In 2012, Channing Tatum cemented his name as one of the most lucrative stars in Hollywood when he took a small movie with a $7 million budget and got it a box office of $167 million. Based on Tatum’s own experience as a stripper in Tampa, Florida, Magic Mike followed Mike (Tatum), a talented exotic dancer, who takes on a younger performer and teaches him how to make money, party, and pick up women. With a cast of talented and attractive leading men like Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Matthew McConaughey, and Alex Pettyfer, the movie had audiences and critics alike praising it. 3 years later, the sequel Magic Mike XXL went viral and audiences became certain that another film to close out this trilogy was inevitable. Now, nearly 8 years later, that sequel is finally a reality. For anybody wondering when, how, and where they can watch Magic MIke’s Last Dance, the most anticipated movie of 2023, you’ve come to the right place.
Is There a Trailer?
Yes, the trailer for Magic Mike’s Last Dance was released on November 15th. Set to “Last Dance” by Donna Summer, the trailer opens with a rich but aimless woman played by Salma Hayek lamenting how little joy she got from life until she met Mike. He tells her he’s just a bartender but when she presses him to tell him what he really does, he shows her in a Flashdance-esque sequence. Entranced by his talent and good looks, she invites him to London with her to put on a show. People are skeptical of his relationship with this mysterious benefactor, but he assures them that no one has believed in him as she does. Will she prove to be as altruistic as he thinks or is she just another charming grifter? That is not certain. The only thing we know is that London is in for quite a spectacle.
What is the plot of Magic Mike’s Last Dance?
Magic Mike’s Last Dance will follow its titular hero taking to the stage once again after a business deal goes bad and leaves him broke and bartending in Florida. In the trailers, we see him meet Hayek’s character, a rich and bored socialite. Mike then heads to London with her hoping for a last hurrah. Things take a turn when Mike figures the woman has an agenda of her own and now his career is on the line. Tatum, who also produced the film, previously described the movie as a “fish-out-of-water story.” It has also been revealed that the last 30-plus minutes of the movie will be a giant dance sequence.
Who is starring in Magic Mike’s Last Dance?
The cast may be missing some of its regulars like Joe Manganiello or Matt Bomer, but the new additions more than make up for that. In the titular role, Channing Tatum returns as Mike. Tatum started his career as a teen heartthrob in hits like She’s the Man and Step Up. He became a major action star with roles in films like G.I. Joe and a charming leading man in films like Dear John. In the early 2010s, he garnered critical acclaim for his comedic and dramatic abilities present in 21 Jump Street and Foxcatcher.
In April 2022, it was reported that “Westworld” star Thandiwe Newton had left “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” so that she could deal with “family matters” (via Variety). Production had already begun, and she was quickly replaced with Salma Hayek as Mike’s love interest.
According to screenwriter Reid Carolin, Hayek’s character will have her own entertaining arc in “Last Dance.” “It’s really about a woman stuck at a horrible strip show like a Chippendales and then realizing, ‘What the hell am I doing here?'” Carolin told Variety. “And then Magic Mike comes down from the ceiling. She gets to go down the rabbit hole and asks: What do I really want?”
In addition to Hayek and Tatum as co-leads, we can expect to see Gavin Spokes, Caitlin Gerard, Christopher Bencomo, Ayub Khan-Din, and Juliette Motamed rounding out the cast.
Will Magic Mike’s Last Dance Be the Last Film in the Series?
As the title suggests, Magic Mike’s Last Dance marks Channing Tatum’s farewell to his semi-autobiographical stripper persona after more than ten years. As such, Tatum assures that the live show’s famous “water dance” will be given a special tribute in the final installment. Though, this will not be the last film in the Magic Mike universe. In July 2022, Soderbergh announced that developments were ongoing for additional films in the franchise centered around other characters unrelated to Mike Lane.
When and where is the movie coming out?
Originally slated for an HBO Max release, the film will instead head to theaters on February 10, 2023 — Super Bowl weekend to those who celebrate — to reflect Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav’s belief that theatrical releases are good for business, per Deadline. We’re ready for some football the finale to the beloved stripper franchise.
