Recently, we saw filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller talk about the shelved crossover film that would see the “Men in Black” and “21 Jump Street” franchises intersect. The filmmakers raved about the idea that was being developed but talked about how it still is being held up because of various reasons. Now, we have Channing Tatum not only raving about the possible crossover but also going a bit more into detail about why Sony hasn’t given the green light.
Speaking to Collider, while promoting his upcoming film, “Dog,” Channing Tatum talked about the potential “Men in Black”/“21 Jump Street” film and how the script is one of the best he’s ever read. In fact, he thinks it’s the funniest script he’s ever read.
“I still think it could work, I really do,” explained Tatum about the crossover film. “And if Sony would ever really, like, I think do the hard work and figure out the producer problems that are inherent with that film, I think we can still do it. But right now, I don’t know why, they’re just not motivated to do it. It’s a big overhead on that movie, so.”
The actor went on to say that the script for spinoff/sequel is “by and away the best third sequel to any franchise that I’ve ever read, in my entire life.”
After Tatum’s filmmaking partner, Reid Carolin said the script is “one of the funniest scripts I’ve ever read,” Tatum added, “Bar none. And I would not say that if I did not really believe it, because I don’t like being wrong, like, specifically about that.”
Tatum’s comments are really the first time we’ve heard exactly what the hold-up is with the “Men in Black”/“21 Jump Street” crossover. Apparently, it’s not a script issue. It’s not an actor issue. It comes down to the producers of the original ‘MIB’ franchise having to sign off on the project. (That’s code for saying the producers have to get paid.)
“There’s [Steven] Spielberg, Neil Moritz, and Walter Parks,” Tatum said. “They’re giant producers, y’know, on that. And then once everybody is kinda like, not willing to come off their fee, you end up having a producer fee that is essentially, maybe more than the actual budget on the movie.”
So, while it seems that everyone involved, creatively, with the crossover film seems jazzed about the idea, there’s still a lot of Hollywood negotiating that would have to happen to make the film come to fruition. For now, we’ll just have to continue to be teased by everyone involved and hope that maybe we get the comedy sequel that we’ve been waiting years for.