Does anyone remember 2012′s Magic Mike? Anyone?
Well, that's not entirely surprising — despite the film's commercial and critical success, the story of a stripper trying desperately to obtain a small business loan didn't stay in the minds of movie-goers for long. It wasn't a terrible movie, it just wasn't all that memorable ... unless you were one of the many attending the movie to catch a glimpse of a mostly-naked Channing Tatum.
Nevertheless, the film made enough to warrant a sequel, and Magic Mike XXL is scheduled to hit theaters this July.
All things considered, wrestling fans would probably be the last people anyone would expect to be excited for Magic Mike XXL (that honor still goes to fans of Tatum's body) — but, surprisingly, there's a genuine reason for WWE fans to get excited.
It's been known for some time that former WWE Champion Kevin Nash (otherwise known as Diesel) would be a part of the film's cast (as he was in the original), but he's not the only Superstar on board: the one and only "Nature Boy" Ric Flair also has a part in Magic Mike XXL.
Woo!
Granted, the news has been out there for some time — late last year, Ric Flair confirmed his role in the film on the Steve Austin Show after posing for a picture with star Joe Manganiello. What's surprising is that, with only a few weeks left to go before the movie hits theaters, most fans still have no idea what sort of role Flair is actually playing.
Considering the former champion's age, it's highly unlikely that fans will get to see Flair oil up and hit the pole himself. That's not to say that there aren't options: Flair played many a villain and hero during his time with the WWE, meaning there's room for both a sleazy villain and Rocky-style mentor ... only with stripping instead of boxing.
Either way, it doesn't really matter, as Flair already told Steve Austin (via Uproxx) that he's set to win an Oscar:
Flair: "I told you I'm doing this Magic Mike thing, right?"
Austin: "You told me! How did it go?"
Flair: "I'm not supposed to talk about it, so I can't say anything, but I guarantee you, Steve ... I'm going to win an Academy Award."
Suddenly, that bathrobe makes so much sense. Magic Mike XXL is set to hit theaters on July 1.
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Photo: Mike Kalasnik | Flickr
