‘Magic Mike XXL’ Begins Production

Magic Mike XXL, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2012 surprise hit based on Channing Tatum's life, has begun production  Greg Silverman, President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President of Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures announced today.

The film, which is set three years after Mike decides to bow out of the stripper lifestyle, returns stars Channing Tatum,  Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez and Gabriel Iglesias as the remaining members of the Kings of Tampa look to bow out as well, but on their own terms.  With a final show set in Myrtle Beach, the guys are pulling out all the stops for one hell of a swan song.

Joining the cast for this dance are Elizabeth Banks, Donald Glover, Amber Heard, Andie MacDowell, Jada Pinkett Smith and Michael Strahan.  Original director Steven Soderbergh has moved into a purely producing role, making room for Emmy Award winner  Gregory Jacobs  to take a seat behind the camera.

Noticeably absent from the cast is recent Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey.  The story line (as well as his immense popularity) have him on the outside looking in.  Not to worry thouguh ladies, there will be plenty of abs, quads and shoulder muscles to go around.

While the film was often considered a joke amongst industry insiders, Magic Mike used its impresive cast of Hollywood's leading men (and their abs) to get women into the theater.  They, in turn, came by the bus load, empty their purses and pumping over $113 million into the domestic box-office.  That's more than The Bourne Legacy, Battleship, Rock of Ages and Wrath of the Titans.  With a minimal $7 million budget, its no wonder Warner Bros. has opted to give the women (and select men) a second helping!

Facebooktwitterredditmail

About Stephen Davis

Stephen Davis
I owe this hobby/career to the one and only Stephanie Peterman who, while interning at Fox, told me that I had too many opinions and irrelevant information to keep it all bottled up inside. I survived my first rated R film, Alive, at the ripe age of 8, it took me months to grasp the fact that Julia Roberts actually died at the end of Steel Magnolias, and I might be the only person alive who actually enjoyed Sorority Row…for its comedic value of course. While my friends can drink you under the table, I can outwatch you when it comes iconic, yet horrid 80s films like Adventures in Babysitting and Troop Beverly Hills. I have no shame when it comes to what I like, and if you have a problem with that, then we’ll settle it on the racquetball court. I see too many movies to actually win any film trivia contest, so don’t waste your first pick on me. My friends rent movies from my bookcase shelves, and one day I do plan to start charging. I long to live in LA, where my movie obsession will actually help me fit in, but for now I am content with my home in Austin. I prefer indies to blockbusters, Longhorns to Sooners and Halloween to Friday the 13th. I miss the classics, as well as John Ritter, and I hope to one day sit down and interview the amazing Kate Winslet.

Leave a Reply