Spoilers ahead for Kingsman: The Golden Circle. If you haven't seen the movie or don't want some of the ending spoiled, get out now!
It's been an interesting few weeks for movies, as IT and Darren Aronofsky's mother! have made major headlines. But this weekend brought yet another new release, and this time it wasn't a horror movie. Matthew Vaughn's Kingsman: The Golden Circle once again brought audiences back to the franchise filled with over the top action and awesome gadgets. But one cast member was barely in the film: Channing Tatum. And the ending saw his character Tequila join the Kingman, presumably setting up a threequel in the process. But is it safe to say he'll return for another film? Here's what director/writer Matthew Vaughn told me in our conversation about The Golden Circle.
I hope so. But that's on Channing, not me. Channing isn't an actor who signs options, let's put it that way.
Now this is puzzling. While Matthew Vaughn would no doubt like to see Channing Tatum return for his planned third Kingsman film, it doesn't look like the actor has actually committed to the next project. This makes his role in The Golden Circle even more confusing, so let's break it all down.
While Channing Tatum is a major figure in the marketing and trailers for Kingsman: The Golden Circle, the truth is he was barely in the film. He was the first Statesman that Eggsy interacted with, but he quickly procured Poppy's virus due to his recreational drug use. In order to save him from possibly dying, he was promptly put on ice and absent for the majority of the film's action.
This seemed like a strange choice, as Channing Tatum's presence in the sequel felt like a throwaway role. But things got even more interesting in the film's final moments. After Eggsy gets married, we see Tequila dressed in full Kingsman garb, presumably indicating the two organizations will still be working together. This felt like a clear set up for a sequel or potential spinoff, but now it looks like Tatum isn't committed to a third film, if it gets greenlighted.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle was certainly a fun and wild ride at the movies, despite the strange size of Channing Tatum's role. While it was fun to see Tequila kicking ass and throwing shade, the film probably would have benefited from cutting Tequila out and focusing its Statesman energy on Pedro Pascal's Whiskey. Considering he ended up being the surprise third act villain, more attention could have been paid earlier in the film.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle is in theaters now, complete with Channing Tatum's mysteriously small role. Be sure to check out our 2017 release list to plan your final trips to the movies before the New Year.
