Exclusive: Matthew McConaughey Won’t Be Back For ‘Magic Mike XXL,’ Director Says Sequel Will Be “Very Different”

Let’s get right down to it, while Channing Tatum has said the entire cast would be back, Dallas, aka Matthew McConaughey, won’t return for the “Magic Mike” sequel. We spoke to “Magic Mike XXL” director Greg Jacobs this week about his new Amazon pilot, “Red Oaks,” and the filmmaker, known for producing many of Steven Soderbergh’s films, including his current series “The Knick,” confirmed to us that McConaughey will not be back.

And while cameras have rolled on the “Magic Mike” sequel—you’ll recall Soderbergh posting slates on Twitter over Labor Day weekend—Jacobs told us that was just second unit footage and the real shoot doesn't begin until the end of the month. Much of the cast—Tatum, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello—will reprise their roles, but it’s unknown beyond that who else is returning, and Jacobs said he couldn’t say much more.

But the filmmaker—who will have Soderbergh acting as his director of cinematography, camera operator and editor—said ‘XXL’ will be “very...