We've seen Channing Tatum, the actor. We have also seen him work as a producer on Magic Mike, 21, and 22 Jump Street. Soon, audiences will see his work as a writer on Magic Mike XXL and what the star can do in the director's chair with Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock, which he will helm alongside his producing and writing partner Reid Carolin.
As The Hollywood Reporter reveals, Tatum and Carolin have signed on to adapt the Matthew Quick book to the big screen. Quick is best known as the author behind Silver Linings Playbook. In addition to directing, Tatum and Carolin will also produce the new movie for The Weinstein Company, under their banner Free Association and alongside Peter Kiernan.
In addition to wearing these two hats, however, Tatum may also be starring in the film. Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock will center on a troubled teen high schooler who plans to kill his best friend and then himself. Tatum would be playing the part of a heroic teacher who tries to intervene. This part is considered something of a departure for the A-list actor, as he is typically in demand to play the hunky, good-looking lead in either romantic comedies, romantic dramas, or dramas and comedies in between. Though his Oscar-considered performance in Foxcatcher showcases that the actor is trying to step away from his typical on-screen persona.
At the moment, the project is looking for a screenwriter to transition the book to script form. Speaking of writers, the film's author is finding a number of his novels making the transition to the big screen. In addition to this and the acclaimed, aforementioned Silver Linings Playbook, there is also an adaptation of Love May Fail, written by Mike White (School of Rock) and directed by Sam Raimi (the original Spider-Man trilogy).
Tatum and Carolin have expressed an eager interest to direct in the past, and were, at one point, considering directing their script for Magic Mike XXL before giving those duties to Gregory Jacobs. That film has recently wrapped shooting, and Tatum is set to be seen in Jupiter Ascending on February 6, 2015. Having also been seen in 22 Jump Street and heard in The Lego Movie and The Book of Life earlier this year, the star is currently filming a role in the Coen brothers' Hail, Caesar! before filming a part in Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight and eventually starring as Gambit in his own spin-off movie and possibly in X-Men: Apocalypse.
In addition to this film, Tatum and Carolin are also considering directing an adaptation of the Jo Nesbo thriller The Son for Warner Bros. To hear more about Tatum's performance of Foxcatcher, check out our review.
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