After rumors speculating a female 21 Jump Street was in-the-works began to trickle earlier this week, it was confirmed today such plans are officially in motion. Details are slim for the moment, but Lucia Aniello and Paul Downs (“Broad City“) will write the female driven Jump Street spin-off, in Sony’s continued efforts to have both a new franchise and cinematic universe. Meanwhile, the months-long rumors of a 21 Jump Street and Men In Black crossover are also real, as this film is also in Sony’s mindset. These are both in addition to 23 Jump Street, by the way.
This news comes after the studio put to motion Paul Feig‘s female-led not long after. Production on Feig’s film begins this summer, but there’s no word on when cameras are expected to roll on the rest of these announced features.
This is all just Sony getting their gears in motion for the moment, with no announcement on who’ll play the female leads. There’s suggestion Dakota Johnson, who played a young officer in 21 Jump Street, could lead this new movie based on her Fifty Shades of Grey success. It’s also possible “Broad City” stars Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer could be roped in. Meanwhile, despite excitement from Jonah Hill, there’s no official certification he, Tatum or Men in Black stars Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones or even Josh Brolin are set.
Rumors for this female crossover began at Tracking Board two days prior, but confirmation comes from The Wrap for both new movies.
Based purely on becoming announced first, 23 Jump Street is likely Sony’s first priority for this, which now likely leads into the Men in Black crossover and likely introduces whoever plays the female cops before their individual movie. The first film was enjoyable because it made its self-awareness feel fresh, but last year’s film — while not horrible — did prove this formula doesn’t have long-term durability.
Which makes these three movies all the more worrisome, although a female 21 Jump Street is likely most promising so long as they cast the parts right and have some fresh ideas in check. Now that Ghostbusters and 21 Jump Street have their cinematic universes, however, what’s next? A Zombieland universe?
