Channing Tatum says fans might want to stop hoping for 23 Jump Street, as the long-rumored sequel seems unlikely to ever happen.
In a recent chat with Variety, Tatum admitted that the third installment of the beloved buddy-cop comedy has been stuck in development hell — despite what he calls “the best script I’ve ever read for me and Jonah [Hill].” The issue? Outrageous producer fees that have repeatedly stalled progress.
“I get asked more about Jump Street 3 than any other movie on the face of the planet that I’ve ever done,” Tatum said. “I don’t think it’ll ever happen. The problem is the overhead. It would cost as much as the actual budget of the film — if not more — because of all the producers involved. It’s just too top-heavy. It falls over every time.”
Tatum shared that he, Hill, and directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller have all agreed to slash their producer fees to move things forward — but one major holdup remains: producer Neal H. Moritz.
“Neal’s price for a producer fee is huge,” Tatum explained. “And to be honest, that’s what’s killing it.”
The Jump Street series began in 2012 with a surprise smash hit that earned $201 million globally. Its sequel, 22 Jump Street, followed in 2014, bringing in an even bigger $331 million at the box office.
Over the years, several sequel concepts have surfaced — including a wild crossover idea with Men in Black — but none have made it past the planning stage.
The franchise itself reimagines the 1987 Fox series 21 Jump Street, which starred a young Johnny Depp as an undercover cop posing as a high school student. The show became a cultural touchstone and launched Depp’s rise to stardom, setting the stage for the hit films that followed.
