It’s been a decade since 22 Jump Street hit theaters, leaving fans wondering if we’ll ever see another installment in the hilarious buddy cop franchise. 21 Jump Street, a reboot of the classic 1980s TV show, successfully brought a fresh comedic take to the police procedural genre, following two underachieving officers as they go undercover in a high school. The films, celebrated by both audiences and critics, also proved to be box office hits, confirming the enduring appeal of buddy cop comedies.
Despite the critical and commercial success of 21 Jump Street and 22 Jump Street, often listed among Channing Tatum’s best comedic roles, 23 Jump Street has remained stuck in development hell. The persistent popularity of the franchise begs the question: why hasn’t 23 Jump Street materialized, especially given the apparent enthusiasm of its leading stars to continue the series? Even after ten years since the release of the sequel, there are reasons to believe that now might be the perfect time for the franchise to make a comeback.
Channing Tatum’s Career Momentum Fuels 23 Jump Street Speculation
Tatum’s Career Reaching New Heights
2024 has marked another successful chapter in Channing Tatum’s career. His recent appearance as Gambit in Deadpool and Wolverine, coupled with significant roles in films like the historical drama Fly Me To The Moon and Zoe Kravitz’s directorial debut Blink Twice, demonstrates his continued versatility and star power. Furthermore, the Jump Street franchise has experienced renewed interest on streaming platforms, indicating its lasting appeal to audiences. Capitalizing on Tatum’s current career momentum and the enduring popularity of the Jump Street films, the timing seems ideal for revisiting the franchise with a third movie.
The Mystery of the Missing Script: Why Hasn’t 23 Jump Street Been Made?
Bureaucracy Blocks the Path for 23 Jump Street
The release of 21 Jump Street in 2012 was met with widespread acclaim and box office success. The film grossed $200 million worldwide, and 22 Jump Street surpassed it, earning $331 million globally via Box Office Mojo. This undeniable success signaled a strong audience appetite for the buddy cop dynamic and fueled discussions about a potential 23 Jump Street. However, despite the clear demand and existing hype, a decade has passed since 22 Jump Street, and the third film remains unproduced.
During the promotion of his latest movie, Fly Me To The Moon, Channing Tatum addressed the persistent question of why 23 Jump Street hasn’t been made despite having a script. In an interview with ComicBook.com, Tatum revealed the frustrating reason for the delay. He stated, “There is a project that was written, and it’s still the best script that I’ve ever read for a third movie,” continuing, “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.” His comments point to behind-the-scenes complexities and studio politics as the primary obstacles preventing 23 Jump Street from moving forward.
Exploring the Potential Plot of 23 Jump Street
The Men in Black Crossover Concept
The end credits of 22 Jump Street famously teased a multitude of outlandish sequel ideas, including 23 Jump Street: Medical School and even 24 Jump Street: Foreign Exchange Students. While these titles were presented humorously, hinting at the self-aware comedic nature of the franchise, a more concrete concept for 23 Jump Street did emerge.
The infamous Sony Pictures hack in 2014 exposed a wealth of confidential information, including the script for 23 Jump Street. Penned by Rodney Rothman, the leaked script revealed a crossover with the Men in Black franchise, tentatively titled MIB23. This ambitious collaboration between Jump Street and Men in Black held significant potential, promising to inject both franchises with innovative and exciting storylines.
| Every Sequel Teased By 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 Ghosts |
| 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 |
The Men in Black crossover offered a way to transcend the limitations of the characters’ ages and explore storylines beyond typical undercover assignments. For the MiB franchise, which had been struggling for critical acclaim, especially after the poorly received Men in Black International, a collaboration with the Jump Street humor could have been a refreshing and revitalizing move.
Cast Enthusiasm: Hope Remains for 23 Jump Street
Channing Tatum’s Persistent Optimism
A decade after 22 Jump Street‘s release, the enduring popularity of the buddy cop comedy duo keeps the hope for 23 Jump Street alive. The possibility of a trilogy, particularly one involving the long-rumored Men In Black crossover, continues to excite fans. Over the years, both Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum have been questioned about the potential for a third film. While Hill has been relatively reserved on the topic, Tatum has consistently expressed optimism.
In June 2024, Tatum offered surprisingly positive updates regarding 23 Jump Street, despite the project being officially stalled. In his interview with comicbook.com, Tatum confirmed the existence of a 23 Jump Street script and lauded it as exceptional. While he remained tight-lipped about specific plot details, his statement that “there is a [23 Jump Street] project that was written and it’s still the best script that I’ve ever read for a third movie” reignited fan enthusiasm.
This tease naturally amplified questions about the continued delay. Tatum clarified that “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.” While acknowledging the frustrating nature of studio politics hindering a much-anticipated sequel, Tatum’s continued passion for 23 Jump Street offers a glimmer of hope. Adding to this optimism, Tatum revealed Jonah Hill’s shared desire to revisit the franchise:
“You know what, I’m going to put some good juju out there and I’m going to say I would love to see 23 Jump Street. I would love to do it with Jonah, and Jonah I know wants to do it. We would love to just get to go play again.”
Although Channing Tatum’s comments are not a definitive confirmation, they are far from discouraging. The recent nature of his statements, combined with the sustained interest from both Tatum and Jonah Hill, suggests that 23 Jump Street isn’t entirely off the table. The passage of time itself could even benefit a potential sequel, allowing Jenko and Schmidt to have aged alongside the actors. The prospect of older, yet equally inept, cops navigating new undercover assignments could inject even more humor into their on-screen antics.
22 Jump Street Movie Poster featuring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum
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22 Jump Street
R
8/10
Release Date June 5, 2014
Runtime 1h 52m
Director Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Writers Michael Bacall, Oren Uziel, Rodney Rothman, Jonah Hill, Patrick Hasburgh, Stephen J. Cannell
Prequel(s) 21 Jump Street
Cast
Jonah Hill Headshot Jonah Hill
Channing Tatum Headshot Channing Tatum
The sequel to 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street continues the story of officers Schmidt and Jenko, played by Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. The duo, known for their close friendship and effective undercover work, are tasked with infiltrating a college to dismantle a drug ring.
