NEWS FLASH: Director Chosen for Channing Tatum’s ‘Parkour’

As I mentioned way back in February 2007, New Line Cinema decided to fast-track an untitled action film starring Channing Tatum as an undercover policeman.

The story centers on a renegade New York City cop (played by Channing) who must infiltrate the underground world of free running, known as Parkour, to bust a seemingly unstoppable gang of bank robbers. For those who don’t know, Parkour is an extraordinarily athletic sport/hobby where a person has to traverse a landscape and obstacles by leaping and bounding around fearlessly, so it’s a role that’s right up Chan’s alley.

Variety is now saying that New Line is planning start production early next year with new movie director Richie Smyth. Smyth directed four music videos off U2’s most recent album “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” and is an avid extreme sports practitioner. To audition for the job, he canceled a trip in which he was to jump out of a helicopter at the top of a mountain in Alaska and snowboard to the bottom.

‘Parkour‘ was written by Kevin Lund and T.J. Scott and will be produced by Temple Hill partners Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey.

IN THE PRESS: Check Out Tons of NEW Channing Tatum Interviews for ‘Stop-Loss’

This is a photo (taken by Pink is the New Blog’s webmaster Trent) of Channing Tatum giving interviews at last week’s ‘Stop-Loss’ premiere. You can CLICK HERE to check out more of Trent’s photos in the CTU photo gallery.

Chan has done a lot of interviews both on an off the red carpet in the past few weeks, and you will find links to some of the recent articles below.

• About.com - Channing Tatum Discusses ‘Stop-Loss’ - Get an update on Channing’s upcoming movies ‘G.I. Joe‘ and ‘Parkour‘ and even get a little dish on his cameo in ‘Step Up 2: The Streets‘.

• EdgeBoston.com - Enlisted Man Channing Tatum - This article explains an interesting misinterpretation of a very important scene in ‘Stop-Loss‘ between Channing’s character Steve Shriver and Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character Tommy Burgess.
• Birmingham News - Alabama-born Actor Channing Tatum Starring in New Film ‘Stop-Loss’ - This article does a really good job of covering Channing Tatum’s entire career, and we even learn about Chan’s desire to do an epic love story. For those fans who are really looking forward to Chan playing John Tyree in Nicholas Sparks’ ‘Dear John‘, you will enjoy the update that he provides towards the end of the article.
• Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Patricia Sheridan’s Breakfast With … Channing Tatum - In this article, we get to learn the origins of Channing’s name, his feelings on going to war if he was drafted, and which of his parents he’s surprisingly most like.
• MSN.com - Tatum Salutes the Troops - If you’ve been reading some of the interviews I’ve posted and looking at the photos from the ‘Stop-Loss’ premiere, then you know that Chan talks about how he was recently on the losing end of a head-butting contest with a soldier and military consultant from the film. In this article, we get to learn the actual name of the soldier that accidentally added even more character to Chan’s chiseled brow.

In addition to the articles above, you can also listen to an audio interview that Trent from Pink is the New Blog recorded on the ‘Stop-Loss‘ premiere red carpet.

Although Trent didn’t get to ask any questions, he was able to record the brief interview that Channing gave to the French media outlet who was stationed next to him. You can CLICK HERE or on the player below to hear the short interview:

Finally, you can CLICK HERE to watch a ReelzChannel.com red carpet interview with the ‘Stop-Loss‘ cast or you can watch it below. Enjoy!!!

Channing Tatum’s Movie A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints Releases on DVD in Australia Today

I just wanted to remind all of my Australian readers that Channing Tatum’s award-winning and highly recommended movie A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints is released on DVD today in your country.

Channing’s performance in this movie is a huge reason why he has been awarded his two newest lead roles where he will be playing an undercover cop in a movie about the sport of Le Parkour and the most recently announced project ‘Dear John’ based on the Nicholas Sparks bestseller where he will play a soldier in the romantic film.

Run out and rent or buy your copy today! You will not be disappointed.

RUMOR OR REEL?: Channing Tatum on the Loose in New Mexico

I am interrupting this normal CTU blog post to let you readers know there are reports rumors (that I may have started) of an incredibly tall, dark, sexy and oh-so-handsome male roaming the streets of Albuquerque. As previously posted on this blog, Channing Tatum’s real-life girlfriend and Step Up co-star Jenna Dewan is currently filming her next movie Love Lies Bleeding in New Mexico as I write this blog post.

In case you are wondering, Love Lies Bleeding is the story of a struggling young couple who stumbles upon a cache of dirty money after a shootout in their apartment building. With hopes of a better life, they flee with the money, provoking the fury of a corrupt DEA agent who will stop at nothing to get his money back, and arousing the suspicions of a detective who is determined to find out what’s really going on before it’s too late. The Samdel Pictures production, starring Jenna Dewan, Brian Geraghty, and Christian Slater, is shooting in and around Albuquerque from March 1 through April 3.

Since the cute couple always seems to be together these days and since Channing is not filming a movie right now (Battle in Seattle and Stop-Loss are in post production and his newest movie is currently in development), I think it’s safe to assume that the ridiculously sexy star may be hanging out with his girlfriend.

So this is an all points bulletin for any Channing Taum fan living in or around the Albuquerque, New Mexico area. If you see Channing Tatum, approach with caution…he may not be armed, but his sexy lips and six pack abs have been known to be dangerous. Slowly pull out your camera as not to alarm the star, take his picture and run to your computer to email the picture and the story of your encounter to CTU so we can share your good fortune with the world.

In case you need a reminder of what the fugutive-at-large looks like, here are a few movie stills from Channing’s films Step Up and Coach Carter that I will be adding into the photo gallery soon:

Okay…I am being totally facetious. This is obviously a rumor, but there is a good chance that Channing is in Albuquerque right now with Jenna and I figured I would let any of you readers who live there know that you may have a chance of running into him if you are lucky.

NEWS FLASH: Channing Tatum to Play an Undercover Policeman in Brand New Film

Looks like we are going to be seeing even more of Channing Tatum on the big screen. Wednesday was another good day for him and his career, because New Line Cinema decided to fast-track an untitled action film starring Channing as an undercover policeman.

Variety says the story centers on a renegade New York City cop who must infiltrate the underground world of free running, known as Parkour, to bust a seemingly unstoppable gang of bank robbers.

Parkour is an extraordinarily athletic sport/hobby where a person has to traverse a landscape and obstacles by leaping and bounding around fearlessly. Although I am sure he can handle it, let’s just hope Channing has a stunt double.

How cool is that? Hollywood clearly sees Channing’s box office appeal, which is like music to my ears.

Now what is an action hero without a hot leading lady? If you were the casting agent for this movie, what Hollywood starlet would you want to play Channing’s love interest? Click here to share your choices with other CTU readers on the very first ever Channing Tatum Flickr discussion group.

Congrats Chan!

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