Channing Tatum Almost Didn’t Sign On For “Magic Mike 3” Because He Didn’t Want To Starve Himself Into Ripped Stripper Shape

There was almost a Sliding Doors-style twist of fate that could have resulted in the titular Magic Mike not being played for a third time by Channing Tatum. By that logic, there’s also a chance the third film in the Magic Mike series might have been forced to retool in a clumsy way and be re-titled something like Magic Mark (uh…it’s his cousin from Jacksonville, FL – don’t worry about it). Because Channing almost didn’t come back for the third film, Magic Mike’s Last Dance, currently in production. And it’s simply because he didn’t want to put in the work that it takes to look like one of Tampa’s finest thrusters.

Steven Soderberg is back once again to direct the third and final chapter in the Magic Mike story, the classic tale of a rag-tag group of down on their luck boys with big-ass bulges and even bigger dreams. And the biggest hunk of all is Channing Tatum’s Mike, so it’s expected that he would return to shoot the last Magic Mike ever. But before Channing signed on for that last dance, he had reservations. Channing, who has previously talked about how much work goes into his body, revealed to Kelly Brianne (nee Clarkson) on The Kelly Clarkson Show that he wasn’t siked to exist on water, X-tra bulky protein powder, and negative-calorie vegetables to prepare. via The New York Post:

The actor explained to Clarkson, 39, that he didn’t want to do a third film at first because he felt that his body wasn’t quite right. “It’s hard even if you do work out to be in that kind of shape,” he said. “You have to starve yourself,” he continued. “I don’t think when you’re that lean, it’s actually healthy for you,” he said. Tatum admitted that training for the role took up a lot of his time and mentioned that it’s harder for him to lose weight now than when he was younger.

He added that he has no idea how people with a 9-to-5 job are able to stay in shape, because looking like a Pumpin’ Iron Ken doll is his full-time job. And, it’s a job he hates, and that he believes is deeply unhealthy. Not to mention that according to Channing, all that work getting ripped can easily be undone in three days with his almost-40 metabolism.

Channing had previously stated the only future Magic Mike movies he’d do without any reservation would be one that is set way in the future, when all the dancers have AARP cards tucked in the waistbands of their G-strings. I guess because that way he could justify avoiding that type of crazy starvation-level diet in order to pop those pecs. But Channing really shouldn’t be starving himself to get into shape. Yes, it looks hot. But know what else would look hot? Channing Tatum with a bit of a gut, burping up Burger King fumes. And if you lose focus and start to question if he’s still hot, all he has to do is remind you that he’s dating Zoë Kravitz. “Ah, that’s right – he’s hot enough to land a top-tier hot person. My bad!”

Pic: Warner Bros.