’24 Jump Street’ in the Works With Jonah Hill, Tatum, Ice Cube

“24 Jump Street” is being developed as the third installment of Sony’s R-rated crime comedy franchise, with Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Ice Cube in talks to return. Rodney Rothman will direct and co-write the script, alongside Hill and Meghan Malloy, while

The comedy world has a new running gag to look forward to: “24 Jump Street.” For the third installment of the R-rated crime comedy franchise, Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Ice Cube are in talks to return.

Sony’s “Jump Street” films are already built on the idea that the joke never stops—starting as a self-aware reboot of the 1980s television series starring Johnny Depp. Now the title itself is keeping pace with that momentum, landing on “24 Jump Street” for whatever undercover mission comes next.

Rodney Rothman—known for “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”—will direct the film. He also wrote the script with Hill and Meghan Malloy. Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the producers who helmed the first two movies, are returning as well, joined by Neal H. Moritz.

The franchise’s chemistry goes back to the start. “21 Jump Street” starred Hill and Tatum as Schmidt and Jenko. underachieving cops who go undercover at a local high school to take down a drug ring. The film marked Lord and Miller’s live-action directorial debut and grossed more than $200 million worldwide. Ice Cube plays their superior, Captain Dickson.

Then came “22 Jump Street,” where Hill and Tatum repeated their undercover routine in college. That sequel pushed the box office even higher, topping $331 million.

A third “Jump Street” movie has been in development at Sony for more than a decade. Tatum previously described the script for the since-scrapped “23 Jump Street” as “the best script that I’ve ever read for a third movie.” That version of “23 Jump Street” was designed as a crossover with Sony’s blockbuster “Men in Black” franchise.

Why jump straight to “24 Jump Street”?. Part of it is what the earlier films already set up. The movies aren’t just playing the 1980s TV nostalgia card; they keep widening the undercover universe. The coda to “22 Jump Street” has Schmidt and Jenko taking on a string of other missions—an approach that could have fed directly into a “23 Jump Street.” The duo infiltrate a medical school. culinary school. firefighter school. dance school and seminary. then go to space and eventually become a video game and an animated series. With that history, Sony’s decision to call the next project “24 Jump Street” keeps the running joke rolling.

At present, Tatum only has an offer to return for “24 Jump Street,” with negotiations expected to take place soon.

24 Jump Street Jonah Hill Channing Tatum Ice Cube Rodney Rothman Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 21 Jump Street 22 Jump Street Sony Jump Street franchise