With Magic Mike XXL getting ready to head into production, Warner Bros. is starting to fill out the film’s cast. However, in a somewhat surprising turn, all of the casting announcements that we’ve been hearing about lately have been of the female variety. Earlier this week, we heard that Matthew McConaughey was out and Andie MacDowell was in, and today we’re hearing that Jada Pinkett Smith and Amber Heard have boarded the project as well.
Though we don’t have too many specific details about the plot of the film, we’re hearing that Mrs. Pinkett Smith will be taking on the role of a strip club owner. Originally, the studio wanted a male for the part, but for some reason they’ve changed the gender of the role to female. As for Heard, we don’t know who exactly she’ll be playing, but apparently it will be a lead.
Personally, I didn’t love Magic Mike, but found it to be entertaining enough to warrant a watch. With Soderbergh out of the director’s chair for the sequel (longtime collaborator Greg Jacobs is replacing him), I am a bit worried about how the follow-up will turn out. However, with most of the main cast returning, Soderbergh on board as cinematographer, and these new casting additions, I’m hopeful that we’ll end up with a sequel that can rectify the shortcomings of its predecessor and still offer up the same level of fun as the first film did.
Magic Mike XXL will dance its way into theatres on July 4th, 2015. Will you be lining up to see more male, and potentially female, stripper action? Sound off below!
