With 22 Jump Street set to hit theaters this Friday (June 13), Ice Cube called in to speak with AllHipHop about his role in the sequel for 21 Jump Street also starring both Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. Built with laughs upon laughs, so far this comedy has lived up to the media’s hype receiving great reviews from the who’s who of movie critics.
Viewers of the first flick will remember Ice Cube played Captain Dickson, a hard-edged, no-nonsense boss, who repeatedly barks orders at his subordinate cops Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. We don’t want to give away too much, but we can tell you that Ice Cube does have a larger role in this movie and we can tell you that the laughs roll out from beginning to end with some crazy twists and turns.
In the interview Cube said he felt like he, “was on vacation” as he was able to take off his directing and producing hats for the more simple task on set of just acting in this college themed sequel. Take a quick read of Part 1 in our call with Ice Cube, as Cube recalls the filming of the final scenes in Puerto Rico and how he approaches making a memorable sequel.
More from Ice Cube in the coming week with Part 2 of our interview, but for now make sure you check out 22 Jump Street in theaters this Friday June 13th!
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AllHipHop: First and foremost we want to thank you for your contributions to Hip-Hop and to the progression of Black actors and directors. We recognize the importance of your varied roles in film and their impact on Hollywood, so thank you sir.
Ice Cube: Thank you very much.
AllHipHop: Now, just getting into the 22 Jump Street movie, you play Captain Dickson, who oversees Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum on their case. How easy or difficult was it to take on this role?
22 Jump Street Official Red Band Trailer
Ice Cube: It easy and it was fun. It was one of those roles where dude is super cliché, over the top and loud, so it was just fun to yell at Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum all day. We just had a ball… Me just acting and not producing, it seemed like being on vacation dude. I didn’t have the responsibility of having to worry about the whole production. I could just focus on my part and it makes it that much easier. It was easy.
AllHipHop: What was one of the most memorable moments on set with the guys?
Ice Cube: I think doing some of the spring break stuff because we were out there in Puerto Rico on the beach partying. Probably the scene in the end because just before we end up cutting that beginning piece that you saw, the end of the movie was me yelling at them as they walked up the beach. Telling them they better bring they ass back. (laughs) It was just me yelling…They probably gonna have that on the DVD, you know so probably the end of the movie in Puerto Rico. It’s what you do movies for.
22 Jump Street Featurette “Captain Dickson”
AllHipHop: It looks like you had a good chemistry with the guys, from the NBA Finals pieces to the previews, the b-roll footage too.
Ice Cube: It’s a lot of respect going back and forth. They respect what I do and I definitely respect what they do and the names they made for themselves in Hollywood. Jonah is definitely a beast when it comes to acting and producing, so it’s all love.
22 Jump Street Featurette – “MC State
AllHipHop: You’ve been in several successful sequels as both an actor and as a director. What’s your approach to making a sequel memorable?
Ice Cube: Do not rely on the first movie, that’s the number one thing. I think people hate that. I think people hate when they go to see a sequel and it’s basically just an extension of the first movie. It’s not new or fresh, it’s just the same. I always equate it to making a new meal with the same ingredients. We gotta make a new meal but with the same ingredients but it’s still gotta be fresh. That’s kind of the approach to me making a fresh sequel – it takes from the first one but doesn’t rely on the first one.
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