Channing Tatum to direct Magic Mike 2

Los Angeles - Channing Tatum is in the running to direct Magic Mike 2.

The 32-year-old actor - who portrayed the titular character in the male stripper movie this year - insists director Steven Soderbergh "wants to retire" so he is open to helming the project himself alongside co-writer Reid Carolin and admits Steven's assistant director Gregory Jacobs could also take on the role.

He told French website AlloCine: "We really want to [make it], but Steven Soderbergh really wants to retire. We will undoubtedly make the Broadway version first.

"Gregory Jacobs can make the film, or we can make it, Reid Carolin and me. But we do not know."

Channing and Reid - who co-produced Magic Mike, which also stars Alex Pettyfer, Olivia Munn and Matthew McConaughey - have already got a "ridiculous and fun" story in mind for the sequel, but neither are 100% sure whether the motion picture will go into production.

Reid told German website Film Starts: "You know, we are talking a lot about it. We have a story, and it is really ridiculous and fun. It's a road movie sort of thing, where a bunch of strippers get back together.

"It's more of a broad comedy. I don't know whether it will happen or not."