Summary:
- Channing Tatum stars as Slater King, a perverted, tech-savvy billionaire in Blink Twice.
- The film’s director, Zoë Kravitz, is also Tatum’s fiancee.
- The two lovebirds first met on the set of Blink Twice, when Tatum was auditioning for the villain role.
After a four-year hiatus, Channing Tatum returns and takes on a chilling role in the upcoming thriller Blink Twice, directed by Zoë Kravitz alongside E.T. Feigenbaum in her first stint behind the camera. The movie, originally titled Pussy Island, dives into a sinister narrative where several women are enticed to a secluded island owned by a tech magnate, only to uncover horrifying secrets.
The ensemble cast includes names like Naomi Ackie, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Haley Joel Osment, Kyle MacLachlan, Alia Shawkat, Christian Slater, Geena Davis, and Levon Hawke.
MGM just dropped the gripping first trailer for Blink Twice. You can watch them right here:
The preview introduces us to Frida and Jess (portrayed by Naomie Ackie and Adria Arjona respectively), who, after being charmed by the affluent Slater King (Channing Tatum), find themselves on his remote island. What starts as an idyllic escape quickly spirals into a nightmarish struggle for survival as the duo unearths the grim realities of the island and plots their escape alongside other female victims.
The plot of Blink Twice echoes some disturbing real-life events, particularly those involving figures in the entertainment industry like rape-convict Harvey Weinstein, and of course, the notorious Jeffrey Epstein, who owned a scandal-ridden private island that we know as Epstein Island.
Zoë Kravitz mentions that the screenplay underwent numerous revisions in response to such real-world scandals, with the original title Pussy Island reflecting a not-so-distant past dominated by a blatant disregard for women’s rights and safety.
“The title came from that world. The title is the seed of the story. It represents this time where it would be acceptable for a group of men to call a place that, and the illusion that we’re out of that time now,” said the 35-year-old director.
Zoë Kravitz is an accomplished actress herself, and Blink Twice marks her debut as a director. Interestingly, Channing Tatum is also Kravitz’s fiance. The 22 Jump Street star told WSJ. Magazine in 2022 that he didn’t even know his partner before meeting with her to play Slater in Blink Twice.
Apparently, Tatum wasn’t just a leading actor on set but also a supportive partner, according to Kravitz. She praised him for his protective nature during the filming process, handling everything from calming nerves to ensuring safety on set. Kravitz was drawn to cast Tatum, typically known for his more heroic roles, as the dark and complex Slater, as she’s intrigued by the challenge of seeing him explore such a divergent character.
“That’s exciting to watch someone who’s mostly played boy next door, good guy, love interest, all of that… I felt, even from afar, before I knew him, that he was a feminist and that he wasn’t afraid of exploring that darkness because he knows he’s not that,” Kravitz explained.
Blink Twice is set to release in theaters on August 23, anchored by a strong directorial debut from Kravitz and a debut villain performance by Tatum.
