In 2015, Jada Pinkett-Smith starred in the Channing Tatum-led Magic Mike XXL. The comedy-drama, directed by Gregory Jacobs, served as a sequel to its cinematic predecessor, Magic Mike. The film featured the 51-year-old actress in the role of a strip club owner. The portrayal was lauded by many for successfully encapsulating themes of confidence, charisma, and empowerment.
For narrative purposes, the Girls Trip alum had to be surrounded by several men on set, who were all but clothed. Talking to Seth Meyers on his talk show, Pinkett-Smith shed light on her intriguing experience of having to work around such attractive, “chocolate men” and how a part of her was unable to refrain from having temptingly suggestive thoughts. Furthermore, she recounted having to remind herself about her husband Will Smith during those enticing instances.
Jada Pinkett-Smith’s ‘Other Head’ Wanted Her To Procreate
Making an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, the Scream 2 alum was requested to share her thoughts on being a part of the Magic Mike XXL production, which involved several shirtless men; essentially entailing a pursuit that to others might seem something straight out of their wildest fantasy. To this, Jada Pinkett-Smith affirmed her empathy towards men. “You know how you guys are always telling us how you have two heads?” She said while motioning upwards and downwards. Seth Meyers agreed with a resounding yes.
The Madagascar alum pressed on, stating how the male population often asserts that these ‘two heads’ think very differently. One says yes, while the other says no. Pinkett-Smith came to realize that this analogy worked for her, as well. The revelation struck the actress the moment she walked into the Magic Mike XXL set. Following is how she recalled it:
“So, I walk on my set for the first time, my club, okay? And at my club, it’s just chocolate tastiness. It’s just 10, 11…12 chocolate men getting greased down by the makeup department. Yeah. And literally, I walked on the set, and my knee buckled. Literally.”
This was when Jada Pinkett-Smith, for the first time in her life, encountered her ‘other head’ communicating with her; chanting the mantra of procreation. However, the sensible part of her mind, or what she termed her ‘top head’ urged her to focus on Will Smith’s absence from the production. “My top head was like, ‘Jada, there is not a Will Smith on this set, you can’t procreate with nobody,'” she added. The talent then went on to express her sympathy for the men who undergo this exact scenario.
Jada Pinkett-Smith Claimed To Understand What Guys Go Through
Her first time on the Magic Mike XXL set ended up being a torturous day for the actress, as she talked to Seth Meyers about having to deal with “that kind of stimulation” all day long. The host of the talk show light-heartedly thanked the Set It Off talent for understanding what men have to go through. Jokingly, Meyers stated, “Our lives are really hard … If you can start some sort of charity for us, we would appreciate it.” This reaped a roar of laughter from the crowd and a humorously approving nod from the actress, who acknowledged that she just might do exactly that.
Pinkett-Smith stars as Rome, a nightclub owner in the 2015 film. Channing Tatum was the one to offer the actress the role. The 21 Jump Street alum, as has been stated by Jada Pinkett-Smith on several occasions, wanted to bring forward a “sense of responsibility to the complaint of adult entertainment.” Deeming the endeavor a challenging affair and being interested in the thematic narrative of the film allowed her to sign up for the Gregory Jacobs-helmed sequel.
The comedy-drama has a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 65%. At the box office, it managed to amass a whopping $122.5 million against a budget of only $14.8 million. Even though the movie received average reviews, its commercial performance turned out to be favorable. It did, however, fail to surpass its precursor, Magic Mike, on both counts. Nevertheless, the endeavor remains a memorable and lighthearted entertainer.
Magic Mike XXL starring Channing Tatum and Jada Pinkett-Smith, alongside other remarkable Hollywood talents, is available for streaming on Netflix.
Source: Late Night with Seth Meyers
Read also: “I didn’t understand divorce”: Jada Pinkett Smith Had Major Issues With Will Smith’s Ex-wife
