7 Pieces of Magic Mike XXL Trivia You Need to Know After Seeing the Movie

Updated on 7/5/2015 at 6:00 PM

Magic Mike XXL is probably the most exciting movie of the Fourth of July weekend, and after you see it and stop fanning yourself, it's time for some more fun. We have a few tidbits of trivia you'll care about after you see the movie, including some pieces from that time I went to the set of Magic Mike XXL last year and lived to tell the tale. Did you know one of the characters was supposed to be the opposite gender? Or who got really hurt doing an intense routine? You're about to find out.

Jada Pinkett Smith's Character Was Supposed to Be Played by a Man

Jada Pinkett Smith's character, Rome, was originally intended to be played by a man. Specifically, Channing Tatum envisioned his White House Down costar Jamie Foxx. When that didn't work out, Pinkett Smith was cast — a decision the actress called "smart." "It changed the dynamic of the show," she said on the set.

Sofia Vergara Watched Joe Manganiello's Big Number

BDR's big convention number is one of the highlights of the movie, and it's not just 900 screaming extras (and your entire theater) who is cheering him on during that scene. I was on a set visit last year with a group of reporters, and not only were the guys who were not in that scene, like Channing Tatum, watching eagerly from the sidelines, but Joe Manganiello's now-fiancée, Sofia Vergara, was watching too. Manganiello had several takes to get the scene right, as usual, and when he nailed the whole routine, everyone in the building — extras, crew, costars on the sidelines, reporters visiting for the day, and Ms. Vergara — all exploded in applause.

And Manganiello Performed That Scene With an Injury

When Manganiello's character BDR brings his BDSM-inspired routine to life, it looks sexy and effortless. In real life, though, Manganiello was hurting; the actor tore his bicep on the set while shooting the scene. It was so bad, he told Vulture, that he almost couldn't finish the movie.

Steven Soderbergh Was Still Involved, but in Disguise

Steven Soderbergh directed the first Magic Mike but stepped down from the seat for Greg Jacobs. Instead, Soderbergh served as cinematographer and assistant director this time around, using the name Peter Andrews. This also marks the first time Soderbergh has ever been the cinematographer of a film he didn't direct.

Those Are Real Dollar Bills

That money the excited (and stupidly lucky) extras stuff into thongs and use to make it rain? All real. When I visited the set last year, the prop master said they used about $5,000 in singles and expected to get it all back. The reason to use the real deal and not some sort of monopoly money? "Fake" money has more rules.

One of the Choreographers Has a Cameo

Choreographers Alison Faulk and Teresa Espinosa deserve the credit for the sexy moves in the movie, and one of them even has a cameo. Espinosa, pictured here on the right, is the girl that Malik (tWitch) chooses to give a lap dance to during the Mirror Dance.

Elizabeth Banks Probably Got Her Role Because of This Stunt

Elizabeth Banks had a memorable moment at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards with Joe Manganiello in his fireman costume, and when we chatted with Manganiello on the set, he said the incident probably led to her casting. "I think how she handled that, God bless her soul, definitely probably led her to the powers that be thinking that she could handle this," he said.

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