Jada Pinkett Smith Joins the Other New Ladies of 'Magic Mike XXL'

The cast of Magic Mike XXL is taking shape — the female cast, that is. Jada Pinkett Smith is the latest actress to sign on for the Magic Mike sequel, in a role originally intended for a man. She credited star and co-writer Channing Tatum and director Gregory Jacobs for the switch.

“Yes, you know, Channing and Gregory and Warner Bros. really took a chance,” Smith said Monday morning on The Queen Latifah Show. “There was a character written for a male that they wanted to turn into a female.”

Smith declined to reveal further details about her character, other than the fact that she won’t be dancing. However, Deadline has reported that she’ll be playing the role of a strip club owner. Smith is one of new three actresses to join the cast of Magic Mike XXL, a follow-up to the hit 2012 drama about male strippers. (It’s due to hit theaters next July.) Also confirmed in the past week: Amber Heard and Andie McDowell, whose roles are unknown.

As for the returning male actors, they reportedly include Matt Bomer, Gabriel Iglesias, and Joe Manganiello (who’s been training hard), along with Tatum. Alas, Matthew McConaughey, who was unforgettable as Magic Mike’s dancing club owner Dallas, will not be returning for the sequel, which has been described by Tatum as a “crazy and fun” road trip movie. There are conflicting reports about whether Alex Pettyfer, who played strip-club newbie Adam “The Kid,” will be back for XXL — but someone ought to decide soon, since shooting is already underway.

By taking a role intended for a male actor, Jada Pinkett Smith — who’s also playing a Mob boss in the new Batman prequel TV series Gotham — is joining a very elite club. Other take-charge actresses who’ve stepped into roles written for men include Angelina Jolie (Salt), and Sigourney Weaver (Alien), Jodie Foster (Flightplan).

Watch our video of her on Latifah: