UPDATE: Sony Pictures confirms that Channing Tatum, along with Jonah Hill, will be starring in a modern film adaptation of "21 Jump Street."
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Is Channing Tatum the next Johnny Depp?
The "Step Up" star is the top contender for the lead role in "21 Jump Street," reports Deadline.
The film is based on the 1987 television series of the same name, whcih followed a group of baby-faced undercover cops who disguised themselves as high school students to weed out trouble. Depp famously launched his career playing one of those NARCs.
The "21 Jump Street" film is the brain-child of actor Jonah Hill and writer/actor Michael Bacall. Bacall already has special nerd cred for co-penning the screenplay to "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," which just released on DVD and Blu-ray.
Production is set to begin this spring. Let's hope that date doesn’t get pushed, as Tatum and Hill can’t play high school students -- or even undercover high school students -- forever.
Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the directing duo behind "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," are set to direct. In case you missed "Meatballs," Lord and Miller cut their teeth on cult TV cartoon "Clone High U.S.A." Considering "Clone High U.S.A." is one of the single greatest depictions of high school ever (we’re not joking), our hopes for "21 Jump Street" are a wee bit higher.
As for Tatum, his contract's not official yet, but negotiations should begin very soon.
What 1980s television series would you like to see Tatum in next? Don't say "G.I. Joe."
(Originally published on Nov. 10, 2010, at 10:40 a.m. ET)
