14 DAY TRIAL // Arguably one of the most anticipated movies of the year is the Channing Tatum-produced and Steven Soderbergh-directed “Magic Mike,” which comes out at the end of the month. Though fans are already dying to see it, Tatum's former colleagues are anything but pleased about it.
The reason this film is getting so much media attention (aside from the obvious one: a groups of male dancers spending most of their onscreen time shirtless and dancing) is that it's based on Tatum's brief experience as a stripper.
Not only did he produce the film, but he also stars in it and helped in the writing of the script, since, as noted above, it's inspired from events in his pre-fame life.
His former colleagues disagree, TMZ reports. They feel that Tatum ripped them off, stole their story and dance moves and didn't even bother to credit them in the making of the film.
“TMZ spoke to Thomas 'Awesome' Austin and London Steele […] who say the film is based more off their lives than his… even down to the title – Magic Mike – which is a name Austin says he coined for another dancer,” the celebrity e-zine writes.
They claim Channing didn't contact them asking for permission and did not mention them in any way in the film.
They feel they have been done a severe wrong since, as they see it, without them, there would be no film to begin with.
“'Awesome' Austin tells TMZ he and his former male dance buddies are a like a 'brotherhood' and, while they’re happy for Channing’s success, they feel betrayed by the actor for not involving any of them in the film,” TMZ notes.
“They claim they took Tatum under their wings when he was a nobody and taught him all their special moves like 'The Hot Seat' – which is featured in the film and Austin says he invented it,” the report further says.
The dancers are probably thinking of suing but, as various celebrity bloggers point out, they can't really do that unless they had the name and the dance moves trademarked before Channing made his movie.
If they did, they actually stand a chance in court. If not, they're probably just out to cash in on his fame.
“Magic Mike” comes out on June 29th and stars, besides Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Matthew McConaughey and Olivia Munn.