Although he’s been more known for his comedy and action chops in the last couple of years, Channing Tatum isn’t forgetting that romantic drama helped build his career. He’s signed a deal to adapt a tragic, but hopeful story of single fatherhood called Two Kisses For Maddy, which he may also star in.
Tatum’s production company, Free Association, has partnered with Temple Hill and Sony’s TriStar team to nab the rights to Matthew Logelin’s book, which is subtitled A Memoir Of Loss And Love. It details his marriage and the tragic events of his daughter’s birth, as his wife died 27 hours after the baby’s arrival, leaving him to raise the girl as a single father. And the title, in case you didn’t guess, refers to the kisses he gave her every night in memory of his wife.
First published in 2011, the book rose up the New York Times bestseller list and was originally bought as a potential film for the Lifetime channel, before vanishing into limbo. Now Tatum’s team has Safe Haven writer Dana Stevens at work on a script that the actor/producer may star in.
Next up for Tatum is the return of the stripper gang in Magic Mike XXL, which struts into cinemas on July 3. He’ll also be seen in the Coens’ Hail, Caesar!, due February 26 next year. And there’s the Gambit movie still in development, which is set to shoot later this year but is still locking in a director.