The unexpected pairing of Oscar-nominated Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, a four-time “Teen Choice Awards” recipient, is a cornerstone of the buddy cop comedy, 21 Jump Street. This film cleverly capitalizes on their contrasting personas – Hill, known for his roles as the former geek, and Tatum, the quintessential former jock – to deliver a fresh and hilarious take on the genre. In 21 Jump Street, these 21 Jump Street Actors portray undercover police officers returning to high school, only to discover that the social dynamics have shifted. Co-written by Jonah Hill and Michael Bacall, known for Project X, the movie revitalizes the buddy cop formula for a new generation. In a roundtable interview, Hill and Tatum, clad in their bike police uniforms, discussed the genuine camaraderie that fuels their on-screen dynamic and what they admire in each other.
21 Jump Street quickly became a hit upon its theatrical release, largely due to the palpable “bro-mance” between its lead 21 Jump Street actors. Jonah Hill emphasized the necessity of this believable connection, stating, “Movies like this live or die on whether you believe these two people care about one another. All of the great cop movies feel like the partners want the best for the other one.” He further elaborated on the depth of their on-screen relationship, “Our friendship in the film is really tested and put back together. I think that exists because we get along really well in real life, and we’re good actors.” Hill concluded by letting their performance speak for itself, highlighting the authentic bond between the 21 Jump Street actors.
Jonah Hill also shared his integral role in shaping the film’s narrative, revealing, “I was the originator of this version.” He acknowledged the extensive development process, mentioning the numerous script revisions before reaching the final product. Channing Tatum corroborated this, adding, “By the time that I came on, till shooting, there were so many drafts,” underscoring the collaborative effort to refine the screenplay and ensure the comedic timing between the 21 Jump Street actors was perfect.
Addressing the evolution of his comedic style, Jonah Hill, known for his earlier work in films like Superbad, responded to a question about his penchant for “d*ck humor” with a touch of humor himself, “I’m also an Academy Award nominee [laughs].” This playful deflection acknowledged his range as an actor beyond just comedic roles. He then acknowledged the earlier association with raunchier humor, saying, “Yes, that was five years ago, go on …”
The conversation shifted to the thematic depth of 21 Jump Street, specifically the film’s exploration of appearances versus reality. When asked how their upcoming roles might challenge audience perceptions, Hill responded, “I don’t know. I’ve had a lot of success in drama and comedy. I just want to keep making good stuff.” He expressed his desire for versatility and avoiding typecasting, mentioning his upcoming drama True Story alongside James Franco, produced by Brad Pitt, comparing it to a thriller like Marathon Man. For Hill, the motivation is “about trying not to get bored, or make people bored by doing the same thing over and over again.”
Channing Tatum echoed this sentiment, highlighting the industry’s tendency to categorize actors. “Obviously people loves to put people in boxes and say, ‘Oh, that’s who they are; that’s just what they do.'” He reflected on the early stages of their careers, noting, “The first thing that Jonah did as an actor might not have been who he really was, and the first things that I did might not have been me, but they are the first things that I have done.” Tatum emphasized the importance of self-challenge and breaking free from expectations. “We challenge ourselves to see ourselves differently, and to try to jump outside the box. We can get very complacent. We try to push ourselves – I feel that’s something Jonah is doing, and I know that I have been doing. I want to do something differently every single time. I don’t want to ever do the same character.” Hill playfully interjected, “I think that [Tatum] doing this movie is a big sign of that – of choosing to be different. Spreading his little wings,” to which Tatum humorously added, “Chicken wings.” This exchange highlighted the 21 Jump Street actors‘ shared commitment to pushing their creative boundaries.
Reflecting on their own high school experiences and the movie’s theme of social cliques, Tatum described a different reality from the film’s portrayal. “There wasn’t cliques in my high school. I grew up in the south, so there were definitely racial and cultural lines. But it didn’t have anything to do with smart kids, or not smart kids, etc.” He depicted a more integrated social environment, “I was a jock and I hung out with smart kids, and I hung out with kids who played ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ and video games. There wasn’t a lot of people making fun of people.”
When asked about what they would change about their high school years, Hill expressed a regret related to his current profession. “I would go do theater in high school. I was too scared my friends would make fun of me, but then I became an actor. I would have been more proud of what I was doing, and have had more fun experiences.” This personal anecdote connected to a deleted storyline from 21 Jump Street, as Hill mentioned, “There was an original storyline was that [my character] had wanted to do theater originally in high school, but didn’t get the chance to.” Tatum, in contrast, expressed contentment with his past, “I’d be nervous to change anything, because if I know everything is going to work out like it did, then I wouldn’t want it differently.” However, he admitted a desire for greater attentiveness in class, “I probably would have just listened in high school more. There were a couple of subjects that I really liked, like history and science, but other than that, I didn’t listen. I have more of an aptitude to want to learn now then I did then. I didn’t want do it back then. But now I would really love to be in class. But I can’t, because I got to work.” Hill added a universal sentiment about appreciating the present, “You truly don’t appreciate it while it’s going on.”
The discussion shifted to the origins of their real-life rapport. Tatum recounted their first encounter as a casual meeting at a restaurant, “It was a restaurant. We just waved at each other.” Hill elaborated on their professional connection, “We had never met, and then years later I asked him to be in the movie. I said, ‘Please do this, I promise you’ll be funny.'”
Finally, addressing their successful chemistry, Tatum expressed deep admiration for Hill. “I really respect Jonah. You have to respect somebody you really get along with. He’s one of the most creative people, and one of the smartest, that I’ve ever been around. He just cares.” He distinguished Hill’s motivations from mere success-driven ambition, “There are a lot of people who are driven, and only worry about success. That’s not Jonah. He is successful because he cares. He cares about what he’s doing and the people around him. He’s one of the coolest people I’ve ever met.” Hill reciprocated the sentiment, “I feel the exact same way. We both just get along. There’s no toughness to it.” He emphasized Tatum’s genuine enthusiasm for the project, “The fact that he’s in this movie is just showing of how … he doesn’t need to do this movie, but he wanted to … he wanted to do something cool. To me, there’s no calculation on his part. I’m the same way. I just want to make cool stuff. I want to make interesting art. And I want to have fun while we’re doing it. This [press] tour has been as much fun as making the movie,” concluding on the enjoyable experience shared by these 21 Jump Street actors.
