Alicia Malone
Confirmed : Sony has confirmed that Channing Tatum will indeed play opposite Jonah Hill in the “21 Jump Street” flick.
CULVER CITY, Calif., December 1, 2010 – Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are set to star in a contemporary motion picture adaptation of 21 Jump Street, it was announced today by Doug Belgrad, president of Columbia Pictures. Hill and Tatum are executive producers on the project, which will be directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller from a screenplay by Michael Bacall based on a treatment from Hill and Bacall. Neal H. Moritz will produce the film with Stephen J. Cannell, who will receive posthumous credit. Commenting on the announcement, Belgrad said, “Jonah helped create a smart and funny vehicle that is tailor-made for him and Channing. They are a perfect duo for this film and Phil and Chris have a terrific, accessible take on the material. We love how this movie has come together and are very excited to begin production this spring.” Hannah Minghella and Jonathan Kadin are overseeing production for the film on behalf of the studio. An early hit for Fox Broadcasting, “21 Jump Street” focused on young cops with youthful appearances who work undercover in high schools and colleges. The popular series starred Johnny Depp and several other young stars and hit home with the network’s key teen demographic from 1987-1991.
Previously.. Channing Tatum is in negotiations to star in “21 Jump Street”, the big screen version of Stephen J.Cannell’s seminal 80’s series. Deadline says that ”the studio has met with a bunch of potential leading men and that Tatum and Hill matched up well. Both look youthful, which helps since the film is about undercover officers who infiltrate schools to fight crime.” I’ve read the script (thanks you-know-who!) and I can only imagine Tatum’s playing Tom Hansen, the role originated by Johnny Depp on the series. In this, Hansen is a former police officer who is persuaded to join the ‘undercover’ “Jump Street” taskforce by girlfriend Jules. It’s fun. Oh, and I think Hill will likely play Doug Henshall, the role Peter DeLuise played on the show. That seems to fit him. Hill told Moviehole earlier in the year that the film plans to shoot “in January/February. We’re really excited about that. We basically just loved the idea of young looking cops getting to go back to high school. It’s not like a direct interpretation of Johnny Depp’s character. We did write a cameo for Johnny Depp that he has expressed interest in so we’ll see. Hopefully that happens.” Phil Lord and Chris Miller direct.
