Cast This: "Magic Mike XXL"
Friday, March 28, 2014 at 8:19PM 
Channing & Pettyfer in the originalThe Magic Mike sequel is gearing up to start filming in the fall. The Playlist reports that Steven Soderbergh's long time first AD Gregory Jacobs will direct so they're keeping it in house and the film will be called Magic Mike XXL a title of which we approve.
What we do not approve of is the rumors that most of the original cast will return. The last film ended with a clear parting of the ways so it makes sense to move on at least to some extent with new characters. Channing Tatum has promised in the past that the sequel will be more like what people were expecting from the first one so I guess that means more of a fleshy spectacle? Anyway, the first film was terrific (and not just for the fleshy spectacle) but this kind of project begs for fresh blood meat, not sloppy seconds you know? Frankly, they should only keep one or two of the players to keep the energy up while the clothes are off.
So, let's pretend they wise up and bring in new players. Last time they went with a mix of 20-40somethings and actors from both TV and film -- they can't be too famous though or they'd pass. But there are literally hundreds of men who would qualify. Here's a few suggestions to diversify a bit to get you started.
Nicholas Hoult, Max Greenfield, Jesse Williams, Kit Harrington, Michael Ealy, Diego Boneta, Harry Shum Jr, Lee Pace. I could go on and on...
And that's basically just eight hot affordable men with some degree of fame (but not huge movie careers ... apart from arguably Hoult) who don't have to do too much training to get in shape for it. Your turn! Who would you love to see dance their (clothes off) ass off with Chan?
Reader Comments (26)
Ryan Kwanten, Liam McIntyre, Nick Krause, Sam Witwer, Brandon Routh...
Jonathan Tucker. Tilda's son in The Deep End. Killer body, dance background and edgy.
Hugh Dancy.
Daniel Feuerriegel--ex Spartagus and Boy's Grammar
Yes it should be new talent even though there was nothing at all wrong with the original men. Some that I come to mind:
Matthias Schoenaerts, James Wolk, Taye Diggs, Brandon Routh, Edgar Ramimez, Eduardo Noriega, Oscar Isaac, Enver Gjokaj, Jason O'Mara, Oliver Jackson Cohen, Mike Vogel, Beau Mirchoff, Wentworth Miller, Michael B. Jordan...I could come up with more but any or all of these would be most welcome.
Taking over for McConaughey-Stanley Tucci or Jason Isaacs
Also after his hysterical showing on The Tonight Show a couple of weeks ago, lovable puppy Paul Rudd.
Daniel Sunjata, Murray Bartlett, Boris Kodjoe, Riz Ahmed and Kellan Lutz (but only if his character is a mute). I had a hard time coming up with interesting suggestions for hot younger actors. Most of them are all so...boring.
Idris Elba or (wishful thinking) Hugh Jackman in the Matthew McConaughey role.
I also like Paul's suggestion of Ryan Kwanten, who is so wonderfully exploited on True Blood.
120 minutes of Matthias Schoenaerts.
Just as long as Alex Pettyfer & Riley Keough don't return, I approve. I can only see Manganiello returning as Big Dick Ritchie and maybe Matt Bomer since both True Blood and White Collar are wrapping up, but McConaughey is too big to come back and Rodriguez and the other guy are easily replaceable.
only because i keep thinking he surely was in the first one - kellan lutz
Ryan Hansen, Tyler Hoechlin, Sam Witwer, Jake Lacey, Patrick Wilson,Til Schweiger, Freddy Stroma, Oliver Hudson
Greg Jacobs is a deeply uninspiring choice based on his two previous directorial credits, but if he wants to put Hunter Parrish in a G-string and let him dance all night I won't complain!
Hunter Parrish i second!
Am I delusional or we already did this before? Anyway, I'll go with a multi-ethnic cast including Michael B. Jordan, Miguel Ángel Silvestre, Harry Shum Jr. and Haaz Sleiman. You're welcome ;)
A sequal i wasn't hoping for did not like thhe first film or any1 in it,sorry.
Ryan Kwanten !!
Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
And some latins, like: Amaury Nolasco (Prision Break; transformer), Rodrigo Santoro or Caua Raymond (brazilian actors)
Harry Shum is an inspired choice.
Jude Law reprising the role of M.Mc as the veteran who teaches the moves to James Wolk from behind, the way M.Mc did with Pettyfer in the first one. I don't care about the rest of the movie or the cast, as long as they include that scene. Even a homemade video would be enough, no need of a movie ;)
Ryan Phillippe!
I approve of Kit Harrington and Lee Pace!
I can totally see Matthew coming back for a cameo -- I don't think he would ditch it completely.
Boo on Kit Harrington - he's an awful actor.
Edgar Ramirez. James Mardsen. And I second Michael Ealy.
Get Stephen Amell to take a break from do-gooding on Arrow and get him to do some ACTUAL good with that body of his! Also Alden Ehrenreich, who proved in Beautiful Creatures that he is worthy of better material (although I found that movie a ridiculous, campy delight). I also think Ryan Hansen and Jason Dohring (late of Veronica Mars) would fit perfectly into this world.
Hary Shum Jr. is a BRILLIANT choice.
Ryan Guzman from the "Step Up' movies
bring back Matt Bomer and add...
Ryan Kwanten
Chris Pine
Cam Gigandet
Zac Efron
Wentworth Miller
Ryan Gosling
Jake Gyllenhaal
Josh Hutcherson
Ryan Reynolds
Nathan, Harry is a great idea! I'd also use Theo James, Boris Kodjoe, Brandon Routh, Adam Jacobs and Michael Trevino. Can you tell Im not into blondes.
Ryan Phillippe, Kellan Lutz, Colton Haynes, Jared Padalecki
Would Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey be too good to return to this sequel I wonder? Inquiring minds want to know. I say he does it. He stole the show in the first one. I want to see how his new strip club worked out for Dallas lol.
There's some really great choices here, tbh.
Michael Ealy
Harry Shum
Jonathan Tucker
Jason Isaacs
Patrick Wilson
Hunter Parrish
And tho highly unlikely, Paul Rudd would be a gee-nee-us against-type casting, especially if played straight and for minimal laughs. They need a wildcard performance again and he's done serious characters before.
The fun and clever thing about the casting in the first one was all the different types they managed to collect among the cast. Cute guys who seemed plausible enough to have fallen into stripping and in some cases, stayed in it for too long. They can't be otherworldly beautiful like supermodels and they have to definitely be in shape but the scales can tip in different directions with body types. Realistically, guys who basically look like they could also be successful gigolos on the side and maybe have done something strange for a piece of change.
A hot-bodied and generically handsome character actor like Garret Dillahunt would be perfect for this. Seann William Scott could revive his career with something like this too, sans the goofiness.
Also, who has Channing Tatum worked with before that he likes? He's writing and producing this one as well so he'll have some serious leverage. You can deduce that Pettyfer might not be invited back based on this point alone since they did NOT get along on set, according to many reports.
CASTING A MALE STRIPPER MOVIE IS SERIOUS BUSINESS OKAY.