Hill and Tatum set to return for 23 Jump Street

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum in 22 Jump Street. Photo / AP

Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill look set to return to their roles as entertaining covert cops in 23 Jump Street, after it was confirmed that work has begun on a third movie in the series.

Rodney Rothman will pen the script after his success on 22 Jump Street, but it remains unknown whether Phil Lord and Christopher Miller will be back in the director's chair.

Sony Pictures and Original Film have started forward motion on the new film, which will also star Neal Moritz, Deadline reports.

The latest movie, which took $320 million at the global box office earlier this year, saw hapless colleagues Schmidt and Jenko trying to break up a fraternity crime ring while questioning their partnership.

It ended with Captain Dickson sending the duo off to medical school on their next assignment as part of a montage that openly made fun of sequels.

Lord and Miller told MTV News that a version of the movie in which Schmidt and Jenko leave the police force was badly received by a test audience.

"They were so sad because all they want is to believe that this goes on forever," said Lord ahead of 22 Jump Street's release.

The forthcoming storyline is being kept under wraps, with further details expected soon.

- Independent