A third installment in the Jump Street franchise is moving forward, with Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Ice Cube in talks to reprise their roles. The film, titled 24 Jump Street, will continue the R-rated crime comedy series that launched in 2012.
Rodney Rothman, known for his work on Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, will direct the project. Rothman co-wrote the script with Hill and Meghan Malloy. Returning producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who helmed the first two films, are also involved with the production.
The original 21 Jump Street arrived in 2012 as a comedic adaptation of the 1980s television series, following two young officers who go undercover at a high school. The film earned over 201 million dollars worldwide. The sequel, 22 Jump Street, came out in 2014 and grossed more than 331 million dollars globally, relocating the story to a college campus.
Hill and Tatum played Schmidt and Jenko, a pair of mismatched police partners, in both previous films. Ice Cube appeared as Captain Dickson, their superior officer. The franchise gained recognition for combining action with self-aware humor that frequently commented on sequel conventions and franchise expansion.
While negotiations with the three lead actors continue, no release date has been set for 24 Jump Street. The franchise experienced an extended development period following the second film's release, with several concepts considered over the years. One notable idea involved a crossover with the Men in Black series, though that project never moved forward. The second film concluded with comedic references to potential future sequels and multiple numbered installments.
This announcement marks the first significant development on a third Jump Street film in years. The franchise established itself as a successful property during the 2010s, appealing to audiences who enjoyed the blend of comedy and action. The creative team behind the previous films demonstrated skill at balancing humor with franchise commentary, making the third installment a potentially significant project for the studio.
The involvement of returning filmmakers and the willingness of the original cast to return suggest confidence in the material. Rothman's recent success with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse indicates he brings experience with large-scale productions and visual storytelling. His collaboration with Hill on the script suggests the actors maintain creative input on their characters and the story direction.
The Jump Street series has proven its commercial viability, with each installment performing well at the global box office. Whether 24 Jump Street can match or exceed the financial success of its predecessors will depend on several factors, including the script's quality, the chemistry between returning cast members, and audience appetite for another installment. The franchise's success with self-aware humor about sequels may provide fresh material for exploring what a third film means for the series moving forward.