’22 Jump Street’ Directors on That Amazing Closing Credits Sequence That Almost Never Existed

[Warning: Some spoilers from the ending sequence below.]

There are plenty of hilarious moments in 22 Jump Street, but the closing credit sequence is being called out by fans as one of the funniest montages in recent memory.

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It turns out the sequence, which featured stars Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill in a series of fake promos for future Jump Street sequels, almost never existed. Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller told The Hollywood Reporter that a completely different ending was in place just six weeks before the release of the Sony and MGM comedy.

“We had a different ending in which Jonah and Channing said, ‘We’re done. We’re not doing any more movies,’ and then they walked off into the sunset,” said Miller. “The audience was like, ‘I don’t want that. I want them to do more!’ ”

After the screening, Lord and Miller decided that they would do just that — give the audience more.

So just six weeks before the film’s release, they thought of “a million” ideas for potential sequels — putting the cop duo in medical school, in a ballet company or in space, to name a few.

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“We called the guys and said, ‘We have this crazy idea for end credits, but we need you to come in for a day,’ ” said Miller.

The entire end sequence was shot in just one day and even featured some surprise cameos, including Seth Rogen and Anna Faris.

“We just called up friends and said, ‘Hey we’re shooting this thing; are you free? Can you come in for an hour?’ ” said Miller.

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Lord and Miller edited the sequence the following day and added animated components with the help of Alma Mater, the company that produced the credits for the directors’ other films The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street.

Although the directors were game to poke fun at the industry’s habit for turning to sequels when something works, they told THR that they weren’t completely against the idea of doing another Jump Street.

“Never say never. We will see this weekend what the appetite is,” said Miller, just days before the film’s release.

The comedy, which hit theaters on June 13, opened No. 1 at the domestic box office, earning an estimated $60 million in North America. 

Email: Rebecca.Ford@THR.com
Twitter: @Beccamford