Magic Mike is perhaps Channing Tatum’s most popular franchise. Loosely based on his life experiences as a male stripper in Tampa, Florida, when the actor was 18 years old, the movie series has gained wide attention for the eccentric comedy it offered.
But Magic Mike had to be charming as the role demands, and he had to blaze his muscles to be equivalent to a male stripper. But for the actor, gaining muscle was not easy as simply hitting the gym and pumping iron. It was the diet that was unbearable for him.
Channing Tatum Was Forced to Starve
Getting a toned physique is not always easy for everyone and despite difficulties Channing Tatum managed to build his muscle as director Steven Soderbergh wanted for the $57 million movie. As a matter of fact, the actor did not want to do the third movie in the franchise for the requirement of a toned physique. “Trust me, that might be the reason why I didn’t want to do the third one, it’s ’cause I have to look like that,” Tatum said of Magic Mike’s Last Dance in The Kelly Clarkson Show.
“But it’s hard to look like, even if you do work out to be that kind of in shape, to be that kind of toned? It’s not natural.”
The 43-year-old actor further revealed that undergoing such physical transformation is not even healthy. “You have to starve yourself,” he said. “I don’t think when you’re that lean, it’s actually healthy for you. It is, it’s true. New public service announcement folks. Health is not good for you,” he added.
“I mean, which truly, I don’t know how people that working nine to five actually stay in shape because it’s my full-time job and I can barely do it. But it is, if you work out twice a day you have to eat completely right, at a certain time. It’s a specific thing.”
The actor further revealed that the age factor also influenced the workout process. He used to fluctuate around 30 pounds before and now it has gone down to 15 pounds.
Channing Tatum Nearly Killed Salma Hayek in Magic Mike’s Last Dance
Tatum was very fond of having Salma Hayek in the movie as he revealed that he wanted the strongest woman possible and “she came in [and] actually controlled the whole thing,” The Step Up actor told Entertainment Weekly.
“She came and saved our movie because we had a bunch of men that were trying to tell a story about a woman.”
However, appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Hayek revealed that Tatum nearly killed her during a steamy lap dance scene in the film.
“You know, this one part that’s not in it where I’m upside down, and my legs had to be somewhere. But upside down, one loses sense of direction, and I didn’t do what I was supposed to do, so in the rehearsal, I went like, head down, almost hit my head. [Tatum] held on to my pants, but I was really concerned because my pants were going away, and I couldn’t remember if I had underwear or not in this moment. So, instead of putting my hands to protect my head, I just held onto the pants. He’s like, ‘Put your hands up,’ and I’m like, ‘No, no, no, no.’”
Then everybody on the set came in and took Hayek away from Tatum “and he said, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ I said, ‘What’s wrong with me? You nearly killed me!’” Hayek added. The 56-year-old also revealed that the role was physically challenging and she was glad that it was finished.
Magic Mike’s Last Dance is available for streaming on Max.
Source: YouTube
