Channing Tatum: Will he direct 'Magic Mike 2'?
We鈥檝e said it before, but it bears repeating: you don鈥檛 have to like Channing Tatum as an actor, but through his charismatic performances in The Vow, 21 Jump Street and 鈥� not to mention, Tatum鈥檚 solid supporting role in Haywire 鈥� he鈥檚 already proven to be more than just a disposable pretty boy.
Tatum鈥檚 lined up an eclectic collection of roles for the foreseeable future, such as a reunion with Haywire and Magic Mike director Steven Soderbergh on , the part of Olympian Mark Schultz in Moneyball director Bennett Miller鈥檚 Foxcatcher, and the lead in Roland Emmerich鈥檚 thriller . He鈥檚 also been discussing the possibility of a Magic Mike 2 with writer/co-producer Reid Carolin 鈥� and could even end up directing the sequel, should it happen.
Soderbergh is planning to take a (permanent?) break from filmmaking beginning next year, so he won鈥檛 be available to sit in the director鈥檚 chair for Magic Mike 2. Tatum tells German site that Soderbergh鈥檚 trusted assistant director and producer Gregory Jacobs 鈥� who鈥檚 already helmed the films Criminal and Wind Chill 鈥� could take his place. The actor also says he鈥檚 interested (and willing) to try his hand at directing the sequel.
A sequel is tricky, as Magic Mike ; moreover, Soderbergh鈥檚 deft photography, editing, and directing were essential in elevating the movie above its occasionally-cliched story. A sequel makes financial sense, as the film has grossed $155 million worldwide on a $7 million budget 鈥� but it鈥檚 also for that reason that, at first, Magic Mike 2 sounds like the latest Hollywood cash-grab (especially without Soderbergh involved).
Such issues have almost certainly occurred to Carolin and Tatum, which accounts for why the two are not rushing headfirst into a Magic Mike sequel 鈥� regardless of who is brought onboard to direct, be it Jacobs or Tatum. The latter emphasizes that his priority concerning the continuation of the Magic Mike 鈥渂rand name鈥� right now is a Broadway stage show spinoff, not a film sequel (much less, one he makes his feature-length directorial debut on).
Nonetheless, even though Magic Mike 2 is not a priority, Tatum and Carolin are indicating the project is one they are giving serious consideration to. Here is what the latter says, with regards to the situation (and the duo鈥檚 tentative outline for what form the sequel would take):
鈥淵ou know, we are talking a lot about it. We have a story, and it is really ridiculous and fun. It鈥檚 a road movie sort of thing, where a bunch of strippers get back together. It鈥檚 more of a broad comedy. I don鈥檛 know whether it will happen or not.鈥�
Magic Mike, as mentioned before, just doesn鈥檛 organically lend itself to a followup 鈥� be it a road trip comedy like Carolin suggests, or something else entirely. Still, it is encouraging to learn that Tatum wants to continue growing as a professional artist, both onscreen and behind the camera. As we said at the beginning of this article: he continues to prove that he鈥檚 more than just a beefcake for moviegoers to ogle.
Sandy Schaefer blogs at .
