Channing Tatum Joins the Cast of ‘Kingsman’ Sequel

By Justin Kroll

Channing Tatum is joining the cast of Kingsman: The Golden Circle, tweeting the news on Wednesday evening.

Sources also tell Variety that Elton John is in talks for a key role.

Matthew Vaughn is returning to direct from a script he co-wrote with Jane Goldman. The 2014 original, Kingsman: The Secret Service, was based on the comic-book The Secret Service, created by Dave Gibbons and Mark Millar, and follows the training of a potential secret agent to take on a global threat from Samuel L. Jackson’s Richmond Valentine.

Related: Halle Berry in Talks to Play CIA Chief in ‘Kingsman 2’

Vaughn also produced the original, which grossed a surprisingly healthy $415 million worldwide. Colin Firth, Mark Strong and Michael Caine also starred.

Halle Berry has been in talks to star as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Strong and Firth are also expected to return to reprise their roles.

Fox has dated Kingsman: The Golden Circle for release on June 16, 2017.

Tatum’s Gambit movie was delayed last year, making room in the actor’s schedule before he reprises his role in the 23 Jump Street/Men in Black spinoff at Sony.

He was most recently seen in the Coen Brothers’ Hail, Caesar!