Fans of Magic Mike will be chomping at the bit to see Channing Tatum in the latest instalment but the Hollywood superstar has admitted he nearly walked away from the franchise.
The hunky actor, 41, has admitted his prep diet for the film almost made him rule himself out of taking up the role for the third time as he wasn't keen on starving himself.
Channing is well known for his stunning physique but has revealed how the long and hard fitness regime was a very tough slog this time around.
Speaking on The Kelly Clarkson Show, he explained that he didn't feel his body was quite right to take on the stripper role for Magic Mike's Last Dance.
He told the former American Idol star: "It’s hard even if you do work out to be in that kind of shape.
"You have to starve yourself. I don’t think when you’re that lean, it’s actually healthy for you."
He went on to admit that the training required took up most of his time and described how much harder it is to shift the weight now he is getting older.
While the third instalment of the franchise has been labelled as the last, Channing has cheekily not ruled out a return to the role in his golden years.
Speaking to IndieWire, the A-lister joked that that was the only way he'd return to character before agreeing to be in part three.
He said: "The only one I said I’d actually do — before we decided on this version — was the 'Grumpy Old Men' version when we’re like 70.
"When we’re 70, I want to get the team back together, for sure."
He also confessed his surprise at how well the movies have done and how he was shocked that the series was able to continue after the very first movie.
"In my opinion, we had chewed up all the meat on the bone, story-wise," he said. "Pun intended, I guess.
"They’re essentially movies about guys made for women. We didn’t plan on making a second one.
The first movie hit the big screen in 2012, with Magic Mike XXL released three years later.
Channing is currently the star of Dog, a movie which he co-directed.
He plays the part of a U.S. army ranger called Briggs who is tasked with driving a military working dog from Washington to Arizona so it can attend its handler’s funeral.
The pair go on a touching journey which looks at how Briggs tries to rediscover himself with the help of his canine companion.
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