Channing Tatum might now be best known for playing the dumb-as-a-stump undercover cop Greg Jenko in the 21 Jump Street movies, but audiences are about to find out if he can convincingly pull off playing an absolute genius.
The Hollywood Reporter has the scoop that Tatum is now attached to produce and is looking to star in an adaptation of Struck By Genius, the best-selling memoir written by Jason Padgett with Maureen Ann Seaberg. First published back in April, the story centers on Padgett, who could once be described as "an extroverted partying college dropout." His life completely changed, however, when he was assaulted outside of a karaoke bar and suffered a brain injury. While he was recovering, Padgett discovered that he started seeing the world in geometric patterns and all of a sudden had become a mathematical genius.
This may sound like some kind of a superhero origin story, but the reality is much more tragic than that. Instead of also being the social butterfly he once was, Padgett also became introverted to the point of becoming a hermit and began suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain. He eventually found some salvation in art, as his unique way of seeing the world allowed him to illustrate in fantastic ways.
While Channing Tatum isn't signed on to star just yet, he will be producing the project under his Free Association label alongside his business partners Reid Carolin and Peter Kiernan. Tatum first started producing his movies back in 2010 when he put his name on the documentary Earth Made of Glass, and has since then been credited as a producer on 10 Years, 21 Jump Street, Magic Mike, White House Down and 22 Jump Street.
The star has already had one hell of a 2014, with 22 Jump Street performing exceptionally well at the box office this summer (not to mention his fun cameo in the blockbuster The LEGO Movie), but his year is far from over. Next month he will be a featured voiced in the Dreamworks Animation movie The Book of Life, and in November we will see the release of Bennett Miller's Foxcatcher. If the festival buzz is any indication, the latter film could potentially lead to Tatum's first Academy Award nomination. Most recently, the star/producer has been working on the sequel Magic Mike XXL, which is currently in production and will be in theaters July 1, 2015.
Struck By Genius is obviously still in very early days, but it is interesting that Channing Tatum is starting to pick up more dramatic projects to pair with his comedy and action roles. We'll be keeping an eye on this one, and will provide you with details of updates further down the road.
