Channing Tatum didn’t expect for a line from one of his previous roles to become a forever meme.
In an interview with Cinemablend, the Blink Twice star admitted his 21 Jump Street character saying, “My name is Jeff,” in the 2014 comedy has continued to be quoted to him, even in an unexpected place.
“It’s weird what happens in pop culture like that, you know? Same with ‘My name is Jeff.’ It’s such a small moment in the movie,” he said.
Tatum recalled the line not being “that funny” when reading the script at a table read at the time but it’s the one that unexpectedly became a fan favorite: “I remember we did a table read and it wasn’t even that funny at the table read. It was like whatever. And all of a sudden, man.”
“I’ve never went through TSA without somebody saying, ‘My name is Jeff,’” he revealed. “Almost every single time I go through TSA.”
The interviewer told Tatum that his name is actually Jeff and it’s also quoted to him. “At least you get to share this with me,” the actor said laughing.
The two films, 21 Jump Street and 22 Jump Street, starred Jonah Hill and Tatum as undercover police officers who attempt to prevent the outbreak of a new synthetic drug in a high school, and then move on to college in the sequel. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s 2012 comedy grossed more than $200 million at the box office. The 2014 sequel became the second-best opening of all time for an R-rated comedy at the time.
In an interview with ComicBook.com in June, Tatum said he is still hoping the long-rumored third Jump Street film becomes a reality.
“There is a project that was written, and it’s still the best script that I’ve ever read for a third movie,” Tatum said.
Following the release of the two successful 21 Jump Street films, Sony had been tossing around the idea of a crossover movie featuring its comedy franchises 21 Jump Street and Men in Black. Tatum’s co-star Hill would later reveal that the merging of the movies was unlikely to happen.
“It’s just a lot of bureaucracy, kind of above-the-line stuff,” Tatum explained. “It’s really hard to get it made, and we’ve been trying to get it done.
“You know what, I’m going to put some good juju out there and I’m going to say I would love to see 23 Jump Street,” Tatum said. “I would love to do it with Jonah, and Jonah I know wants to do it. We would love to just get to go play again.”
