Lead: Sony Pictures is developing a new entry in the Jump Street comedy franchise titled 24 Jump Street, with Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum expected to return and Ice Cube reportedly in talks to reprise his role. Rodney Rothman is attached to direct a script he co-wrote with Hill and Meghan Malloy, and producers Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Neal H. Moritz are back on the project. No plot details have been released, and reports note the sequel’s title jumps past 23. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the development, citing studio and talent negotiations.
Key Takeaways
- Studio: Sony Pictures is developing 24 Jump Street with principal talent negotiating participation.
- Cast/Status: Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are expected to return; Ice Cube is described as being “in talks” to rejoin the franchise.
- Creative team: Rodney Rothman will direct from a script by Rothman, Jonah Hill and Meghan Malloy.
- Producers: Phil Lord and Chris Miller return as producers alongside Neal H. Moritz; Hill, Matt Dines and Reid Carolin are also producing.
- Title anomaly: The project is titled 24 Jump Street, with no official explanation why 23 was skipped.
- Box office context: 21 Jump Street grossed more than $200 million worldwide; 22 Jump Street earned $331 million globally.
- Franchise origin: The films adapt Fox’s 1987 TV series 21 Jump Street, which ran five seasons and helped launch Johnny Depp’s career.
Background
The Jump Street films began as a 1987 Fox television series created by Patrick Hasburgh and Stephen J. Cannell. The big‑screen relaunch arrived in 2012 with 21 Jump Street, directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller from a script by Jonah Hill and Michael Bacall. That film reframed the concept as a buddy cop comedy starring Hill as Schmidt and Channing Tatum as Jenko, sending the pair undercover in a high school investigation.
Lord and Miller returned to produce and their 2014 follow‑up, 22 Jump Street, sent the duo undercover at college and amplified the franchise’s meta humor. The two films performed strongly: 21 Jump Street passed $200 million globally and 22 Jump Street collected $331 million worldwide, establishing the series as a commercially successful comedy property for Sony and its producers.
Main Event
Sony’s new entry is being publicly reported as 24 Jump Street, with Rodney Rothman at the helm. Rothman co‑wrote the screenplay alongside Jonah Hill and Meghan Malloy, signaling that the film will keep key creative contributors from earlier projects. Phil Lord and Chris Miller are listed as producers together with veteran franchise producer Neal H. Moritz, while Hill, Matt Dines, Channing Tatum and Reid Carolin are also attached as producers.
No storyline, plot details or production timetable have been made public. Studio sources and entertainment outlets characterize Ice Cube’s involvement as negotiations or talks rather than a finalized commitment, and casting beyond the leads has not been disclosed. The project’s title notably omits 23, and neither studio nor producers have explained the numbering decision.
The new film follows years of intermittent development talk about additional entries, crossovers and other continuations of the Jump Street brand. Earlier proposals once floated included a crossover with Men in Black and a conventional third entry titled 23 Jump Street; those efforts stalled before this current announcement materialized in trade reporting.
Analysis & Implications
Commercially, reviving the Jump Street brand with Hill and Tatum attached makes financial sense for Sony. The two previous theatrical entries were profitable global earners—21 and 22 demonstrated both domestic audience appeal and international marketability for broad comedy. Attaching recognizable talent and returning producers reduces investor uncertainty and improves pitching for distribution and marketing dollars.
Creatively, the presence of Jonah Hill among the screenwriters and producers suggests continuity in tone and meta‑humor that defined the first two films. Rodney Rothman’s involvement as director—he previously contributed to 22 Jump Street—indicates the studio is leaning on creators familiar with the franchise’s self‑aware style rather than taking a sharp tonal departure.
Talent negotiations remain a key variable. Ice Cube’s reported talks are significant because his character, Captain Dickson, provided a recurring anchor and comic counterpoint in earlier films. If Cube signs on, the film preserves connective tissue with the prior entries; if not, producers may recast or restructure the chain of command within the story world.
Beyond casting, the unexplained jump to the number 24 invites speculation about marketing hooks or meta‑narrative choices—writers could turn the numbering into a running joke or a plot device. Alternatively, the title may be a practical decision tied to branding or rights; until producers comment, interpretation remains speculative.
Comparison & Data
| Film | Year | Worldwide Gross |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Jump Street | 2012 | $200+ million |
| 22 Jump Street | 2014 | $331 million |
The table above places the new project in the franchise’s commercial context: the first two films were mid‑budget comedies that produced outsized global returns. That track record helps explain studio interest in another sequel, particularly with original stars and some returning creative leadership involved.
Reactions & Quotes
“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.”
Channing Tatum, 2024 public comment
“The latest sequel in the comedy film franchise is in the works at Sony Pictures.”
The Hollywood Reporter (trade report)
Industry commentary in trades framed the announcement as a cautious, talent‑led revival: outlets noted who is attached, who remains in talks, and that no production schedule has been announced. Fan and industry reaction in initial reports mixed excitement about the return of Hill and Tatum with curiosity about the skipped numbering and any creative shifts.
Unconfirmed
- Ice Cube’s participation is described as “in talks” and has not been officially confirmed by studio or talent representatives.
- No plot synopsis, production start date, budget or release window has been released by Sony or producers.
- The reason for skipping the number 23 in favor of 24 has not been explained and remains speculative.
Bottom Line
Sony’s move to develop 24 Jump Street with Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum involved signals an attempt to recapture the commercial and comedic strengths of the earlier films while keeping original creators in play. Returning producers and writers increase the odds of tonal continuity, and the franchise’s prior box office performance gives the studio a solid business case.
Key uncertainties remain: Ice Cube’s status, the film’s plot and production timeline, and why the title advances to 24. Those open questions will shape how audiences and markets respond as the project progresses from talks to a formal greenlight and, eventually, a release plan.
Sources
- The Hollywood Reporter — entertainment trade reporting confirming studio and talent involvement.
- Variety — entertainment trade (first reported, per trade citations).