We’re only a few months away from the release of the sequel Magic Mike’s Last Dance and based on a first-look photo released late last week, it looks like things might get a bit steamy.
Lead actor Channing Tatum posted the photo, which features him and franchise newcomer and Oscar nominee Salma Hayek (Frida). “All good things begin in Miami,” Tatum tweeted. “#MagicMikesLastDance in theaters Valentine’s Day weekend.”
In the photo, Tatum’s titular character Mike Lane has his shirt pulled up to reveal his six-pack abs to Hayek’s as-of-now-unnamed character. Instead of getting a glimpse of his physique, however, Hayek, who is wearing a purple nightgown or robe, has her eyes closed and has her right hand on his bare abdomen. Mike’s hand seems to be gently holding hers in place.
Hayek also shared the image from the film on her Instagram account. “A tease of what’s to come in theaters this Valentine’s Day weekend,” she wrote. “You’re not going to want to miss #MagicMikesLastDance.”
Earlier this year, Hayek was brought onto the movie to replace actress Thandiwe Newton (Solo: A Star Wars Story) who dropped out to “deal with family matters.” Other reports indicated that Newton was fired from the movie after a heated argument with Tatum.
“Look, I’m not going to complain,” Salma Hayek told People magazine this past summer. “On an average day, I had to work with 12 strippers. Not one, not two—12. It was still hard work.”
Magic Mike’s Last Dance is the third installment of the male stripper franchise that started with Magic Mike in 2012 followed by Magic Mike XXL in 2015. Plot details are still secret for the new movie, but filmmaker Steven Soderbergh is returning to direct after helming the original movie but skipping the second.
Magic Mike’s Last Dance hits theaters on February 10, 2023.