Joe Manganiello really is taking his work as Big Dick Richie in Magic Mike to a whole other level.
Not only has he produced La Bare, a documentary about the Dallas outpost of a chain of male strip clubs, but the True Blood star also may start investing in the franchise himself.
"The owner [of La Bare] has asked me if I want to go in with him on a new club," Manganiello exclusively told me earlier today at the Sundance Film Festival's Eddie Bauer and It's So Miami lounge. "We're talking about it. I never in a million years thought this is the way my career would be going, but here we are."
La Bare will premiere at Slamdance on Sunday.
"My Magic Mike journey was inspired by La Bare," Manganiello said. "One of my best friends was a dancer there back in the '90s. He did the fireman routine.
"His story inspired Big Dick Richie and then that inspired me to go back to the club and pick up really what was left on the table," he continued. "People wanted to know more about the guys and their life in that culture."
Some of the dancers will be on hand at the premiere, but Manganiello isn't sure if they'll do any actual dancing.
"We're thinking about it," he laughed. "It's just how much money is in the budget for bail money—this is Utah after all."