Channing Tatum Says He Didn’t Know How To Play Football Before Filming ‘She’s The Man’

Channing Tatum took on the role of Duke Orsino in the 2006 teen rom-com sports film ‘She’s the Man,’ starring alongside Amanda Bynes, who played Viola Hastings. Despite being cast as a soccer team captain, Tatum didn’t actually know how to play the sport. He recently confessed that he managed to “pull it off” on screen, crediting his ability to appear athletic during the scenes.

During an appearance on Entertainment Tonight’s newest segment, Tatum and his co-star Scarlett Johansson discussed their latest film, ‘Fly Me to the Moon.’ Johansson quizzed Tatum on whether he had ever faked a skill to land a job. Tatum admitted that he did just that for his “film about soccer.” He revealed that while the movie wasn’t solely about soccer, he exaggerated his abilities to secure the role.

Also Read: ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ Trailer: Watch Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum in New Dramedy

Tatum humorously recalled telling the filmmakers to edit out his mistakes to make him look good on screen. “I played soccer in ‘She’s the Man,’ and I definitely led them to believe I was better at it than I really was. But I pulled it off,” he said. He also mentioned that he performed various soccer trick shots, trying his best to look athletic, and joked, “I was like, ‘just cut away when I mess up.'”

In an interview with Paper Magazine, Amanda Bynes shared that she “fought” for Tatum to be cast in ‘She’s the Man’ because he wasn’t “famous yet” at the time. Tatum, while speaking with ET at the premiere of ‘Magic Mike Live,’ confirmed her account and expressed his admiration for Bynes. “I love her,” he said, adding that he’s “happy” to see her doing well. He praised her talent and noted how challenging it is to maintain perspective when starting a career at a young age.