Johnny Depp Will Drop By Jonah Hill's 21 Jump Street

Back in 1990, Stephen Rebello, writing for Movieline, wondered if this Johnny Depp kid would manage to transcend the teenybopper stardom of his hit undercover cop show and make it as a bona fide movie star. Over two decades later, Depp is one of the biggest stars on the planet -- and, according to reports, will return to the property that started it all. That's right, folks: The 21 Jump Street movie is getting a visit from the original Officer Tom Hanson!

Coming Soon reports that Depp has lined up a cameo role in Columbia Pictures' 21 Jump Street film adaptation, which is being directed by Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs helmers Phil Lord and Chris Miller. Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill star in the Depp and Peter DeLuise roles, respectively, playing two cops who go undercover to root out crime in high schools.

Hill, who co-wrote the script with Michael Bacall (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), has long voiced his hope that Depp might drop by for a cameo appearance in the film, which takes a decidedly more comedic approach to the original premise. In addition to Hill and Tatum, the cast includes Brie Larson, Dave Franco, Rob Riggle, DeRay Davis, Jake Johnson, and Ice Cube as our heroes' police captain.

While we're on the subject of Depp and 21 Jump Street it's worth a look back at that fascinating 1990 Movieline interview, in which a 27-year-old Depp waxed candidly about his readiness to leave the show for film roles such as his turn in the then-filming Edward Scissorhands.

Four seasons and major TV stardom later, Johnny Depp keeps this calendar: "Every day," says the actor, "I mark down the days left. Two more seasons... contractually." After a moment, Depp says of his $45,000-per-episode series deal: "I don't want to bite the hand that feeds me. I've been lucky. It's put me on the map.But once you put your name on a piece of paper, you have no choice. There are people in ties with very big pens and hulking desks who do bad things to you."

Jabbing his umpteenth Marlboro into an overflowing ashtray, Depp says, "I'm a little long in the tooth to be in high school. Clay won't help the bags under my eyes anymore. [The producers] really should do a Menudo-type thing, just pop other guys into the role, or else, like on soap operas, if one of the regulars is sick, announce: 'This week, Lance McGillacutty will be playing the role of Alan Quartermain.' " He sighs, "They only cancel TV after it's been really bad for a really long time."

Read the full interview and find more Movieline classics in The Vault.

· Exclusive: Johnny Depp Confirmed for 21 Jump Street Cameo! [Coming Soon]