It was recently announced that Salma Hayek would be replacing Thandiwe Newton in the upcoming Magic Mike 3 due to the latter having “personal family matters” that had caused her to step away from the project. However, in the hours following the announcement, it was suggested that the reason for the star’s departure was due to an argument with the movie’s star/producer Channing Tatum about the Will Smith Oscars slap. After that rumor spread across the internet, Daily Mail Online reached out to a representative of Newton, who said the earlier reports were “completely inaccurate.”

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The whole thing started with Warner Bros. announcing that Newton had been forced to leave the movie after deciding to “deal with family matters.” At the same time, they revealed that Eternals star Hayek would be taking over the role with immediate effect. Later in the day, it was reported by The Sun that a freelance crew member had revealed there was another reason for the change in personnel on the movie.

“Channing Tatum is the producer and number one on set. Thandiwe Newton is the number two star. But 11 days into shooting and it’s all over. They fell out over the debacle at the Oscars. I was on set. I watched her and watched him. They were in and out of the house where we were filming having this confrontation. It was a tense exchange of words, but suddenly it escalated — Channing got into this car and he disappeared. People looked at each other and thought, ‘Wait, we’re supposed to be filming.’ After the [argument] he just went, ‘I am not working with her anymore.’ Him being a producer, it’s his movie, so she’s off the movie. She’s gone. Everything we’ve shot for the last 11 days has to be reshot with a new cast member.”

Magic Mike: The Last Dance Will be the Final Film in the Franchise

There is not much known about the plot of the third Magic Mike movie, but it is clear that the title alone alludes to this being the last time we will see Tatum’s character strutting his stuff as Mike Lange. Tatum himself has suggested that the film will be making sure that they go out with a bang and plenty of dancing, although his comments were very tongue-in-cheek.

Of course, the Magic Mike movies have had their critics over the time, who have said the films lack depth, and director Steven Soderbergh has hinted that Mike will be in a relationship in the new movie. Although the movie will not be getting a cinematic release, heading instead directly to HBO Max later this year, fans can currently see Tatum in theaters starring alongside Sandra Bullock in The Lost City.

“This one’s going to be a full dance-icle. We’re going to swing for the fence. I’m going to dance as hard as I’ve danced in any movie other than Hail, Caesar! I want this movie to be filled with joy and fun. Everybody is like, “Less character, more dancing.” So I’ve listened. “