21 Jump Street
Channing Tatum (left) and Jonah Hill (right), pictured in "21 Jump Street," will take a backseat for the franchise's all female spin-off. Sony Pictures

“21 Jump Street” is coming back again, but Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum will not have anything to do with it. Sony has announced that the studio is developing an all-female spi-off of the popular movie in a move that will inject some much needed diversity into the film comedy landscape.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Sony’s decision to develop the female-centric reboot stems from a desire to expand the “21 Jump Street” franchise’s universe. Since the 2012 flick and 2014 sequel, "22 Jump Street," earning a combined $530 million at the box office, it's not hard to see Sony’s rationale. The studio previously announced that a “Men in Black” and “21 Jump Street” crossover film is in the works with Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum set to star.

The news also comes on the heels of Sony’s all-female “Ghostbusters” reboot. “Bridesmaids” director Paul Feig will helm the project with Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon set to star as the lady-Ghostbusters.

As for “21 Jump Street,” Sony has hired the ideal writers for the spinoff. “Broad City” writers Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs – who also stars in the Comedy Central series as Trey – will pen the script. “Broad City” has received widespread acclaim for its female-driven comedy and Aniello and Downs should bring the perfect sensibility to “21 Jump Street.”

As for the movie’s potential stars, no casting decisions have been announced, but fans are free to speculate as to who would be the perfect female Morton Schmidt and Greg Jenko. Blockbuster female comedians, such as Kristen Wiig or Melissa McCarthy, are likely too old to pull off playing fake high school students, but there are many terrific options out there for the studio. The “Broad City” connection could open the door for that show’s two leads – Abbi Jacobsen and Ilana Glazer – to star. Plus, Sony could also pull from the many young, female comedians currently on “Saturday Night Live,” such as Cecily Strong, Vanessa Bayer or Aidy Bryant.

Fans will have to wait and see who Sony will cast. No release date has been set for the spinoff.

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