Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts Channing Tatum for NASCAR-themed film
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}US actor Channing Tatum poses for photographers as he arrives on the red carpet for the film "Hail, Caesar!" screening as opening film of the 66th Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin on February 11, 2016. Eighteen pictures will vie for the Golden Bear top prize at the event which runs from February 11 to 21, 2016. / AFP / John MACDOUGALL (Photo credit should read JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images)
Channing Tatum is making a NASCAR-themed movie.
And, no, it isn't "Magic Mike and the Martinsville Hot Dogs" or a Ricky Bobby spinoff.
Pre-production at Charlotte Motor Speedway will begin this weekend for the Steven Soderbergh feature Logan Lucky, which stars Tatum and is tentatively scheduled for theatrical release in the fall of 2017.
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Tatum will lead with a first-rate cast that includes Daniel Craig, Riley Keough, Adam Driver and Seth MacFarlane.
"Depicting a theoretical heist at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the project will mark Soderbergh's first feature film since announcing his retirement from the film industry in 2013," NASCAR officials said in a new release issued Thursday. "Soderbergh, who also directed heist film Ocean's Eleven, is best known for his work on the critically acclaimed Traffic and Erin Brockovich, which garnered him two Oscar nominations and the accolade of Best Director.
"We are excited to work with Steven, Channing and all of Logan Lucky's incredible cast and producers," said Zane Stoddard, NASCAR vice president of entertainment marketing and content development. "It's a big-hearted, fun story that showcases NASCAR and Charlotte Motor Speedway as the world-class sports entertainment property and venue that they are, much like the Bellagio in Steven's Ocean's Eleven."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Mark Johnson, Gregory Jacobs and Reid Carolin are producing Logan Lucky. Zane Stoddard is executive producing for NASCAR.
Pre-production filming will begin this weekend at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600, which airs live on FOX at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 29.