Channing Tatum hints at a ‘Magic Mike’ sequel

Attention, ladies and more than a few gentlemen: Valentine’s Day has come early, wrapped in a heart shaped box and tied with a bow by Channing Tatum: the actor has confirmed that a sequel to “Magic Mike” is in the works.

Tatum told Yahoo’s very own Matt McDaniel that he’s working on a follow-up to Steven Soderbergh’s 2012 male-stripper fantasia. “If he doesn’t come back, I don’t know how we’re going to do it without our leader,” said Tatum in reference to the director’s recent announcement that he’s retiring from filmmaking. “I’ll try to sucker him to coming in and at least DP-ing, get him in the room, at least.”

“Magic Mike” was one of last year’s greatest sleeper hits, racking up $114 million and reviews whose tone was consistently one of very pleasant surprise. The story of a stripper who wants to leave behind his life of pelvic thrusting and tear-away chaps for one spent crafting custom high-end furniture, it was based in part on its star Channing Tatum’s own experience as an exotic dancer. Tatum hinted at the possibility of a sequel last July, when he told Glamour U.K. that “we’re working on the concept now. We want to flip the script and make it bigger.” Around the same time, his co-star Joe Manganiello (aka Big Dick Richie) also told Hollywood.com that there was talk of a prequel.

Even if a pre/sequel fails to materialize, fans can take solace in the possibility of the film hitting Broadway: last June, Reid Carolin, Tatum’s producing partner and the film’s screenwriter, told USA Today that there were plans to do a stage version, a la “The Full Monty,” that would be “more of a romp, more of a fun night out at a club with a story.” Although co-star Alex Pettyfer said at the time that he’d “absolutely” do the Broadway show, McConaughey told MTV News that he’d “probably be a spectator,” although “there's good money in Broadway if you get a show that really takes off." Just like one of Tatum’s thongs.