In a roundtable conversation featuring Steven Soderbergh and Zoe Kravitz regarding their forthcoming film KIMI The director spoke about the highly anticipated third installment in the Magic Mike storyline, titled Magic Mike's Last Dance. Soderbergh was also adamant about encouraging Channing Tatum to continue the story, which is, in part, an inspiration for Tatum's time as stripper in Tampa, Florida.
Soderbergh directed Magic Mike, which was released in 2012. It was a big success with critics and audiences who not only praised the sex appeal and dance sequences, but also the script, direction and performances. Tatum appeared alongside Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, and Matthew McConaughey. Bomer and Manganiello would also return alongside Tatum for the sequel to Magic Mike XXL, this time directed by Gregory Jacobs, who was the first assistant director for the first film. The sequel was another financial and critical success.
In the days when Magic Mike was still just one of many ideas, Soderbergh remembers pointing to Magic Mike as the one project Tatum should concentrate on. He explained that when Tatum presented the idea in the setting of Haywire the idea immediately attracted his interest. When the story was finished, Soderbergh was eager to get on board to make the project an actual possibility.
With a third movie on the way, announced in November with the title Magic Mike's Last Dance, Soderbergh gave us a preview of what we can expect when the film's final scene airs. He explained that while he was sure that about the Magic Mike concept would be a success, he didn't know that Tatum was interested in expanding the scope of the film into a broader realm, one dealing with the subject of relationships, masculinity and respect, which expanded in the sequel.
"The third film is sort of the apex of everything we've been talking about in that area. It's not just about taking the dance to the next level, but really getting into the romance aspect that's been a major theme in all of the films. Mike is in a relationship central to this film, and all the while, everything else is happening. Magic Mike's Last Dance movie isn't the first time that we've done this."
While Magic Mike's Last Dance movie could very well be Mike Lane's final dance, Soderbergh's return to the series is a thrilling development. Following the XXL sequel we've made it to the top, but there's more to reveal about Mike's life story.