Magic Mike Trailer

Steven Soderbergh has been trying a lot of new things in the latter part of his career. Now on the threshold of (self-imposed) retirement, the director appears to be covering as many genres and interesting topics as he can. They’re not always successful (case in point: the misfire that was action-thriller “Haywire”), but I can definitely get behind a filmmaker who pushes himself creatively.

This time, Soderbergh’s doing a project many consider to be a bit of a headscratcher — a biopic of a male stripper! Whose biopic, you ask? Well, it’s none other than “21 Jump Street” and “GI Joe” star Channing Tatum. Yes, the guy used to make a living dancing his clothes off in front of a crowd. Seriously. And here, Tatum is starring, which inadvertently makes this something of a meta-documentary. This trailer seems to suggest that it’ll be a pretty light-hearted, fun story, and not one man’s descent into and subsequent escape from a personal hell of depravity and self-loathing. Though that would be funny too. So far, I’m liking this. Ladies, what do you say?

Here’s the official synopsis: “Set in the world of male strippers, “Magic Mike” is directed by Steven Soderbergh and stars Channing Tatum (“Dear John,” “Step Up”) in a story inspired by his real life. The film follows Mike (Tatum) as he takes a young dancer called The Kid (Pettyfer) under his wing and schools him in the fine arts of partying, picking up women, and making easy money.”

“Magic Mike” also stars Matthew McConaughey, Cody Horn, Olivia Munn, Matt Bomer, Riley Keough, Joe Mangianello, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez, and Gabriel Iglesias. It premieres 29th June in the US. Don’t expect this to open here (haha pun intended).