Schmidt and Jenko Are Finally Back: ’24 Jump Street’ Is Officially in the Works

The ‘Jump Street’ franchise holds a rare and coveted position in Hollywood comedy. What began as a comedic remake of the 1987-1991 Fox drama of the same name grew into one of Sony’s most beloved R-rated comedy properties, pairing the irresistible chemistry of Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum in a way that translated directly into box office gold. The original ’21 Jump Street’, which marked Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s live-action directorial debut, grossed more than $200 million worldwide.

Getting a third film made proved to be a different kind of undercover mission entirely. A third installment had been in development at Sony for more than a decade, with the most notable attempt being a planned crossover with the ‘Men in Black’ franchise that was eventually scrapped. For years the sequel existed only in cast interviews and cautious optimism, with Hollywood bureaucracy repeatedly standing between fans and a long-overdue reunion.

That wait appears to be over. Variety reports that ’24 Jump Street’ is officially in the works at Sony, with Hill, Tatum, and Ice Cube all in talks to return and reprise their roles in the third installment of the R-rated crime comedy franchise. The announcement landed as a genuine surprise for fans who had largely accepted the sequel might never come together.

Rodney Rothman, known for his work on ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’, is set to direct from a script he co-wrote with Hill and Meghan Malloy. Lord and Miller, who helmed both previous entries in the series, will return as producers alongside Neal H. Moritz, with Hill and his Strong Baby Productions partner Matt Dines, and Tatum and his Free Association partner Reid Carolin, also producing.

Tatum’s desire to make this film has been on the record for some time. Speaking to ComicBook.com at the ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ press junket, the actor described a previous draft for a third film as “the best script that I’ve ever read for a third movie.” He explained that getting it to the screen had been blocked by “a lot of bureaucracy, kind of above the line stuff,” though he and Hill were both eager to go play again.

The choice to title the new film ’24 Jump Street’ rather than ’23 Jump Street’ is its own kind of inside joke for devoted franchise fans. The ’22 Jump Street’ end credits famously fast-forwarded through a string of potential sequel ideas, and ’24 Jump Street’ was teased among them as a concept called “Foreign Exchange Students.” No plot details for the new installment have been shared, and it remains unclear why the number 23 was officially skipped.

The sequel will have a strong commercial legacy to build on, with ’22 Jump Street’ having topped its predecessor with a $331 million worldwide box office haul. With negotiations still ongoing and formal details yet to surface, anticipation is already climbing around how Schmidt, Jenko, and Captain Dickson will be brought back together.

Whether you think jumping straight from 22 to 24 is a stroke of meta genius or a missed opportunity to finally honour that long-promised third chapter is a debate worth having in the comments.