Film Adaptation of 21 Jump Street to Begin Production in Spring 2011

In a press release today (Deadline|Hollywood has a copy), Columbia Pictures confirmed that Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum will star in a contemporary film adaptation of the late 1980s Fox television series 21 Jump Street. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller will direct a Michael Bacall written screenplay, based on an idea by Hill and Bacall.

Columbia Pictures president Doug 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."

In the original series, a group of young-looking cops (notably Johnny Depp as Officer Thomas Hanson and Holly Robinson as Detective Judy Hoffs) went undercover to investigate under-age criminals or troubled youths. This new film, which has been in various stages of development since at least early 2009, is expected to be a more comedic version of the series.