Channing Tatum will end up appearing in all three 'Magic Mike' movies. Abaca Press

Channing Tatum comments on whether Matthew McConaughey will reprise 'Magic Mike' role

By Megan Armstrong | Last updated 2/7/22

Matthew McConaughey left his Magic Mike character Dallas in 2012 with the original film, opting not to participate in the 2015 sequel Magic Mike XXL.

Channing Tatum imagines McConaughey will continue to leave Dallas in the past despite a third film being in the works for the dominant franchise.

"I didn’t know if Matthew would want to do it," Tatum told Entertainment Tonight. "He loves what he did in the first movie so much. He was like, ‘I don’t want to touch it.'"

The 41-year-old actor and producer added: "I mean, I'm not saying anything about mine or anyone else's performances. He was the star. He was the movie. It was special. I can’t tell you how many times I had to watch the movie because of different edits [director] Steven [Soderbergh] would do, and I would just fast forward to when he blew the fire, and I’m like, 'Yeah, he's a swan song.'"

Tatum confirmed in late November another Magic Mike installment, titled Magic Mike's Last Dance, with Soderbergh returning to direct:

Well world, looks like Mike Lane’s tapping back in. @hbomax pic.twitter.com/V9Ce62n710
— Channing Tatum (@channingtatum) November 29, 2021

According to Tatum's Variety cover story last week, Magic Mike's Last Dance will begin shooting in London next month.

"This one’s going to be a full dance-icle," Tatum told the publication. "We’re going to swing for the fence. I’m going to dance as hard as I’ve danced in any movie other than ‘Hail, Caesar!’ I want this movie to be filled with joy and fun. Everybody is like, ‘Less character, more dancing.’ So I’ve listened."

More must-reads: