Although it's probably safe to say that Channing Tatum has achieved major success in the past few years, appearing in films like 21 JUMP STREET, MAGIC MIKE, and HAIL, CAESAR!, it wasn't that long ago when Tatum was just another struggling actor hungry for a breakout role. Tatum's chance at that role may have come earlier than it did, had he not bungled his audition for a film in one of the biggest franchises of the past decade. While appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live to promote HAIL, CAESAR!, Channing Tatum discussed his terrible audition for THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT.
I stopped in the middle of the audition, and I was like 'I think we're done right?' I blocked it out mainly, so I don't remember the specifics, but I think it was a combination of probably me being just bad, not remembering the lines, like totally freaked out, I was probably sweating a lot. They didn't even try to stop me, they were like. 'Alright, it's probably a good idea.'
Things obviously worked out for Tatum, but it's interesting to picture him alongside Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, and the rest in more FAST & FURIOUS films had he snagged that first role. Channing Tatum wasn't overly broken up about that failed TOKYO DRIFT audition however, as his primary motivation for landing the role was simply that he wanted to visit Tokyo. It's no THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT, but you can catch Channing Tatum in HAIL, CAESAR!, which is now playing in theaters.