It’s not alright, alright, alright. In a bit of disappointing news, director Gregory Jacobs confirmed on Wednesday, Sept. 17, that Matthew McConaughey will not be returning for the upcoming Magic Mike sequel.
Jacobs, who took the reins for Magic Mike XXL from the first installment’s director, Steven Soderbergh, confirmed to IndieWire that the second Magic Mike movie will be decidedly McConaughey-free.
The Channing Tatum-starring Magic Mike, which became a surprise hit at the box office when it earned $167 million worldwide on its $7 million budget, featured McConaughey, 44, as the cowboy hat-wearing Dallas, a veteran male stripper who manages the group.
There was previous talk that the Oscar-winning Dallas Buyers Club star would not appear in the sequel, but no official confirmation. Actor Gabriel Iglesias said this past June that there was “word” that his costar was “not going to be involved in this one,” because “he’s worth a lot of money” and “that whole Oscar thing.”
The plan wasn’t always for Magic Mike XXL to be without McConaughey, however. Tatum, 34, who cowrote the sequel in which he stars, said this past April that he thought “everyone” from the original cast would be back.
McConaughey also said in January 2013, before he was ever nominated for an Academy Award, that he was open to becoming Dallas again. “In the right way [I would come back],” he told MTV News at the time. “It would be so much fun, but I would only be able to do to revisit Dallas if I really go ‘Okay, that’s what he would be doing.’ And Dallas can’t become like all of a sudden obviously comedic. I’d have to keep him the same tone. He’s committed.”
While July 2015’s Magic Mike XXL will be minus McConaughey, the follow-up is expected to include original stars Joe Manganiello, Alex Pettyfer, and Matt Bomer, among others.
