I think we’re all a little surprised that a male stripper film remains one of the best movies of the year going into prestige season, but that’s what happens when the rippling abs and stuttering dubstep fall into the hands of one of our greatest filmmakers. Fortunately, earlier this year Soderbergh’s efforts were rewarded as bachelorette parties and interested film geeks drove Magic Mike to a +$150m worldwide bankroll. That’s a lot of singles.
As much as Soderbergh is responsible for crafting the artful, confidently shot look into the world of male stripping though, Channing Tatum gets as much credit for anchoring the film with a charming, layered performance that brings charm well matched with vulnerability. It appears Tatum’s emotional investment in the film goes even deeper, as he’s told a German outlet that in lieu of Soderbergh returning, he might opt to direct a sequel himself if such a thing were to happen, possibly in concert with his producing partner Reid Carolin.
This has no momentum currently, as a Broadway adaptation will surely come together first, but Tatum and Carolin have described an eagerness to return to the story, perhaps even up the scale a little bit. Carolin has most recently framed it as a potential road movie.
“You know, we are talking a lot about it. We have a story, and it is really ridiculous and fun. It’s a road movie sort of thing, where a bunch of strippers get back together. It’s more of a broad comedy. I don’t know whether it will happen or not.”
It’s easy to imagine Mike’s story and Soderbergh’s established aesthetic playing out over a road movie, but it’s hard to predict if the small flourishes and thoughtful moments that make Magic Mike so satisfying will endure in another film. I am interested in seeing what Tatum has learned from his director’s if he’s interested in going down that path though. Since this is a small, interesting little movie universe with some proven success behind it that Tatum knows well, it’s probably the proper playground for a directing debut. Maybe we’ll get some kind of modern, extremely physically fit Kerouac story out of it.
Source | Indiewire (via Filmdrunk)