We’ve heard rumblings that recent Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar, True Detective) would be opting out of Magic Mike XXL, the upcoming sequel to Steven Soderbergh’s 2012 sleeper hit Magic Mike. Now, according to The Playlist, that news is official.
No specific reason was given for the lack of McConaughey abs in the sequel, though the actor likely doesn’t have time for the film now that “The McConaissance” is in full swing. He recently added Gus Van Sant’s 2015 film The Sea of Trees to his plate, and is rumored for a role in Josh Boone’s upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand as well.
We’ve also learned that filming on the film hasn’t really begun, as previously reported. Soderbergh (who isn’t directing this time around, but is instead acting as camera operator, editor, and cinematographer) revealed that production is in fact underway, but only the second unit is at work. The primary shoot, which involves returning actors Channing Tatum, Matt Bomer (White Collar) and Joe Manganiello (True Blood) won’t begin for a few more weeks.
In addition, the film’s director Greg Jacobs says that the sequel is “very different” than its predecessor:
“What am I allowed to say? … It’s a road trip movie and put it this way, it’s different enough that once you see it you’ll understand why we made a sequel. No one will be accusing us of making the same movie twice.”
The Matthew McConaughey-less Magic Mike XXL will hit theaters on July 1, 2015.
