Channing Tatum opens up about the potential behind 23 Jump Street, addressing the likelihood of the third movie ever entering production. A reboot of the 1980s police procedural drama, the 2012 comedy followed two friends who grow up and enter the police force, only to find themselves returning to high school to uncover a large-scale drug operation. Alongside Jonah Hill, Tatum’s tongue-in-cheek meta revitalization produced a sequel, with a potential third movie and an assortment of spin-offs having faced many development obstacles ever since 2014.

When speaking to Comicbook.com, Tatum addressed the likelihood of 23 Jump Street ever being brought to the screen, looking back on past attempts and current attitudes towards the project. While Tatum was pleased by the script for the third movie, studio dealings, strategies, and higher-up decision-making had left the project dormant for many years, despite him and Hill being eager to bring a third movie to screens. Check out Tatum’s full response below:

“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.

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.”

Now Is The Best Time For 23 Jump Street

There Is Still Interest In A New Jump Street Movie After 10 Years.

Despite both 21 Jump Street and 22 Jump Street being financially successful, any follow-up attempted to be produced has been met with delays or cancellations. Alongside a third installment, 21 Jump Street and Men In Black crossover titled MIB 23 and a female-centered movie titled Jump Street: Now for Her Pleasure were in development, though the former would eventually be outright cancelled. Furthermore, a spin-off movie was confirmed to be in development in 2023 that would revisit the original movie character Molly Tracey, played by Brie Larson after not returning for 22 Jump Street, though no updates have been issued since.

While over a decade has passed since 22 Jump Street was released, both creative and audience interest hasn’t waned, and the lengthy hiatus could easily play into a new movie. The franchise isn’t short of meta-nods to both its inspirations and the industry, such as the dialogue poking fun at reboots and cameos, and the second movie featuring a credit sequence highlighting dozens of fake sequels and spin-offs. If the delayed 23 Jump Street were ever to develop, it could aim at legacy sequels with its comedy, as an older Schmidt and Jenko return to mentor a new generation.

Regardless of whether 23 Jump Street revisits the script that charmed Tatum or a new one is written, there is an active interest for the franchise to return. With studios facing difficulty in recouping their budgets on recent blockbusters at the box office, revisiting the series on a budget closer to what the first two movies had with 21 Jump Street‘s signature meta humor could easily charm a preexisting audience. As such, as the film industry faces an ever-changing landscape, perhaps Schmidt and Jenko could return even after all this time should the interest be noticed.

21 Jump Street and 22 Jump Street are available to stream on Apple TV+.

Source: Comicbook.com