JohnnyDepp-Zone.com

Variety reports that Jonah Hill “is in negotiations to develop a modern-day adaptation of 21 JUMP STREET” for Columbia Pictures. Mr. Hill, a regular fixture in Judd Apatow comedies and best known for last summer’s SUPERBAD, “would develop the screenplay as a potential starring vehicle and serve as executive producer,” says Variety. Producing the film will be Neal Moritz and series co-creator Stephen J. Cannell.

Deppheads have fond memories (even if Johnny Depp may not) of 21 JUMP STREET, which ran on Fox TV from 1987-1991 and brought JD teen idol status as Officer Tom Hanson, but this project seems unlikely to draw them to the theaters, as Jonah Hill is, to put it as generously as possible, no Johnny Depp. Nor will the new film resemble the series in its earnest dramatic tone: although the original JUMP STREET dealt with a squad of young cops going undercover in high schools and colleges and dealing with serious issues like drugs, AIDS and teen suicide, Hill plans to make his version “a flat-out comedy.” Hill told MTV’s Shawn Adler, “It’s going to have some of the funniest people around in it, and it’s going to be really funny, I hope,” he said. “Or we won’t make it! If it doesn’t turn out funny, I promise you, we will not make it.” Attaching the JUMP STREET name to this project seems a rather cynical exploitation that wouldn’t serve the series or its fans well, so why not just write an original high-school comedy instead?

The Zone thanks Vermontfudge for posting the story; you can read a spirited discussion of the merits of this project (or lack thereof) on the Porch forum. –Part-Time Poet