Fans Mourn Unrealized 'Men in Black' and '21 Jump Street' Crossover

The mashup movie that never was would have combined two hit comedy franchises.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 3:09am

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A crossover film between the Men in Black and 21 Jump Street franchises was in development at one point, with Phil Lord and Chris Miller attached as producers. The concept would have seen Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum's characters from 21 Jump Street get embroiled in the world of the Men in Black and team up to stop an alien takeover. However, the project ultimately never materialized due to the high overhead costs involved.

Why it matters

The proposed crossover between the two successful comedy franchises generated significant fan interest, as it would have combined the talents of the acclaimed filmmaking duo of Lord and Miller with the popular buddy cop chemistry of Hill and Tatum. While the movie never came to fruition, it highlights Hollywood's ongoing interest in creating high-profile crossover events, even if logistical and financial challenges can sometimes derail such ambitious projects.

The details

According to reports, the crossover film, tentatively titled 'MIB 23', would have seen Hill and Tatum's characters from 21 Jump Street, Morton and Greg, getting caught up in the world of the Men in Black. The script, which Lord and Miller described as 'very funny and very crazy', would have featured the duo working their way up the ranks of the secretive alien-monitoring organization, starting out in 'powder blue' suits before earning the iconic black suits. However, the involvement of multiple producers and the high costs associated with bringing together the two franchises ultimately proved to be insurmountable obstacles, leading Channing Tatum to conclude in a 2025 interview that the crossover 'will never happen'.

  • In 2014, news of the crossover project leaked due to a hack of Sony Pictures.
  • In a 2022 podcast appearance, Lord and Miller discussed the proposed crossover plot.
  • In a 2025 interview, Channing Tatum revealed that the project would never come to fruition due to the high overhead costs involved.

The players

Phil Lord and Chris Miller

The acclaimed filmmaking duo who were attached as producers on the proposed crossover project and are known for their work on hit comedies like 21 Jump Street and The Lego Movie.

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum

The stars of the 21 Jump Street films, whose characters were set to be the central focus of the crossover with the Men in Black franchise.

James Bobin

The director who was considered to potentially helm the crossover film, known for his work on The Muppets.

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What they’re saying

“It was basically the idea was that Jonah and Channing... a thing happened while they were doing their medical school adventure that got them embroiled into the world of Men in Black, and they ended up teaming up to stop an alien takeover type of thing.”

— Chris Miller, Producer

“Like the black suits were like martial arts belts that you had to work your way up to black and that [Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum] were issued powder blue Men in Black suits.”

— Phil Lord, Producer

“I don't think it'll ever happen. The problem is the overhead. It would cost as much as the actual budget of the film — if not more — because of all the producers involved. It's just too top-heavy. It falls over every time.”

— Channing Tatum

What’s next

While the proposed Men in Black and 21 Jump Street crossover will not be happening, fans can still enjoy the individual franchises. The 21 Jump Street films are available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S., and the Men in Black series can be found on various digital platforms.

The takeaway

The unrealized crossover between the two hit comedy franchises highlights the creative potential and fan interest in ambitious Hollywood mashups, even if logistical and financial hurdles can sometimes prevent such projects from coming to fruition. The story serves as a reminder that not every exciting concept makes it to the big screen, but the mere existence of such ideas can still captivate audiences and spark their imaginations.