It’s Twofer Tatum day in Newsville, with updates on one of Channing Tatum’s upcoming films and a quote from the actor about a rumoured project that has been circulating for a while. First up: he’s let slip some new details about **Magic Mike 2.
Talking with MTV after the channel’s movie awards show this weekend, Tatum admitted that the sequel was not, sadly, writing itself, but that he was still hard at work with writing partner Reid Carolin on the script. As for the concept, the writer/producer/actor reveals that it’ll be a road-trip movie, with some real moments, but not a dark drama. “This one, we want there to be a lot of conflict and a lot of struggle", he said, "but we also want there to be a shit ton of fun, of ridiculous stuff you’ll never see in a movie again.” He also thinks everyone will be back, though no deals are done yet. They’ll want to get on that, as the film now has a confirmed US release date of July 3, 2015, according to Warner Bros.. Greg Jacobs will be handing directorial chores this time around.
And so to that more nebulous idea: of Tatum taking on the role of X-Men comics stalwart Gambit. You’ll no doubt recall Lauren Shuler Donner telling us that she was seriously interested in the idea. "I'm dying to do a Gambit movie with Channing Tatum," Shuler Donner revealed. "That doesn't have to be a great big movie. It's a thief in New Orleans; it's a whole different story. He's on board, and I have to get the studio on board. How can anyone resist Channing? He's such a sweetheart."
In the same interview in which he dropped the new Magic Mike details, Tatum also mentioned that he’d definitely talked about the idea. "I met with Lauren Shuler Donner. And I would love it. Gambit is really the only X-Man I’ve ever loved. I mean I’ve loved them all, they’re all great, but I guess from being down south – my dad’s from Louisiana, I’m from Mississippi, Alabama, Florida – I don’t know. I just related to him. He’s just kind of suave. He’s the most un-X-Men X-Man that’s ever been in X-Men. Other than maybe Wolverine, who’s like the anti-hero. He’s a thief. He’s not even a hero. He’s kind of walking the line of grey. He loves women and drinking and smoking and stuff so he’s just a cool guy who happens to have a moral centre.
"I hope it comes together. You never know, it’s a weird industry. If the stars align, I would die to play it. I’m already working on the accent. It’s crappy at the moment." So if you like the concept, keep hoping everyone plays their cards right on this one. Especially since Bryan Singer has talked up the idea of Gambit in** X-Men: Apocalypse**... His latest X-venture, Days Of Future Past, is due out on May 22.