Channing Tatum To Take A Break From Acting

Cue the screaming, tears and gnashing of teeth… we may be seeing a little less of Channing Tatum in 2013.

The 32-year-old actor — and current Sexiest Man Alive — starred in five films this year and told Entertainment Weekly he’s going to take a bit of a break from acting next year to focus on directing a project with his production partner (“Magic Mike” screenwriter), Reid Carolin.

“[Reid and I] have about three to four ideas that we love that are all in the hopper. By the end of next year, we’re going to shut things down and write the first thing that we’re going to direct,” he told EW. “We’re going to be like, alright, no more acting parts for a minute, let’s take a few and really get caring about that section of our career.”

Working with Steven Soderbergh on “Magic Mike” gave Channing and Reid invaluable directing knowledge and a boost in confidence to step behind the camera for a project of their own.

“I don’t think Reid and I would have the balls to try to make a movie without learning what we did from Soderbergh and [assistant director] Greg Jacobs,” he said. “It was like a crazy crash course Cliff Notes on directing and how to make movies, literally get them done. We had a ‘Matrix’-style download, like a plug in the back of the head and bloop! I know Kung Fu now.”

While Channing may be acting in fewer films come next year, audiences won’t immediately notice his absence.

The “21 Jump Street” star already has four films in the pipeline slated for a 2013 release, including, Bennet Miller’s “Foxcatcher,” Steven Soderbergh’s medical drama “Side Effects,” “White House Down,” and “G.I. Joe: Retaliation.”

— Erin O’Sullivan