Planned ‘21 Jump Street’ Revival Brings Jonah Hill Closer Than Ever to Heartthrob Status

Now that we’ve confirmed their likenesses beyond any reasonable doubt, the only thing left to wonder about Jonah Hill’s planned feature adaptation of 21 Jump Street is whether or not he can pull off Johnny Depp’s smoldering charm as Officer Tom Hanson, the undercover cop whose high-school crime-fighting exploits lasted four hit seasons on Fox in the late ’80s. Sony, which is handling the movie version, confirmed only to Entertainment Weekly that Hill has been hired to write and executive produce; he has not officially been cast in any role, but if Depp’s shoes indeed prove too sizable for Hill, there’s always the Peter DeLuise part. Or, if he’s feeling a particular lack of ambition, he could try Richard Grieco’s doomed Dennis Booker.

Details about the “tone or direction” were unavailable at press time, but we’re guessing Hill might lean toward comedy. That said, if the show’s infamously didactic spirit isn’t followed to the letter, and we don’t learn at least one lesson about smoking, pregnancy, alcohol abuse, racism or (hopefully) all of the above, there will be hell to pay. Don’t fuck this one up, pal.

• Jonah Hill in negotiations to develop ‘21 Jump Street’ movie [EW]