One of the most interesting movie projects to be uncovered during the massiveSony hackin late 2014 was a movie that eventually came to be known asMIB 23, a crossover of theMen in BlackandJump Streetfranchises. BothChanning TatumandJonah Hillwere said to return as Jenko and Schmidt, with two younger actors replacingWill SmithandTommy Lee Jonesas J and K. Earlier this year, it seemed like the movie may actually happen, but, according toJonah Hill, that may not be the case.
Sony Pictures made this long-rumored project official during theirCinemaConpresentation in April, and then in May, we reported thatThe MuppetsfilmmakerJames Bobinhas come aboard to direct. We haven’t heard anything about the project since then, but during an interview withToronto Sunfor his new movieWar Dogs,Jonah Hillexpressed doubt thatMIB 23will ever actually happen.
“I had the idea. But I doubt that movie will get made. It’s too complicated. They’re trying to make all the deals, but it’s kind of impossible with all the Men in Black stuff. TheJump Streetfilms were so fun to make and the whole joke of them was they were making fun of remakes and sequels and reboots and then now it’s become a giant sequel, reboot. It’s almost become what we were making fun of and it’s hard to maintain that joke when it’s so high stakes. I loveChanningand I love (directors)Phil LordandChris Millerand I love making those movies - they’re a lot of fun. So I hope it works out.”
Phil LordandChris Miller, who directed both21 Jump Streetand22 Jump Street, handed over the directorial reins toJames Bobinbecause they’re currently occupied with Disney’sHan Solo: A Star Wars Storyspinoff, which is set for release in May 2018. The filmmakers are still on board as producers, alongsideNeal H. Moritz, but as of now, this crossover project doesn’t have a release date, and we don’t know if there is any production schedule in place.
Last April,Phil LordandChris Millerclaimed that all of thefake sequelsrevealed at the end of22 Jump Streetwould be canon, and would be implemented into the actual sequel.Rodney Rothman, who wrote22 Jump Street, is writing the script forMIB 23, which was reportedly met with praise by the studio, although no official plot details have been revealed. Sony is also developing a separatereboot trilogy, which won’t feature any of the original stars, but it isn’t known if those films will be connected toMIB 23. We’ll be sure to keep you posted with more updates onMIB 23as soon as we have them.
