Street which took the undercover cop duo to college. Both films were box office juggernauts, with 22 Jump Street raking in over $331 million globally. Given this success, the absence of 23 Jump Street is particularly puzzling.
The premise of placing Jenko (Channing Tatum) and Schmidt (Jonah Hill) in various educational settings seemed ripe for endless sequels, a concept playfully explored in 22 Jump Street‘s end credits which teased a barrage of potential follow-ups like 23 Jump Street: Medical School and 27 Jump Street: Culinary School. However, instead of a traditional sequel, Sony Pictures opted for an ambitious crossover with the Men in Black franchise, tentatively titled MiB 23. Ultimately, this crossover concept also failed to launch.
The Sony Hack and the Revelation of MiB 23
The initial whispers of a Jump Street and Men in Black crossover emerged during the infamous Sony Pictures hack in November 2014. Leaks revealed the studio’s plan to merge the two comedic franchises. This leak ignited fan excitement and set high expectations for MiB 23.
Spoof Sequels Teased in 22 Jump Street’s End Credits:
| 23 Jump Street: Medical School |
|---|
| 24 Jump Street: Foreign Exchange Students |
| 25 Jump Street: A Semester At Sea |
| 26 Jump Street: Art School |
| 27 Jump Street: Culinary School |
| 28 Jump Street: Veterinary School |
| 29 Jump Street: Sunday School |
| 30 Jump Street: Flight Academy |
| 31 Jump Street: Ninja Academy |
| 32 Jump Street: Fireman School |
| 33 Jump Street: Generations |
| 34 Jump Street: Return of the Ghost |
| 35 Jump Street: Traffic School |
| 36 Jump Street: Military School |
| 37 Jump Street: Scuba Class |
| 38 Jump Street: Dance Academy |
| Jump Street (video game) |
| Jump Street: The Animated Series |
| 39 Jump Street: The Electronic Target Game |
| 40 Jump Street: Retirement Home |
| 41 Jump Street: Magic School |
| 42 Jump Street: Beauty School |
| 43 Jump Street: Mariachi School |
| 2121 Jump Street |
| Infinity Jump Street |
Considering 22 Jump Street outperformed its predecessor financially, a straightforward sequel seemed like a safe bet. However, Sony aimed for a grander scale with the crossover. 23 Jump Street, or MiB 23, encountered significant hurdles in development, and director James Bobin eventually pursued other projects.
Was a Jump Street Men in Black Crossover Too Ambitious?
The disappointing performance of Men in Black: International likely sealed the fate of the Jump Street crossover. Jonah Hill himself voiced concerns about the Jump Street and Men in Black fusion, deeming it overly ambitious. He stated in an interview with the Toronto Sun, “It’s almost become what we were making fun of, and it’s hard to maintain that joke when it’s so high stakes.”
Hill’s apprehension might stem from the franchise’s self-aware humor, which often parodies Hollywood’s sequel and reboot culture. The comedic approach of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the producers initially involved in MiB 23, was even cited as a factor in their removal from directing Solo: A Star Wars Story. However, the Men in Black universe, with its inherent absurdity, appeared to be a fitting playground for the Jump Street brand of comedy. The buddy-cop dynamic central to both franchises seemed to offer a natural transition for Jenko and Schmidt into the Men in Black world.
While a 23 Jump Street crossover could have been seen as undermining the franchise’s meta-commentary on endless sequels, it also presented an opportunity to further satirize franchise crossovers in a uniquely Jump Street way. The original 21 Jump Street was itself a reboot of the TV series that launched Johnny Depp’s career. Ultimately, the lackluster reception of the Men in Black: International spin-off in 2019 likely prompted Sony to play it safe and abandon the risky 23 Jump Street crossover.
Cast Enthusiasm for 23 Jump Street Remains
Despite the apparent cancellation, key figures involved in the Jump Street franchise haven’t entirely given up on 23 Jump Street. While Jonah Hill expressed reservations about the Men in Black crossover, Channing Tatum has indicated that Hill is still open to a third Jump Street movie if the right opportunity arises. Tatum has lauded the script for a potential third film, telling IndieWire, “There is a project that was written and it’s still the best script that I’ve ever read for a third movie. It’s just a lot of bureaucracy, kind of above the line stuff. It’s really hard to get it made and we’ve been trying to get it done.”
Whether Tatum is referencing the Men in Black crossover script or a separate 23 Jump Street script is unclear. His mention of “bureaucracy” could allude to rights issues related to the Men in Black property. Regardless, Tatum remains optimistic about 23 Jump Street happening, even suggesting Brad Pitt for a role.
Ice Cube, who delivered memorable performances as Captain Dickson in the first two films, has also expressed his willingness to return. In an interview with PopCulture, Ice Cube stated, “Yeah, man, I had a good time with Jonah Hill, Channing [Tatum], we had fun. I think people liked the films, people like Captain Dixon. So yeah, if they call me, I’ll jump in there and do it again.”
The continued enthusiasm from both the cast and fans for 23 Jump Street, even years after its apparent shelving, suggests that hope for a long-awaited sequel might still exist.
