Who’s ready for “Magic Mike’s Last Dance“? According to Deadline, moviegoers need to add themselves to that list because Warner Bros. Discovery is now giving the film a theatrical release. The film hits theaters next February before it streams on HBO Max.
The move is Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav‘s latest that indicates he’s not high on HBO Max original programming. It also fits his declaration that all future WB movies deserve a big-screen theatrical release. “Last Dance” was originally set to be an HBO Max exclusive, part of Steven Soderbergh‘s ongoing three-year overall deal with the streamer. Now, with the film opening in theaters on Super Bowl weekend, Zaslav shows yet again that he’s ready to shake things up as the new Warner Bros. CEO.
Channing Tatum headlines the threequel, which also stars Salma Hayek, Caitlin Gerard, and Gavin Spokes. Soderbergh returns to direct the series send-off after Gregory Jacobs directed 2015’s “Magic Mike XXL.” Reid Carolin pens the movie’s script. Jacobs returns to produce the film along with Carolin, Nick Wechsler, and Peter Kiernan.
“Last Dance” is Soderbergh’s fourth project in his HBO Max deal, set to expire in January. He’s also directed “Let Them All Talk,” “No Sudden Move,” and “Kimi” for HBO Max, and has another project, the limited series “Full Circle,” on the way.
But what was Warner Bros. Discovery & HBO Max thinking not giving “Last Dance” a theatrical release in the first place?! “Magic Mike” was a theatrical sensation when it released on 2012, and it and its sequel went on to make $285.6 million at the global box office. Those numbers aren’t huge, but the movie sparked a phenomenon for certain moviegoers for, well, obvious reasons. Why wouldn’t Warner Bros. want to cash in on that again?
In any case, expect Zaslav’s endorsement of theatrical runs over streaming to continue through next year’s planned release. HBO Max will continue to get its fair share of new shows, but don’t expect original films to premiere that often on the streamer as long as Zaslav is in charge.
“Magic Mike’s Last Dance” hits theaters on February 10, 2023, just in time for Valentine’s Day.