14 DAY TRIAL // Just a couple of days ago, Joe Manganiello confirmed that, beating even the most optimistic reports, the sequel to “Magic Mike” would start shooting this fall, which means that fans should probably expect it in theaters in late 2014 or early 2015.
The Playlist has learned from well-placed sources that the film will have the working title “Magic Mike XXL” and will be directed by Greg Jacobs. The original was helmed by Steven Soderbergh, who announced right after that he would not return for a follow-up, if one should ever be made.
At one point, word had it that Channing Tatum, who wrote the script for the original based on his own experience and also starred in it as lead, was thinking of trying his hand at this directing stuff with the sequel.
He won’t, but he is still acting as producer, screenwriter, and leading man. The same media outlet says Greg Jacobs will direct “Magic Mike XXL,” which totally makes sense because he’s been Soderbergh’s director assistant for years, including on the first film.
As for what fans should expect from the sequel, Tatum said it best some time ago: a lighter, funnier, and more shameless movie than the first one. I choose to take that to mean more dancing and more shedding of clothes from Channing and his hunky co-stars, but who knows.