Todd Gilchrist editor Back in 2012 when Steven Soderbergh directed the first “Magic Mike” based loosely upon star Channing Tatum’s experiences in Tampa, FL, no one could have anticipated the actual empire that the film would inspire: two more films, the latest of which, “Magic Mike’s Last Dance,” opened February 10, a live revue in Vegas, a stage musical in London, and a short-lived reality competition series for HBO Max.
What’s interesting is the way that all of those ventures seemed to overlap and inspire one another, leading to “Last Dance” focusing on the staging of a musical in London, in some cases transplanting similar routines from that theatrical production to the silver screen.
On the film’s opening day, “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” choreographers Alison Faulk and Luke Broadlick, who have worked with Tatum on the series since its beginning, spoke with Variety about the process of leaving everything out on the floor for what it meant to be a final installment. When you started, what were your goals — or maybe what were Channing’s — in trying to leave everything out there on stage? Alison Faulk: With “The Last Dance” in the beginning, he really wanted to make it the ultimate lap dance.
And then with the water number too, I mean, I can’t explain how talented Chan is. He makes it look so easy, but he is dancing on a wet slippery floor and he’s doing overhead lifts with another human, and there’s rain pouring out in his face.
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