Magic Mike's Last Dance has a much smaller cast than the first two films, as well as a noticeably missing character who didn't make an appearance.
Warning: This post contains major spoilers for Magic Mike’s Last Dance
Magic Mike’s Last Dance may be the conclusion to the trilogy, but it still has one of the same problems as Magic Mike XXL. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Magic Mike’s Last Dance once meant to stream exclusively on HBO Max before the plan changed, and it received a theatrical release. Channing Tatum is back as Mike Lane, wrapping up his story with a move from Miami to London, and he’s joined by Salma Hayek Pinault as Maxandra Mendoza, the wife of a very rich media mogul.
Magic Mike XXL featured the Kings of Tampa going on a road trip together, but the sequel had quite a few characters missing from the first Magic Mike. Fast-forward to Magic Mike’s Last Dance and the cast has been slimmed down further, with Tito, Tarzan, Big Dick Richie, and Ken appearing in just one scene where they’re in a Zoom call with Mike. It leaves Mike bereft of his friends, left to engage with new characters. While Magic Mike’s Last Dance has the smallest supporting cast of the trilogy, it’s Matthew McConaughey’s absence as Dallas that’s the most glaring considering it’s the final film.
Magic Mike's Last Dance & XXL Both Lack Matthew McConaughey
McConaughey was one of the best aspects of Magic Mike. As Dallas, he had charisma, a larger-than-life persona, and a connection that brought all the characters together and made their relationships click. Magic Mike XXL revealed that Dallas left to open up his own strip show in Macau, bringing The Kid (Alex Pettyfer, who also didn’t return) along with him. His absence in Magic Mike XXL was noticeable. A McConaughey-sized hole was hard to ignore, no matter how enjoyable the sequel was. Magic Mike’s Last Dance, more than the second film, needed a dose of McConaughey’s charm and chemistry with Tatum. It’s a missed opportunity that he wasn’t included.
Dallas could’ve acted as a guide to Mike had he been in the film. At least, Dallas could have appeared in a Zoom call, something to suggest he was still in touch with Mike despite everything. The third film even included a cameo from a woman who appeared briefly in the original film, so a Dallas phone call — and even a mention — would have gone a long way. It was reported McConaughey didn’t return for Magic Mike XXL due to a scheduling conflict. For Magic Mike’s Last Dance, Tatum said he “didn’t know if Matthew would want to do it” because McConaughey didn’t want to ruin the magic of the first film.
Why McConaughey's Character Dallas Isn't Mentioned In Magic Mike 3
Despite the influence he had on the original movie, McConaughey’s Dallas wasn’t mentioned in Magic Mike’s Last Dance. Knowing the actor wouldn’t return to the role, it’s possible screenwriter Reid Carolin didn’t mention Dallas because it wouldn’t have led to anything substantial. Magic Mike XXL already revealed the next chapter in Dallas’ journey. One can assume that McConaughey's character and Mike either don’t keep in touch anymore or Dallas is simply thriving elsewhere, having moved on.
Even the Kings of Tampa’s cameo in Magic Mike’s Last Dance didn’t include what they were up to now in detail, so why mention Dallas in passing if he wasn’t going to appear onscreen? Bringing Dallas up would’ve only raised the anticipation for his arrival. If McConaughey wasn’t going to have a cameo in the final film, referencing his character wouldn’t have added much to the plot, especially considering how distanced it was from the first two Magic Mike films. Either way, both Magic Mike's Last Dance and Magic Mike XXL lose a bit of their shine due to the lack of McConaughey.
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