As production on the 21 Jump Street reboot grows nearer, it looks like the cast is starting to fill out. The latest actor involved in the project is comedian Rob Riggle. Variety reports that Riggle is in negotiations to join the cast as the villain of the film. Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) are set to direct the reboot from a script by Michael Bacall (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) and Jonah Hill.Hill and Channing Tatum will topline the film, with Brie Larson (The United States of Tara) recently announced as the female lead. Ice Cube is set to play the police chief in the adaptation of the 1980’s TV series that kicked off Johnny Depp’s career. Hit the jump for what we know about the film so far. 21 Jump Street is slated for release on March 16th, 2012.
The project has been in the works for a while, with Hill having written the script a few years ago. He’s been spearheading the film ever since, working hard to ensure that it got made. Phil Lord has described the film as “this really sweet coming of age story except the guys that are coming of age are in their early 20’s instead of 17 and 18,†though maintains that the film will be a big live-action R-rated movie. Hill’s personal description of the flick is that it’s “a John Hughes movie with Bad Boys style action.â€No other plot details are known at this point besides the assumption that Tatum and Hill will play young undercover cops. Emma Stone was originally offered the female lead, but was forced to turn it down after she was cast in The Amazing Spider-Man. Filming is expected to begin later this month.