A Channing Tatum & JGL Musical Sounds Like A Dream

Prepare to break into a jaunty dance of delight, ladies and gentlemen, because Variety is reporting that a Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt musical may be happening. And I really don't need to tell you how phenomenal that news is, do I? It's an absolute dream. Sources have told the publication that both Tatum and Gordon-Levitt are currently attached to star in the R-Rated musical featuring the working title of Wingmen, with the latter actor currently in negotiations to direct.

According to Variety's sources, the movie is apparently set to follow two pilots (played by Tatum and Gordon-Levitt), who crash land in Las Vegas, where the duo will cover Top-100 hits, alongside lashings of adult humor. I think I speak for everyone when I say, please just make this movie already. We absolutely need this in our lives immediately.

While Gordon-Levitt is no stranger to musical performances (having done notable performances with Zooey Deschanel, as well as with Jimmy Fallon's Ragtime Gals), Tatum is also known for his impeccable dancing skills, as witnessed in Magic Mike and 2016's Hail, Caesar!, so it's basically a match made in heaven. But what's even more interesting about the suggestion of this musical, at this specific moment in time, is that it seems to suggest that musicals have officially become a trend again. And you know what? They're exactly what the world needs right now.

After all, in recent years, there's no denying that there's been a distinct resurgence in Hollywood musicals. From the Pitch Perfect films, to Oscar favorites like Hail, Caesar! and La La Land, and even the recent live-action remake of Beauty And The Beast, musicals are definitely having somewhat of a moment. To people like myself who absolutely adore musicals, this isn't just welcome news, but also completely understandable considering the current political and social climate.

And that's because musicals are truly one of the most cathartic, magical, and escapist movie genres that there is. There's a certain sense of whimsy to many musicals that undeniably lifts the spirit, but there's also an invigorating sense of fun as well. Movie musicals engage audiences in ways that no other movie genre can, by inspiring viewers to sing along or dance in their seats.

There's a reason why musicals like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Grease, and even cult classics like Hairspray and Hedwig And The Angry Inch continue to inspire special screenings in theaters across the country. That's because these movies unite people in a tactile, positive manner. The audience isn't just a passive entity, but an active one, engaging with the movie, the music, and in turn, with each other. And that's a truly beautiful thing to behold, especially at such a time when much of the country currently feels so divided.

Musicals are for the dreamers and dancers among us, and as a genre, they're certainly long overdue a huge, mainstream revival. Hopefully, the commercial success of movies like La La Land, Pitch Perfect, and Beauty And The Beast are enough to signal to studios that audiences are thirsty for more. And certainly, the proposed musical starring Tatum and Gordon-Levitt seems to hint at such a cultural resurgence. Because we need those levels of joy and fancifulness — that peace of the dark theater, and the pure bliss of feeling like you inhabit a song that's blaring within it.

There's an endless array of songs and dances within America, and I, for one, want to hear and see every last one of them. Starting, of course, with whatever Tatum and Gordon-Levitt may be creating.