Last week we got word (albeit a translated one) that 2012’s megastar Channing Tatum was throwing around the idea of helming a sequel to Steven Soderbergh’s summer hit Magic Mike. Since he has yet to direct any feature, we were surprised at the news, but went with it considering Soderbergh’s retirement and WB’s likely pressure to go back to the highly profitable property. Things have now been cleared up thanks to a recent interview with Tatum.
Vulture sat down with Tatum, while he was promoting his new dramedy 10 Years, and said he would like to indeed direct his first feature, but it would be after his recent commitments. Those projects include the currently filming White House Down, the drama Foxcatcher this fall, a 21 Jump Street sequel, and if Cloud Atlas hits big, likely the Wachowskis’ next sci-fi- film Jupiter Ascending.
However, the directorial debut in question would not be a sequel to Magic Mike, as he said, “Reid [Carolin, producing partner] and I aren’t idiots! We’re not going to direct our first movie as a sequel to a Steven Soderbergh movie. That’s not smart. I want to start with something very small … make a lot of mistakes, make them real early, and then go jump in [on Magic Mike 2].” He still admitted enthusiasm for the project, saying that they are “want to do the sequel” and added, “It’s too good of a movie, and the characters are so crazy, that we want to go for it. We feel like we did the little indie version this last time, and for the next one, we want to up the stakes a little, maybe go even farther.”
Considering one of the elements I loved most about Mike was the lowkey vibe that Soderbergh exuded, putting you directly into this world with little frills, I’m a bit wary on Tatum’s inclination to up the stakes and stray away from the indie filmmaking sensibilities. But with the actor knowing this world, I’d have to trust he could get it right again, even though it all seems a long ways off. To wrap up, check out his quote regarding Soderbergh and how he could never ape his style:
It’s weird to think about the movie without Soderbergh, but he’s gone. He’s definitely retired. He’s like in Hawaii right now. I could look at how he uses the camera, how he sets up shots, how he makes his decisions, but at the end of the day, it’s really how he sees the world, and we’ll never be able to copy Soderbergh. No one can. Even if you tried to copy him, you can’t, because it’s always going to be a reflection of yourself. It’s like love. If you understand love, if you’re in love, you’ll put your version of love into the movie.
Do you want to see a Magic Mike sequel by Tatum?